What was expected became official Saturday afternoon with the Ravens activating longtime punter Sam Koch ahead of their wild-card showdown with Tennessee.
An inconclusive test landed Koch on the reserve-COVID-19 list on Dec. 30, which forced the 38-year-old to miss the first game of his 15-year NFL career to close the regular season. In last Sunday’s playoff-clinching win at Cincinnati, Johnny Townsend became the first player to punt for the Ravens other than Koch since Dave Zastudil in the 2005 season finale.
Baltimore expressed no reservations about Koch punting and holding against the Titans this week despite his inability to take part in practices in Owings Mills.
“We’re talking about a 15-year vet here,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said Thursday. “We’re talking about a guy who knows how to prepare for a game when called upon. So, I don’t think there’s any concern when you’re talking about Sam, whom I consider one of the truest pros in our game. We’re just hopeful that he can make it back, and if he does, then great.”
Because Townsend — who spent part of training camp with Baltimore — was signed off Kansas City’s practice squad, the Ravens must keep him on the 53-man roster for a minimum of three weeks. As a result, rookie offensive lineman Ben Bredeson was placed on injured reserve to make room on the active roster for Koch. A fourth-round pick from Michigan who’s played sparingly in 10 games, Bredeson appeared on the injury report with a knee issue on Friday.
The Ravens also elevated quarterback Tyler Huntley and offensive lineman R.J. Prince from their practice squad for Sunday’s game in Nashville. Huntley will serve as Lamar Jackson’s backup for the fourth straight game, of course, but Prince’s elevation could signal concern for the availability of right tackle D.J. Fluker, who missed most of the practice week with a knee issue. Should Fluker not play against the Titans, rookie Tyre Phillips would make the start at right tackle.
Saturday marked the first time since Week 14 that the Ravens didn’t elevate a cornerback from the practice squad, which could be a positive sign for the availability of veteran Jimmy Smith. The 32-year-old cornerback has missed three straight games with a shoulder injury, but he’s practiced on a limited basis for the last two weeks. Head coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal on Smith’s status when asked Friday, but the Ravens still have four other cornerbacks on their active roster: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Anthony Averett, and Tramon Williams.
Tennessee elevated linebacker Brooks Reed and offensive lineman Daniel Munyer from its practice squad for Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. kickoff at Nissan Stadium.
