Ravens K Tyler Loop Could Land On IR

Minter indicated that Loop had been dealing with his injury for some time but aggravated it recently. The 26-year-old had a strong start to the year, making nine of his 11 field goals in his first five games including all five attempts from 50 yards or longer. But in the last three weeks, he has missed two of his six field goals, both from inside 50 yards, including a 34-yarder in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. Now, he is set to miss at least one week with a minimum four-game absence should be be placed on IR.

Moody, 26, first signed with the Ravens’ practice squad shortly before the regular season as competition for Loop after his discouraging preseason. Loop then converted all seven of his kick in Week 1, including a career-long 57-yard field goal that secured his job and led to Moody’s release. But a crucial 49-yard miss in Baltimore’s 13-10 Week 6 loss to the Browns brought Moody back into the picture, though Loop staved off a change by making all of his kicks the following week vs. the Bengals.

The missed chip shot in Buffalo, though, may have forced Minter to give Moody a chance even without Loop’s injury. Landing on IR this week will position him to return in Week 14 after Baltimore’s bye, by which time Moody could have grabbed hold of the kicking job for the rest of the year. The Ravens could waive Loop at that point, or they could try to keep him on IR for the rest of the year and hold another kicking competition next offseason.