Rhys

Lloyd

The stocky kicker will probably go back to being inactive on game days. Matt Willis will most likely be waived to make room after the Ravens added him from the practice squad as insurance for Derrick Mason in Week 5.

The Carroll County Times speculates that the addition of Willis may mean Derrick Mason’s status for Sunday is in doubt. Willis could take Devard Darling’s role on special teams if Darling has to play more at wideout. Despite this, Mason has been pretty confident about his chances of starting.

The Ravens aren’t going to like this, as they’d been trying to keep Lloyd from being picked up all year. He’ll now enter the offseason on Carolina’s roster, but is likely only being looked at as a kickoff specialist. Starting placekicker John Kasay is last in the league in touchbacks, with two.

John Kasay has never been great on kickoffs, and will likely lose those duties to Lloyd in 2008 and beyond. Lloyd, a 231-pounder from Dover, England, booted as many touchbacks in Week 17 as Kasay did all last season (two).

We originally thought that the Panthers would have to bring in someone from the outside if Kasay sits, but they haven’t worked anyone out. Lloyd has never kicked in the NFL, but did 16-for-23 in his NFL Europe career.

The former Minnesota Gopher would be returning to handle kickoffs for Ryan Longwell, who posted a below-average 63.7 yards per kickoff in 2009.

Vikings PK Ryan Longwell had five touchbacks last year. It’s scary to think what Lloyd, who had 51 over the last two years outdoors on grass in Carolina, could do in the Metrodome. 35 touchbacks should be within reach.

The Vikings are also interested. Purely a kickoff specialist -- and a very good one -- Lloyd would fall in line behind Lawrence Tynes in New York.

Lloyd is a kickoff specialist only -- not worth the low tender of $1.01 million. He does have a highly impressive 51 touchbacks over the last two seasons and could be re-signed for the minimum salary of $545,000 later on.