The Baltimore Ravens have poached punter Johnny Townsend from the Kansas City Chiefs— not to be confused with starting punter and his brother Tommy Townsend.
The Ravens found themselves in a pickle when veteran punter Sam Koch was required to go on the reserve/COVID-19 list due to an inconclusive test. That means that Koch would be unable to play in Week 17 and with Baltimore still competing for a playoff berth, they needed a quick solution.
According to the NFL’s official transaction report on Thursday, Johnny Townsend was that quick solution for the Ravens. The Chiefs had signed the older Townsend brother to the practice squad in the middle of November. It was a move that they made with the situation that Baltimore is currently going through in mind. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub explained that the expanded practice squad allowed them the luxury of carrying an extra specialist if something were to happen to Tommy or even Harrison Butker.
Now the Chiefs are vulnerable in that area if a player needed to go on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The good news is that they now have another free roster spot available on the practice squad and they’ll likely bring in some new players, specialists or otherwise to fill that vacant spot.
