Jesse Minter backs Tyler Loop after two long preseason misses for Ravens

The Ravens’ preseason finale offered a fresh reminder of how quickly kickers can swing from routine to scrutiny. Kicker Tyler Loop missed field goals from 58 and 51 yards, and the results landed in the same storyline that followed him into the offseason. According to Yahoo Sports, Ravens special teams coach Jesse Minter responded by expressing confidence that Loop can regroup, even after a difficult recent memory tied to postseason implications.

Loop’s overall preseason production, as reported, was 5-of-8. That includes the two misses of 58 and 51 yards in the finale, but also the makes elsewhere during the exhibition slate. The accuracy gap is the kind of inconsistency coaches typically prefer to iron out early, when roster roles are still being evaluated and special teams units are still tightening their timing and operation.

The emotional weight of this preseason run is not theoretical. The report ties Loop’s current try to rebound from the 44-yard miss that ended the Ravens’ season in Week 17. That detail matters because it shapes how quickly the team will be forced to decide whether the lesson is internal growth or whether it needs external reinforcement through camp competition. Even with Minter’s public vote of confidence, the opening weeks of the regular season are where prior postseason misses become more than a talking point.

In Baltimore’s structure, the kicker is the centerpiece of special teams execution, but the job is supported by a broader unit. Snap, hold, protection, and the operation of the return teams all exist to give the kicker consistent looks. When a kicker is off, it affects the entire chain, which is why special teams coaches often speak to process as much as results. Minter’s confidence, as described by Yahoo Sports, can be read as an attempt to keep the team focused on that process heading into the final evaluations.

The preseason numbers also frame what “good enough” can look like for a team under NFL stakes. A 5-of-8 stretch is not an ideal headline, but it also is not an automatic alarm report by itself. Long attempts can be influenced by wind, protection patterns, and the exact timing of the snap-to-kick window. What the Ravens will be looking for is not only whether Loop converts from makeable distances, but whether his long-range attempts become more efficient and less costly.

For Ravens fans, the next step is straightforward: watch how Loop handles pressure situations and whether the special teams unit provides him with consistent conditions for accuracy. Minter’s message suggests the organization is willing to ride through the preseason corrections. Still, with the memory of the Week 17 miss lingering, the margin for additional setbacks is slim, and each meaningful kick in upcoming game situations will carry extra weight.

Ultimately, this is a classic special teams storyline: a team evaluates more than the final percentage. It looks at whether a kicker’s misses cluster in ways that hint at mechanical timing issues, whether attempts are being set up with reliable operation, and whether the coaching staff believes the problem is correctable before games tighten further. Minter’s confidence in Loop sets the tone, but execution will decide how long that confidence lasts.