Latest Ravens News: Kicker Crisis After Jake Moody Leaves, Neuzil Trade and Brissett’s First Week
The latest Ravens news is a mix of good and strange. Baltimore had every player on its active roster at practice Wednesday, with Kyle Hamilton back on the field and Jacoby Brissett making his practice debut. But the Ravens have no kicker five days before Monday night’s game against the Chargers, and they made a surprising center trade just before the deadline.
The Ravens’ kicker crisis
Status: Confirmed unless noted
The Falcons signed kicker Jake Moody off Baltimore’s practice squad Tuesday and added him to their 53-man roster, per NBC Sports and The Baltimore Banner. Moody made a 53-yard field goal and his only extra point in his Ravens debut Nov. 5.
Tyler Loop (groin) is on injured reserve and will miss at least the next three games, per The Banner. The Ravens had no kicker at practice Wednesday and are working out free agents, including Riley Patterson and Harrison Mevis, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Reported). This will be their third kicker this season, per Ravens.com.
The criticism, and the counterargument
Status: Opinion, with facts
The Banner noted that Baltimore had an open spot on its 53-man roster and left Moody on the practice squad anyway. A Yahoo Sports column argued that this was a roster-management flaw: when Loop went on injured reserve, the Ravens could have promoted Moody to shield him from other teams.
But The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported that the Ravens were willing to put Moody on the 53-man roster, and that Moody was “attracted by the Atlanta situation,” per Ravens.com. Atlanta’s dome is kicker-friendly, and Loop is expected to reclaim the job when he returns (Reported).
Our take: both can be true. The Ravens took a risk by leaving a kicker exposed, and Moody had a say in where he went. But the result is the same. Baltimore needs a kicker, and it’s hard to defend that when the roster has open spots.
The Ryan Neuzil trade
Status: Confirmed
Just before the 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday, Baltimore acquired center Ryan Neuzil from Atlanta for backup guard Andrew Vorhees and a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick, per ESPN and NBC Sports. Neuzil is 29, has made all 38 of his career starts at center, and is in the final year of his contract. He reunites with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, who coached him in Atlanta.
It’s the Ravens’ second trade for a center in 34 days. They sent Philadelphia a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Cam Jurgens on Oct. 7. Three Baltimore centers (Danny Pinter, Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic) are on injured reserve, per ESPN.
What the pundits said
Status: Opinion
| Outlet | Grade |
|---|---|
| ESPN’s Seth Walder | B+ |
| The Athletic’s Daniel Popper | B- |
| NFL.com’s Kevin Patra | C+ |
| USA Today | C |
| Bleacher Report | C |
Walder wondered whether the move was a value play, and said Jurgens has been struggling since the trade. Patra said it’s tough to see the logic unless it’s a play for a compensatory pick. USA Today called it confusing to add an expiring contract in a season that may be lost.
Our take: the move adds depth after three center injuries, and it keeps rookie guard Vega Ioane from having to slide to center again. But paying for a second center in a month suggests the first trade hasn’t worked.
Jacoby Brissett’s first week
Status: Confirmed
Brissett made his practice debut Wednesday, per Fox Baltimore. Coach Jesse Minter said he expects Brissett to start Monday, per Ravens.com. Brissett is in his 11th NFL season and turns 34 next month.
Former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis said Brissett should be tight end Mark Andrews’ best friend and that defenses can’t load the box against Derrick Henry anymore because they have to respect Brissett’s arm (Opinion).
Baltimore Ravens injury report: Wednesday
- Kyle Hamilton (hip): practicing. Minter said Monday that everything looks fairly good.
- Jaylinn Hawkins (knee): returned to practice.
- Nate Wiggins: Minter was optimistic on Monday after an illness. All 50 active-roster players were on the field Wednesday.
- Tyler Loop (groin), Lamar Jackson (thumb), Tyler Huntley (toe): on injured reserve.
Official designations come later in the week.
What to watch Monday night
The Chargers are winless at 0-8, per Yahoo Sports. Minter was Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator before taking over in Baltimore. Hamilton said the only significance is that both teams need a win.
The Ravens have lost four straight home primetime games, the longest streak in team history, per Ravens.com.
Ravens schedule: what’s next
- Monday, Nov. 16: vs. the Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: at Carolina.
- Sunday, Nov. 29: at Houston.
- Sunday, Dec. 13: vs. Tampa Bay, after a bye the week of Dec. 6.
Lamar Jackson Ravens playoffs news
Jackson is out six to nine weeks and plans to return, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Reported). Loop is out at least three more games, so by our count the earliest he and Jackson could both be back is Dec. 13 against Tampa Bay. Baltimore is 4-5, and the Chargers game is the one it can’t lose.
Latest Ravens news FAQ
What is the latest Ravens news? The Falcons signed kicker Jake Moody off Baltimore’s practice squad, the Ravens traded for center Ryan Neuzil, and Brissett had his practice debut.
Why don’t the Ravens have a kicker? Tyler Loop (groin) is on injured reserve, and Jake Moody signed with the Falcons. The Ravens are auditioning free agents, including Riley Patterson and Harrison Mevis, per ESPN.
Who did the Ravens trade for at the deadline? Center Ryan Neuzil, from Atlanta, for guard Andrew Vorhees and a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick.
Who starts at quarterback for the Ravens on Monday? Jacoby Brissett, Minter said.
Is Kyle Hamilton playing Monday? He practiced Wednesday, and Minter said Monday that things look fairly good. Official designations come later in the week.
Bottom line
The latest Ravens news shows a team that fixed its quarterback and center depth but lost its kicker. Did the Ravens create their own kicker problem by leaving Moody on the practice squad, or was he always going to leave? Tell us in the comments.
