Heading into Sunday’s Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens backup returner Tylan Wallace had never scored a touchdown in the NFL. Many football fans probably didn’t even know Wallace existed before today.
The third-year wide receiver entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick with the Ravens back in 2021, but he’s played just a total of 179 offensive snaps across 32 games entering Sunday.
However, just because he doesn’t get a chance to catch passes from former MVP Lamar Jackson often, that doesn’t mean the 24-year-old hasn’t developed into a valued contributor in Baltimore.
Wallace does see a lot of time on special teams, where he’s played 488 snaps across three seasons. But again, he doesn’t get many opportunities to touch the ball for the Ravens.
He came into Sunday’s game with 13 targets in his career. He’s caught six of those passes for 56 yards. As mentioned at the top of the article, Wallace also doubles as the team’s backup returner, but even then, he’s had just two kick returns in his career for a total of 39 yards.
Until Sunday, of course.
No, Wallace didn’t get to haul in passes. Seven other Ravens did, but not Wallace.
Instead, Devin Duvernay, the team’s top kick and punt returner, was forced out of action with a back injury, thrusting Wallace into the leading return role in a high-scoring affair.
Suddenly, Wallace had the biggest opportunity of his career, where he’d get a chance to return three punts in the same game, but the former Oklahoma State receiver saved the best for last.
In overtime, with the Ravens and Rams deadlocked at 31 points apiece, Wallace got one final opportunity to return a punt.
As you can see, Wallace managed to slip away from multiple Rams defenders, running 76 yards for the game-winning walk-off punt return touchdown, the first score of his NFL career.
The win moved the Ravens to 10-3, putting them the top seed in the AFC playoff race if the season ended today. The Miami Dolphins, at 9-3, are Baltimore’s closest competition. Miami plays Tennessee on Monday night.
As for Wallace, he had a moment he’ll never forget. Chances are, thousands of Ravens fans won’t forget it either.
Related: See where Lamar Jackson and Matt Stafford land in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB Rankings