The Baltimore Ravens have added an intriguing piece to their roster this offseason, drafting kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of April’s draft. This move comes at an interesting time, as the team’s veteran kicker, Justin Tucker, is currently under league investigation for allegations of improper conduct.
During Sunday’s rookie minicamp, head coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation, emphasizing that the primary focus remains on the impending competition for the kicking job. “I would just say from the standpoint of the investigation and all that, we don’t know anything,” he stated, as captured in the team’s official transcript. Harbaugh made it clear that no decisions would be influenced by the investigation at this time.
“Every decision we make has to be based on football,” he continued. The presence of Loop as a talented rookie puts additional pressure on the overall dynamic. “We took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He’s a talented guy. Just from a football standpoint, salary cap, all the different things that you just take into consideration – whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks would be based on football.”
Despite the cloud of uncertainty surrounding Tucker, Harbaugh noted that the veteran kicker has been in the facility for the past few weeks, continuing his practice routines. The situation surrounding Tucker is significant, as the NFL is investigating accusations involving improper conduct toward multiple massage therapists from various spas in the Baltimore area spanning his first few years in the league. Tucker has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Compounding the situation, Tucker, now 35, is coming off the worst season of his career, posting career lows with only 22 made field goals and a field goal percentage of 73.3%. This backdrop not only increases the stakes of the upcoming competition between Loop and Tucker but also raises questions about Tucker’s future performance and role within the Ravens. As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on this evolving kicker battle, poised to capture the attention of Ravens fans eager to see how this situation unfolds on the field.
