Ravens K Justin Tucker says he's spent more time in weight room in preparation for new kickoff format 

Count Justin Tucker among the latest NFL figures reckoning with the new frontier that is the kickoff format in 2024.

The Ravens star and future Pro Football Hall of Famer discussed on Thursday how he’s preparing for the changes to the kickoff.

“Much like a pitcher working on his game, I’m also making similar efforts to find ways to give us an edge,” Tucker shared with reporters after Thursday’s OTA session. “This might include placing the ball in various spots, making it harder for a returner to easily collect the ball. We’re currently evaluating these strategies. Though we’re still in the early stages of what we’re trying to achieve and understand, we’re making progress.”

Tucker has earned his livelihood as one of the most reliable kickers in NFL history. However, like most kickers, the relevance of the kickoff play diminished due to safety-oriented rule changes. These modifications led to fewer returns, thereby turning it into nothing more than a symbolic transfer of possession.

Now, however, there may be times when Tucker needs to tackle, particularly if return teams succeed in creating running lanes for their returners.

“As you mentioned, we’re in the lab, but lately, my lab has been the weight room,” stated Tucker. “This may come as a shock to many of you and several of my teammates, as I don’t usually spend much time in the weight room. However, after watching numerous XFL plays over the past few years, I’ve noticed that the kicker is involved in about 20-25 percent of the tackles. I’ve started to change things up and spend more time there. Now, I need to focus on increasing my shrugs and developing my traps, which will help me prepare for more contact.”

The kickoff changes have been a hot topic this offseason. Pittsburgh’s special teams coordinator Danny Smith tossed out the idea of using Justin Fields as a returner, while Chiefs coordinator Dave Toub wondered aloud whether safety Justin Reid might be a better option on the kickoff than Harrison Butker because of his defensive experience.

This might be an overreaction, though. Prime Video analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein — a driving force behind the kickoff changes that first debuted in the XFL — recently wrote on social media he believed the new format won’t require such drastic changes, because he doesn’t anticipate the kicker to be as involved as most expect.

Nevertheless, Tucker’s readiness for all potential situations demonstrates the doubt many detail-oriented NFL coaches hold. The training camp and preseason will essentially serve as a testing ground for these scenarios. By the time the first week of September rolls around, most should have a good grasp of how to handle the new format.

Expect everyone involved in special teams to maintain utmost diligence in their preparation until then. This summer, Tucker may even surpass his personal best in the weight room.