Former ‘Hawks CB Josh Wilson feels at home with Ravens, but misses former teammates

By Michael Simeona MyNorthwest.com intern

Four months ago, Josh Wilson was practicing as the nickel cornerback in his fourth training camp as a Seahawk – the first under head coach Pete Carroll. 15 weeks later, Wilson is starting at cornerback for the (9-4) Baltimore Ravens’ 10th-ranked defense in the thick of a playoff race.

“It feels good,” Wilson said on Wednesday’s Kevin Calabro show. “To be right here in the thick of things, playing on a great defense and a team that has a chance to go all the way – couldn’t ask for anything better right at home.”

Wilson returned to the state where he played collegiately, as the former Maryland Terrapin was traded from the Seahawks on Aug. 31 for a 2011 conditional draft pick. He earned his first start for the Ravens in a Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, replacing former first round pick Fabian Washington in the process.

Wilson has made four starts since then, and has an interception in each of the past two games. But no interception was as big as his game-clinching pick-six that gave Baltimore a 34-28 overtime win over the Houston Texans on Monday night.

“It was a great opportunity,” Wilson said of his first touchdown with the Ravens. “First time I’ve had one here – not the first time I’ve done that in my career, but it was a great story.”

Wilson’s phone was jam-packed with voicemails and texts from family and friends after the huge play sealed the Ravens ninth victory on the nationally televised Monday night affair. While Wilson was happy to receive the attention for his spectacular play, nothing made him happier than hearing his former Seahawk teammates praise his effort.

“(Who) I was most happiest to hear from was my old teammates with the Seahawks. All those guys texted me, you know, just telling me how happy they were for me and everything, it was great,” said Wilson.

Although it didn’t take long for Wilson to get acclimated to the Ravens locker room, he had some familiar faces to help expedite the process of building relationships with new teammates.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed with the Ravens two days after being released by the Seahawks before the start of the regular season. Seventh-year DL Cory Redding signed a two-year deal with Baltimore as a free agent this offseason, after spending the 2009 season with Seattle. While Houshmandzadeh, Redding and Wilson were teammates for only one year under former head coach Jim Mora, the three have often discussed what it would be like if they were still in Seattle.

“We talk about it sometimes,” said Wilson. “It was definitely shocking when T.J. came here and Cory Redding was just as shocked when I came here. It’s not something that we sit there and dwell upon, but it was a conversation that we had.”

When asked what he missed the most about Seattle, Wilson revealed how much his former teammates meant to him.

“It’s no question I miss my teammates the most. You know the fans, the stadium – that’s also right up there with it, but being in that locker room with my guys is the number one thing I miss.

“Everything that happens in your life is a new opportunity and it was definitely a new opportunity for me to move on to a great team.”