Ravens lose former third-round pick in unexpected fashion, and the circumstances expose a flaw in how they managed the roster
With Tyler Loop on injured reserve, Baltimore has no healthy kicker on its roster or practice squad heading into a primetime game against Los Angeles.
The Baltimore Ravens are losing a player in an unexpected way, and it leaves them in a tough spot they probably could have avoided with better roster management. The Atlanta Falcons are signing kicker Jake Moody off the Ravens’ practice squad to their active 53-man roster and releasing veteran Nick Folk.
That creates a complicated situation in Baltimore. Last week, the Ravens placed kicker Tyler Loop on injured reserve with a groin injury, so he has to miss four games. He has already missed one, which means at least three more.
How the Ravens lost Jake Moody
In the previous game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore elevated Moody from the practice squad for game day. He converted a 53-yard field goal and an extra point. Because it was a standard practice squad elevation and not a full-time promotion to the 53-man roster, he reverted to the practice squad after the game.
When a player is on a practice squad, any other NFL team can sign him to its active roster. For practical purposes, he’s a free agent. That’s exactly what the Falcons did.
As a result, the Ravens are left without a healthy kicker on the roster or on the practice squad. They now have to scramble to find someone to kick against the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football.”
The front office probably could have avoided this. When Loop went on IR, Baltimore had the option to promote Moody to the 53-man roster. Once Loop was healthy again, the Ravens could decide whether to release Loop and keep Moody, or waive Moody and activate Loop.
Instead, Loop is ineligible to play, and Moody is heading to Atlanta. Because the Falcons signed Moody from another team’s practice squad, they have to keep him on their 53-man roster for at least three weeks. Therefore, a reunion with Moody isn’t realistic anytime soon in Baltimore.
Practice squad options
Baltimore has two paths to find a new kicker. The first is to do what Atlanta just did and sign a kicker from another team’s practice squad. That could even lead to a path where they bring back Justin Tucker, who’s on the Kansas City Chiefs’ PS.
Zane Gonzalez, who is on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, is another candidate. He played nine games for the Falcons last season, converting 19 of 22 field goals and 94.4% of his extra points. He also brings plenty of NFL experience.
Charlie Smyth from the New Orleans Saints is another name to consider. The Saints went through a situation similar to the Ravens’. Last week, they released Daniel Carlson and elevated Smyth from the practice squad for game day. Smyth, who’s a member of the International Pathway Program, is still on the practice squad in New Orleans, so Baltimore could pursue him.
Free agent kickers available
The second path is to sign a veteran in free agency. Folk is the most immediate option after his release from Atlanta, but he has made 13 of 18 field goals this season. Daniel Carlson is also available after the Saints moved on from him. Beyond those two, veterans Graham Gano and Matt Prater are still on the market.
If the Ravens decide to sign a free agent, they could add him once again to the practice squad and elevate him for gameday without the necessity to spend a 53-man roster spot.
The timing matters as much as the choice. Baltimore has to make a decision fairly soon, so the new kicker has time to build his operation with long snapper Nick Moore and holder/punter Ryan Eckley before the Chargers game.
