Latest news with #JohnHoyland
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens release kicker ahead of 2025 season
The post Ravens release kicker ahead of 2025 season appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Baltimore Ravens' search to replace former kicker Justin Tucker in 2025 appears to be nearing a conclusion. With their first of three preseason games approaching, Baltimore released undrafted free agent John Hoyland from its offseason roster. The Ravens released Hoyland on Saturday, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported. Hoyland, a Wyoming alum from Broomfield, Colorado, was a former two-time All-Mountain West during his collegiate career. His release makes 2025 sixth-round pick Tyler Loop the only kicker on the roster, barring any future signings. Although Hoyland joined the team at the right time, the Ravens' investment in Loop stacked the odds against him from the start. Loop was never a shoo-in to win the job, but gained traction among the fan base when clips of his practice kicks went viral on social media. Baltimore released Tucker, who was once considered the consensus best kicker in the league, in May. The 35-year-old's performance had declined in recent years, but the biggest factor in the decision was the multiple sexual harassment allegations against him. Tucker remains a free agent despite being the NFL's all-time field goal percentage leader. The Ravens can still potentially add another kicker in the coming weeks to compete with Loop, particularly with the preseason being a key measuring test for the position. Even if that happens, Loop is now the overwhelming favorite to be the team's kicker in 2025. Ravens' Tyler Loop positioned to replace Justin Tucker in 2025 Replacing an all-time great like Tucker will be a daunting challenge, but Loop is making a strong case to be the league's next elite kicker. The Arizona alum has been showing off his strong leg all offseason and turned heads when the Ravens posted a clip of him effortlessly drilling a 68-yard field goal in practice. There is more to kicking than drilling stand-still field goals, but Loop already has the confidence of his coaches, teammates and fans. With a strong preseason, he will all but lock up the job. While replacing Tucker's name is a tall task, Loop has a good chance of being an upgrade from the eight-time All-Pro. Tucker made just 22 of his 30 field goal attempts in 2024, a disastrous career-low 73.3 percent clip. He also missed two extra points, resulting in a career-low 126 points on the year. Related: Ravens add running back depth with latest signing Related: Ravens' perfect Micah Parsons trade proposal to Cowboys
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens made a slew of roster moves, including adding two tight ends and waiving a kicker
Baltimore signed two tight ends and added Brent Urban among eight roster moves made by the Ravens on Saturday afternoon Baltimore announced eight total roster moves on Saturday and Sunday, with the shocker being the release of undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland. In all, the Ravens signed Brent Urban, Scotty Washington, and Baylor Cupp, while releasing Hoyland, tight end Sam Pitz, and linebacker Diwun Black. Signed Brent Urban Selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft, Urban will enter Year 12 in the league looking to help bolster one of the league's top defensive line groups. Urban played in 13 games last season and made 20 tackles. He helped the Ravens rank as the NFL's top run defense. Signed TE Scotty Washington A big, physical tight end, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Washington was on Baltimore's practice squad the last two years and will return with Isaiah Likely rehabbing a surgically repaired foot. Signed TE Baylor Cupp The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Cupp is a former top recruit who played collegiately at Texas A&M and Texas Tech and spent last year on the Chiefs' practice squad. Waived K John Hoyland Hoyland had been part of a two-man competition with Tyler Loop to replace Justin Tucker as Baltimore's kicker, but he appears to have lost out to the sixth-round pick from Arizona. Waived TE Sam Pitz The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Minnesota Duluth product caught 71 balls for 940 yards and 17 touchdowns during a four-year college career, including a 33-360-2 line in 11 games last year. Waived LB Diwun Black Black (6-3, 246) logged 23 tackles (19 solo), including six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles during his lone season at Temple. Signed free agent RB D'Ernest Johnson Johnson spent his first four seasons in Cleveland and the last two years in Jacksonville. He has 214 career carries for 989 yards and three touchdowns. He'll join Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, and Rasheen Ali on the Ravens' depth chart. Waived T Ozzie Hutchinson Hutchinson (6-4, 305) signed with Baltimore following the 2025 NFL draft after he appeared in 41 games during his stint at Albany (2019-23), earning second-team All-CAA honors in his final season.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens to release undrafted free agent kicker
The Ravens are set to announce a slew of roster moves, and one will include Baltimore waiving undrafted rookie place kicker John Hoyland. Hoyland had been part of a two-man competition with Tyler Loop to replace Justin Tucker as Baltimore's kicker, but he appears to have lost out to the sixth-round pick from Arizona. Kicker John Hoyland Hoyland joined sixth-round pick Tyler Loop to add another rookie to the kicking competition as the Ravens sought to find their replacement for Justin Tucker. Hoyland connected on 79.3% of his field-goal attempts and 99.3% of his extra points during his five years at Wyoming. Hoyland was 15-of-19 on field goals during his final season. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Tyler Loop wins Ravens kicker competition as John Hoyland gets waived
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens' John Harbaugh explains 'complex' decision to release Justin Tucker
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since the team released longtime kicker Justin Tucker on May 5. Tucker's release came as the NFL investigated accusations of sexual misconduct against the 35-year-old kicker. He denied the allegations, calling them "simply not true." Advertisement Harbaugh acknowledged releasing Tucker came at the end of "a complex decision-making process" but continued to insist it was a football decision. "I mean, you're talking about arguably the best kicker in the history of the game," Harbaugh told reporters after Baltimore's second OTA session of the offseason. "And like we said, it's multi-layered, it's complicated. But in the end, it all comes back to what you have to do to get ready for your team to play the first game." "I think if you step back and you take a look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we've got to get our football team ready and we've got to have a kicker ready to go," Harbaugh added. "And that was the move that we decided to make. So in that sense, it's a football decision." Tucker spent 13 total seasons as the Ravens' top kicker after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He was named an All-Pro first teamer five times during his career and wrapped up his time in Baltimore having made an NFL-record 89.103% of his field goal attempts. Advertisement The Ravens are having two rookies – Tyler Loop and John Hoyland – compete to replace Tucker. Loop holds the distinction of being the first kicker ever drafted by the Ravens after they spent a sixth-round pick on the Arizona product. Meanwhile, Hoyland signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. Harbaugh – who spent nine seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998 to 2006 before becoming Baltimore's coach in 2008 – noted the Ravens are planning "to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers ready." "We've got a competition going on and [we've got to] get these guys ready to make kicks," Harbaugh said. "So that's all I'm thinking about. From my perspective, it's like, 'We have to have a kicker out there making kicks,' and what's the best way to get that done?" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ravens' John Harbaugh: Cutting Justin Tucker was 'complex decision'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens' Rookie Kicker Reportedly Leading Competition Early
Ravens' Rookie Kicker Reportedly Leading Competition Early originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Justin Tucker is gone. And he's not coming back. For the first time in over a decade, the Baltimore Ravens will have a new No. 1 kicker on the roster. Who that is depends on the competition this summer. Advertisement But per Ravens insider Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Tyler Loop is currently leading undrafted free agent John Hoyland. "Both rookie kickers had good days and bad days during OTAs, setting the stage for what will likely be the most scrutinized position battle of training camp," Zrebiec wrote. "Loop, the sixth-round pick out of Arizona, will get every opportunity to win the job. He was the guy senior special teams coach and kicking guru Randy Brown wanted after an exhaustive evaluation of the draft-eligible kickers. "By all accounts, Loop was kicking really well before he missed 4 of 9 attempts — all from 50-plus yards — with owner Steve Bisciotti looking on at the final OTA last week. Meanwhile, Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, made all six of his attempts a day earlier. Brown and the Ravens won't overreact to one practice. Loop is still the favorite heading into training camp, but Hoyland seems intent on making this a legitimate competition." The Ravens might've gotten spoiled while having former Texas Longhorns legend Justin Tucker in their employ. Advertisement Tucker (89.103 percent) is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, dating back to 1938, when that stat began to be tracked. Tucker leads a list of still-active kickers that include Harrison Butker (88.618), Eddy Piñero (88.095), Chris Boswell (88.026) and Daniel Carlson (87.500). Related: Ravens Face Potential 'Nightmare Scenario' in 2025 Related: Ravens Injury Opens Gates for Rookie Breakout This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
