Ravens Add Wide Receiver Gage Larvadain, Release Kicker Jake Moody

The Baltimore Ravens made two notable practice-squad moves Tuesday, signing wide receiver Gage Larvadain while releasing kicker Jake Moody. The transactions come two days after Baltimore opened the 2026 regular season with a 41-23 victory and lost two wide receivers to injuries during the game.

Baltimore’s decision to add Larvadain addresses an immediate depth concern at wide receiver. Zay Flowers is dealing with a hamstring injury and is considered day-to-day, while rookie Ja’Kobi Lane suffered a wrist injury that could keep him sidelined significantly longer.

The other half of Tuesday’s transaction provides some clarity at kicker. Baltimore released Moody after Tyler Loop responded to his shaky preseason with an excellent performance in the regular-season opener. Loop made both of his field-goal attempts, including a 57-yarder, and converted all five of his extra-point attempts.

Ravens bring in Gage Larvadain

Larvadain, 23, joins Baltimore’s practice squad after spending his rookie season with Cleveland in 2025. The 5-foot-8 wide receiver entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent following his college career at South Carolina.

Larvadain appeared in 13 games as a rookie and caught seven passes for 71 yards. He also handled primary punt-return responsibilities, recording 24 returns for 167 yards. That special-teams experience could make him particularly useful for a Ravens roster that suddenly needs additional depth at wide receiver.

The move does not necessarily mean Larvadain will immediately play a major offensive role. Baltimore has several internal options who could receive increased opportunities, but adding another receiver gives the coaching staff insurance while it determines how long Flowers and Lane will be unavailable.

Larvadain’s experience as a returner also gives Baltimore another potential option on special teams. Players near the bottom of an NFL wide receiver depth chart frequently need to contribute in multiple phases, and Larvadain has already demonstrated that ability during regular-season action.

Injuries create sudden concern at wide receiver

Baltimore entered the regular season with considerable optimism surrounding its receiving corps, but the situation changed quickly Sunday.

Flowers produced a spectacular first half, catching five passes for a career-high 150 receiving yards and a touchdown before leaving with a hamstring injury. Head coach Jesse Minter described Flowers as day-to-day Monday and indicated the team felt relatively positive about his situation, although Baltimore will monitor him closely.

The Ravens have additional reason to be cautious because Flowers dealt with a hamstring problem during training camp. Baltimore shut him down for approximately two weeks after he suffered that injury during joint practices with Minnesota.

Lane’s situation appears more serious.

The rookie wide receiver injured his wrist during his NFL debut and was ruled out at halftime. NFL Network reported that the initial diagnosis was a fractured wrist and that Lane could miss several weeks. Baltimore continued evaluating the injury Monday, with Minter saying Lane’s absence could be longer than Flowers’.

Lane had already established himself as an intriguing part of Baltimore’s offense following an impressive training camp and preseason. He caught one pass for 11 yards in his debut and also had a four-yard touchdown reception erased by a holding penalty.

Losing Flowers and Lane during the same game left Baltimore with Rashod Bateman, LaJohntay Wester and Chris Moore as its available receivers during the second half. That lack of depth made adding another receiver a logical priority entering Week 2.

Bateman could see expanded role

If Flowers cannot play Sunday, Bateman would become one of the most important pieces of Baltimore’s passing attack.

Bateman played 53 of the Ravens’ 68 offensive snaps in the opener but did not officially record a reception. One of his catches was erased by a penalty. Minter nevertheless praised Bateman’s work and said he expects productive performances from him moving forward.

Baltimore also has Devontez Walker available as a potential reinforcement. Walker missed the opener because of an injury but has a chance to return this week. The Ravens could additionally turn toward Wester, Elijah Sarratt and Moore depending on Flowers’ status.

Moore already demonstrated his value after being elevated from the practice squad for the opener. The veteran produced a 53-yard reception and added a 42-yard kickoff return. His long reception helped set up a Baltimore touchdown and was his longest catch since 2021.

Larvadain therefore joins a receiving room where opportunities could change considerably over the next several days. Flowers’ availability will have the largest impact, while Lane’s expected absence could create a longer-term opening further down the depth chart.

Ravens release Jake Moody

The decision to release Moody is also significant because it appears to end Baltimore’s short-lived kicker competition.

Baltimore added Moody after Loop struggled during the preseason. Loop missed three of his eight preseason field-goal attempts, creating legitimate questions about whether the Ravens were comfortable entering the regular season with the young kicker handling the job.

Moody gave Baltimore an experienced alternative and created competition entering Week 1.

Loop answered emphatically.

He connected from 57 yards at the end of the first half and later drilled a 45-yard field goal during the second half. He also converted all five extra points, producing 11 points in his first regular-season appearance of 2026.

The 57-yard kick was particularly important. Not only did Loop demonstrate that he possesses the leg strength to convert from long distance, but he delivered in a regular-season environment after enduring questions throughout the preseason.

Baltimore releasing Moody two days later sends a strong signal regarding the organization’s confidence in Loop.

Loop earns his opportunity

Minter remained publicly supportive of Loop throughout the competition and reiterated that confidence following Sunday’s victory.

The Ravens clearly wanted Loop to earn the position rather than simply hand him the job. Bringing in Moody created legitimate pressure after the preseason misses, and Baltimore had an experienced alternative available if Loop continued struggling.

Instead, Loop responded with perhaps exactly the type of performance Baltimore needed to see.

His 57-yard field goal came at the end of the first half, while his 45-yard conversion in the second half helped push Baltimore’s advantage to three scores. Baltimore’s special teams performed well overall, with rookie punter Ryan Eckley also putting all three of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Loop still has to demonstrate that he can maintain that consistency throughout a full NFL season. One strong game does not erase every concern generated during the preseason, but Baltimore’s decision to release Moody indicates the Ravens believe Loop did enough to eliminate the need for an active competition.

That is an important development for Baltimore.

Kicker uncertainty can become a significant issue for a championship-caliber team, particularly in close games late in the season. The Ravens have spent much of their recent history enjoying stability at the position, making Loop’s development one of the more closely watched special-teams storylines entering 2026.

His opening performance was an encouraging start.

Baltimore prepares for Week 2

The Ravens now turn their attention toward their home opener against the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium.

The biggest storyline throughout the week will be Flowers’ availability. His first-half performance Sunday demonstrated just how dangerous Baltimore’s passing attack can become when Flowers and Lamar Jackson are operating at full speed.

Flowers’ 150 receiving yards came in only one half of football. Losing that production would naturally change Baltimore’s offensive approach, even with Jackson, Derrick Henry, Bateman and the rest of the offense available.

Lane’s injury creates another challenge because the rookie had earned a meaningful role before his first NFL game. Baltimore will have to replace those snaps, whether through Walker, Moore, Wester, Sarratt or eventually Larvadain.

Minter expressed confidence in the receivers already on Baltimore’s roster following the injuries. That confidence will be tested if Flowers cannot return immediately.

Larvadain gives Baltimore another option and some additional insurance.

The Ravens do not need him to immediately replace Flowers’ production. They need him to learn the offense, provide depth, contribute on special teams if activated and be prepared if Baltimore’s injury situation requires another receiver on game day.

MSB Take

These are two smart and understandable moves for the Ravens following Week 1.

Adding Gage Larvadain gives Baltimore insurance at exactly the position where it suddenly needs it. Zay Flowers’ injury does not currently appear to be a long-term concern, but hamstring injuries can be difficult to manage, particularly when Flowers already dealt with one during training camp. Ja’Kobi Lane’s wrist injury creates an even greater need for another receiver because his absence could stretch beyond a single game.

Larvadain also brings special-teams experience, which increases his chances of becoming useful beyond simply providing another body at practice. Baltimore has other receivers ahead of him, but injuries can change a depth chart quickly during an NFL season.

Releasing Jake Moody might be the more interesting move.

The Ravens challenged Tyler Loop after his difficult preseason, and Loop responded exactly how Baltimore hoped he would. Making a 57-yard field goal under regular-season pressure was significant, and following it with another successful kick from 45 yards gave the Ravens confidence that the preseason problems did not have to define him.

Now the job belongs to Loop without Moody sitting behind him as an immediate alternative.

That comes with pressure, but it also demonstrates trust.

Baltimore entered Week 1 with questions at kicker and considerable depth at wide receiver. Two days later, the situation has almost flipped. Loop strengthened his grip on the kicking job, while injuries forced the Ravens to search for additional receiving depth.

The roster will continue evolving throughout the season, but Tuesday’s moves addressed two of Baltimore’s most immediate personnel questions heading into the home opener.