It looks like the competition to replace Justin Tucker as the kicker for the Baltimore Ravens is over after “the loudest ovation of training camp so far.” The cheers were reserved for a history-making rookie who has overcome struggles earlier this offseason to prove automatic during practice at camp on Sunday, August 3.
A booming ovation was reserved for 2025 NFL draft sixth-round pick Tyler Loop. He went 7-for-7 after this 60-yard FG, per The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer.
The flawless session was perfectly timed by Loop in front of head coach John Harbaugh at M&T Bank Stadium. Harbaugh told reporters, including Shaffer, Loop “passed that test with flying colors” and graded the kicker’s session as “A++++.”
Loop is proving himself worthy as the chosen one to replace Tucker, after the Ravens dumped his closest competition, undrafted free agent John Hoyland.
An intense battle had been brewing between the pair until former Wyoming star Hoyland was cut loose to help make room for ex-Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars running back D’Ernest Johnson, who signed on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Johnson is depth for the backfield, but Loop’s path to the starting kicker job being cleared is the bigger story. Especially after the offseason split from seven-time Pro Bowler Tucker.
Tyler Loop Solving Underrated Problem for Ravens
Loop was expected to build a legacy of his own after being made the first kicker ever drafted by the Ravens. That status compounded the pressure on the ex-Arizona Wildcats standout to replace Tucker.
The latter was released back in May before the results of a league investigation into allegations of “sexually inappropriate behavior” toward six local massage therapists. Those accusations were first reported by The Baltimore Banner’s Julie Scharper, Brenna Smith and Justin Fenton on January 30. Further reporting from Scharper, Smith and Fenton detailed additional allegations from 10 more therapists.
Tucker was eventually suspended by the NFL for the first 10 weeks of this season, but the Ravens were already finding it difficult to replace him. The difficulty arose not only from Loop’s inconsistency, notable at camp on Monday, July 28, when the rookie missed from “43, 38 and 47,” according to PressBox reporter Bo Smolka.
Loop being inaccurate gave Hoyland a chance, one he’d appeared to be taking by going “9-for-9 with a long of 43” on Thursday, July 24, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Hoyland wasn’t faltering, but Loop long had the inside track to the job.
Ravens Trusting the Kicker They Wanted
The Ravens are getting the kicker they’ve long wanted by placing their trust in Loop. He was the clear-cut choice of senior special teams coach Randy Brown, according to Schefter’s colleague Jamison Hensley.
As the latter reported in May, “Loop can’t count the number of times he met with the Ravens during the predraft process, but it was enough to let him know that Baltimore was definitely interested. He met with a scout at the Hula Bowl in January and then spoke with Brown during the specialist workout at the NFL scouting combine in February. Loop also had a private workout with Brown in Arizona.”
Brown’s endorsement has been boosted by Loop showing off his leg strength during camp. Aside from his 60-yarder, Loop was also good from 56 on Sunday, per Hensley.
Range has rarely been a problem for Loop, but efficiency has been a different story. As Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports pointed out, “Loop connected on 84 percent of his field goal attempts” during his time with the Wildcats.
It’s hardly the conversion rate of an automatic kicker, but Loop’s ability to split the uprights from distance is enough of a selling point to convince the Ravens not to bring in a veteran kicker. Instead, Brown and special teams coordinator Chris Horton can focus on refining the rougher points of the 23-year-old’s game to improve his accuracy.
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