The Los Angeles Rams may have to play most of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals without a kicker. Blake Grupe, signed this week to replace Harrison Mevis, is doubtful to return with a knee injury he suffered while making a tackle on a kickoff in the first quarter at SoFi Stadium.
It came moments after his first kick as a Ram went through. Grupe hit a 44-yard field goal to put Los Angeles up 3-0, then kicked off to Devin Duvernay, who returned it 40 yards before Grupe pushed him out of bounds at the Arizona 47. Grupe was hurt on the play, and the Cardinals turned the field position into a 34-yard Chad Ryland field goal.
The Rams just made this change
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Los Angeles signed Grupe off the New York Jets’ practice squad Tuesday and waived Mevis after the 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills. Mevis missed a 50-yard try in that game and had a 48-yarder blocked in overtime, and he was 5 of 9 on field goals this season.
“In the kicking game, especially with our PAT, field goal, not even close to good enough,” Sean McVay said after the loss. “It cost us the game tonight.”
Grupe, 27, has made 86 of 105 career field goals over stints with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. He was supposed to settle a kicking game that has hurt a 2-3 Rams team more than once this season.
If Grupe can’t return, punter Ethan Evans is the likeliest candidate to handle kicks, and the Rams could lean on two-point tries after touchdowns. Either way, McVay may have to rethink some fourth-down decisions, and the team will need clarity on Grupe’s knee before deciding whether to sign another kicker this week.
