The Los Angeles Rams just added punter Jack Bouwmeester to their 90-man roster this Sunday, a move that immediately spotlights ongoing special teams struggles even with “one of the best punters in the NFL” already on the squad. You don’t sign another punter for no reason, right? Especially with the second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints just around the corner.
The Aussie Arrives With an Exemption
Bouwmeester, who is 27, is an Aussie talent and qualifies for the league’s international pathway program exemption. What does that mean for the Rams? They get to control his rights without him eating up a spot against their practice squad limits. That’s a smart piece of business right there, offering flexibility. This guy’s got some college cred too, playing for Michigan State, Utah, and Texas. He might have gone undrafted this year and got waived by the 49ers last week, but he was first-team All-Pac 12 in 2023 and followed that up with second-team All-Big 12 in 2024. Pretty impressive for a guy they just picked up.
The Real Problem: Hang Time Hurdles
So, if Ethan Evans is supposedly “one of the best punters in the NFL,” why the new signing? Because special teams has been a longstanding headache for Sean McVay, and Evans’ hang time is a legit issue. We’re talking since his rookie season! He can kick for distance, no doubt, but he constantly out-kicks his coverage unit by 15 plus yards. That puts insane pressure on the guys trying to make the tackle, and it’s a problem that needs fixing. Maybe Bouwmeester is just giving L.A. more options, or maybe he’s a backup plan if Evans hits a snag during preseason.
The NFL seems hyped to keep the Aussie on track for Week 1 in Melbourne, which is kinda wild. As for the Rams, they could even stash Bouwmeester on their practice squad after final cuts without it counting against their 16-man limit until another team snags him, or they put him on their 53-man roster. It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward play.
Switching gears for a second, because we gotta keep an eye on the scoreboard: the Dallas Cowboys got the best of the Seattle Seahawks, 17-7. A tough one for the good guys.
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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