Blake Grupe’s debut with the Los Angeles Rams lasted only a single kick. He injured his knee defending an early return in the game against the Arizona Cardinals on October 18, immediately getting ruled out for the rest of the game. This dude was seen on crutches after the game too, which means he’s probably sidelined for a while. Talk about rough! The Rams brought Grupe in to replace Harrison Mevis after last week’s kicker struggles, and now they’re right back where they started. It’s a total mess.
Grupe’s One-Kick Nightmare
Seriously, one kick. That’s all Grupe got before he went down. The Rams had already been through it with Mevis, dealing with kicker issues that forced them to make a change. They thought Grupe was the answer, bringing him in for a fresh start. But now, after that brutal October 18 game, they’ve got to hit the panic button again. This team can’t catch a break, and their kicker situation is a revolving door of bad luck. They basically shot themselves in the foot by ending up here, needing a replacement for the guy who was supposed to be the replacement.
Who’s Next For The Rams? Digging Through the Options
So, with Grupe likely on injured reserve, the Rams are back on the hunt. The options aren’t looking amazing, but they gotta pick somebody. First up, there’s Tanner Brown, a free agent who’s been crushing it in the UFL. He played for the Louisville Kings, and some folks even thought the Rams should have gone with him over Grupe to begin with. Brown was undrafted in 2023 and actually signed with the Rams then, but they let him go after training camp, deciding neither he nor another rookie were good enough, picking veteran Brett Maher instead. Away from the Rams, his career took off. He’s reportedly the best kicker in the UFL, making all three of his attempts from beyond sixty yards last season for a four-point play in that league. Overall, he nailed 25 of 28 opportunities. This guy’s got a big leg, and maybe the Rams need to revisit what they missed.
Then there’s Charlie Smyth, currently on the Saints’ practice squad. Poaching a player like this is tricky though because NFL rules say he has to stay on the 53-man roster for three games. That could mean rostering two kickers if he doesn’t pan out. Smyth is a risk himself, having only played in six regular season games, hitting 12 of 16 field goal attempts with a long of 57. He did convert all 13 extra point tries. The Saints can keep Smyth on their practice squad as an International Player Pathway program guy, meaning he doesn’t count against traditional slots since he’s a former soccer player from Northern Ireland.
Lastly, Jake Moody is out there as a free agent. He’s had rough stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders, and the Baltimore Ravens just released him from their practice squad in mid-September. Last year with Washington, he made 10 of 11 field goals and 10 of 11 extra points across six games. But honestly, no one’s really seen enough from Moody to keep him around long-term. This is a tough spot for the Rams, choosing from guys with question marks all over their resumes. They have to make a move, and fast, to stabilize this position.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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