Baltimore Ravens: How the new kickoff rules could help Justin Tucker

Justin Tucker is an All-Pro kicker and a pretty good golfer, so of course he's going to be compared to others. The technique, the repetitions, the mental stress – there's a lot of overlap between skills.

There is one big difference, though: “I only use one club,” Tucker joked Thursday after the Ravens' final open training camp. “I only use one driver. A golfer has to have a drive, he has to have an approach shot, he has to have his bunker shots, he has to be able to putt. He has to be able to do all those things. And most of the time you have the occasional specialty kick, like a squib kick or an onside kick. But most of the time it's one club.”

The NFL's new kickoff rules mean Tucker doesn't always have to resort to the driver. They could also make it more effective when he needs to make a bomb throw that splits the goal posts.

With the Ravens taking advantage of the league's new “landing zone” — the area between the receiving team's end zone and the 20-yard line where kickoffs must be returned — Tucker estimated the Ravens would start the season with “somewhere between eight and nine kicks.” In the team's season opener Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles, he landed three of his four kickoffs between the 1- and 9-yard lines after firing the first into the end zone for a touchback. (Teams that return a kick in the end zone now start at their own 30-yard line.)

Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown, who has worked closely with Tucker throughout his career, said that under the NFL's current kickoff rules, he would limit Tucker to kicking no more than once a week “because it's an intense kick.” With placement now taking priority over power, the workload is more manageable with the dual role.

“It's a certain strain on the body,” said Brown. “So we practiced it [kickoffs] a little more in this camp. In previous preseasons, I wasn't very excited about him joining.”

Tucker said, “This is something we've been working on since the rule went into effect, and it's something we'll continue to work on. And I think when we start the regular season … we'll have a lot of things prepared.”

If his training camp field goals are any indication, Tucker's right leg has plenty of power. In Tuesday's practice, he made a 68-yard kick, 2 yards more than his NFL record kick against the Detroit Lions in 2021.

The Ravens don't need the 34-year-old Tucker to turn into the NFL's Bryson DeChambeau, sinking kicks from absurd distances. But a less intense kickoff could help the 34-year-old Tucker on long field goals. Over the past two seasons, he has converted 49 of 51 kicks of 49 yards or less — and 10 of 19 kicks of at least 50 yards — according to TruMedia.

“I just plan to always be ready to shoot the ball through the goal posts, no matter where or when,” Tucker said. “Whenever 'Harbs' [coach John Harbaugh] sends me out there, then for a specific reason: to come back with three points.”

participation

Running back Rasheen Ali (stinger), wide receivers Russell Gage and Devontez Walker, tight end Mark Andrews, center Tyler Linderbaum (soft tissue injury), inside linebackers Chris Board (concussion) and Josh Ross, defensive back Christian Matthew and safeties Kyle Hamilton and Sanoussi Kane (stinger) missed practice on Thursday. Running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) and cornerback Arthur Maulet (knee) are still out.

Cornerback Nate Wiggins, who suffered a minor shoulder injury in the Ravens' season opener, returned to practice with limited participation.

Inventory report

• The Ravens shortened their scheduled practice time from 2 hours and 30 minutes to about 1 hour and 40 minutes and focused primarily on executing 11-on-11 drills before Saturday's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.
• Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the first team offense faced primarily the second and third lines of defense, running a half-speed pass rush. Unofficially, Jackson completed 18 of 24 passes. His only dry spell came in a red zone period in which he completed 0 of 3 passes and threw an interception to undrafted rookie inside linebacker Yvandy Rigby after forcing a pass over the middle to wide receiver Anthony Miller. (Tight end Isaiah Likely also took a pass interference penalty against undrafted rookie cornerback Bump Cooper Jr. in that period.)
• Undrafted rookie tight end Qadir Ismail had one of the most notable celebrations of camp when he simulated a reverse dunk onto a goal post after catching a mid-range ball in the end zone. On his long run back to the huddle, Ismail signaled for fans to make noise. Ismail, one of the surprises of camp, later caught a touchdown over safety Ar'Darius Washington in a red zone drill.
• Cooper continued his strong form of late, intercepting passes to wide receivers Deonte Harty and Malik Cunningham and helping force an incomplete pass against tight end Charlie Kolar. The Oregon State product has little chance of making the roster, but he appears to be earning at least a spot on the practice squad.