John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens have not lost their faith in embattled kicker Justin Tucker.
In the Ravens 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tucker missed two field goals that would have essentially won the game for Baltimore. Instead, the legendary kicker is left scratching his head as to how to break out of his slump, which saw him miss a 47 and a 50-yard attempt in the loss.
Despite his conversion rate falling to 72.7 percent this season, Harbaugh still believes in the soon-to-be-35-year-olds ability to get one through the uprights. Speaking to reporters, Harbaugh reiterated his confidence in Tucker, sharing the team is fully on board with the struggling kicker at this point in the season.
No, no, theres no thought to that, Harbaugh said when asked if the Ravens had considered getting additional insurance for Tucker, per NBC Sports. The best option right now is to get Justin back on point. Because hes fully capable of doing it, certainly havent lost any confidence in Justin Tucker.
You saw that on the 54-yarder we sent him out for, and he drilled it. Thats the Justin Tucker that he wants to see and we all want to see on every kick. Hes definitely our best option, and hes going to make a lot of kicks, I really believe that, going forward.
But its up to him. Its up to him and the guys he works with every day to make those balls go straight. Competition right now, at this time, no, thats not something we want for Justin. Weve just got to compete to get better and make those kicks.
John Harbaugh reiterated his faith in Justin Tucker amid a disastrous season for the kicker (
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
This season, Tucker has missed six attempts and is one away from tying his career-worst, which he set in 2015 after going 33-of-40. Additionally, Sunday was just the sixth time in Tuckers career that he missed multiple kicks in a single game, dropping his conversion to 89.3 percent, behind Eddie Pineiro (89.4) as the leagues all-time most accurate kicker.
Harbaugh mentioned how the tandem of Tucker and Jordan Stout, as the holder, will need to figure out what to do moving forward. Still, the 62-year-old believes the two will get on the same page sooner rather than later as the Ravens trudge to the playoffs.
They work together, Harbaugh said, per ESPN. I think when things go well, Justin credits those guys really well. I think they all take responsibility for every good thing and for everything that doesnt go well.
Still, Tucker is exuding the same confidence Harbaugh and the Ravens have in him. Speaking to reporters after Baltimores loss, the legendary kicker claimed as much.
Im still confident Im going to go out there and nail every single kick, Tucker admitted, according to ESPN. Part of the way we stay confident is by continuing to work and trust the process. I might sound like a broken record, but its a part of what brings us success is just trusting the process and then taking it one kick at a time.