The Titans made an interesting roster move today. Tennessee signed practice squad kicker Brayden Narveson to the active roster, which by itself isn’t that interesting. What’s interesting is that Narveson’s stay on the active roster seems to have been made fairly permanent (for this season). Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that the kicker’s deal with the team has another year tacked on, securing Narveson for the 2025 season, as well. 
The immediate use of signing Narveson from the practice squad to the active roster is as a backup kicker. The Titans’ regular kicker, Nick Folk, is listed as questionable this week after only participating in one practice this week in a limited capacity as he deals with an abdomen injury. The veteran kicker played through a groin injury last week, but it’s his abdomen bothering him in Week 16. While he’s listed as questionable, there’s belief that he won’t be active against the Colts, hence Narveson’s promotion.
The secondary use of signing Narveson, especially with the additional year added on, is as a potential kicker for the future. This isn’t a knock on Folk in the slightest. In his two years as the primary placekicker in Nashville, Folk has been an incredible 50 for 52, making 11 of 12 from over 50 yards. He led the NFL in field goal conversion percentage last year, and he’s leading the field in that stat this year, as well. He missed two extra point attempts last year, but with a perfect 2024 season, he’s 53 of 55 as a Titan after touchdowns. If Folk misses tomorrow’s divisional matchup, it’ll be his first missed game since 2019.
If anything, Narveson is being brought on as kicking competition for Folk for next year. If Tennessee decides to re-sign Folk, who’s playing on a contract year, the 40-year-old will likely be looking for a pretty good deal. If the Titans fear Folk will regress after crossing the 40-year-old mark, Narveson will provide competition; if they fear Folk will fetch too high a price, Narveson will be available as a cheaper option.
Narveson, an undrafted rookie out of NC State (after stops at Iowa State and Western Kentucky), was originally signed by the Titans. He wasn’t renowned for his accuracy, only connecting on 78 percent of his kicks in college, but he had a big leg, with a long of 57. After losing his first kicking competition with Folk, Narveson was waived and claimed by the Packers. He was named Green Bay’s primary kicker to start the season but was waived after missing five of his 17 attempts. He re-signed to Tennessee’s practice squad after clearing waivers.
Joining Narveson from the practice squad for tomorrow’s gameday will be defensive end Khalid Duke and offensive guard Arlington Hambright. Unlike Narveson, both Duke and Hambright will revert back to the team’s practice squad after this weekend.