Kicker Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens is prepared for the possibility that he will play more because of the NFL’s modifications to the kickoff regulation. Tucker quipped that people “probably” wouldn’t be able to notice that he had gained about “3.8 pounds” in the offseason when he informed reporters this information on Thursday (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). He continued by saying that the weight gain was a result of the regulation modifications. “This might be really surprising to a lot of you guys and a lot of my teammates because I don’t hang out in the weight room too frequently,” Tucker told Hensley. “Now I got to get some more shrugs, get the traps going a little bit just to make sure I’m prepared for a little bit more contact.”
Inspired by the former XFL kickoff regulations, the NFL introduced new kickoff rules that will take effect in 2024. The remaining 10 players on the kicking team will line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line, while the kicker will line up normally under the new rules. Nine players from the receiving team will be positioned between their 35- and 30-yard lines. Of the nine players, seven need to have at least one foot on the 35. The receiving team may set up anywhere in the 20-yard landing zone with up to two players. However, until the kickoff touches down or is touched by a player on the receiving team, players are not permitted to make contact.
According to Tucker’s observation on Thursday, 25% of tackles made under the new regulations involved XFL kickers. The 34-year-old wants to be ready to play special teams tackle even if he may not be actively looking for contact. “I don’t think [tackling is] necessarily something that is encouraged [for kickers], but it’s not discouraged either,” he stated via Hensley. It sort of goes with the territory. It’s a play in football. We’re all football players, so it’s basically my responsibility to stop a returner who is streaking into the end zone if I’m the last person there to do so.”
Over the course of his 12-year career, Tucker has connected on 90.2% of his field goal tries, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He’s been selected for seven Pro Bowls and, in 2012, won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. The distinguished veteran is now preparing to accept some contact in an effort to adjust to the new kickoff regulations.
