The Rams are staring down another week without a kicker, all because Blake Grupe, a 156-pound rookie, tore his ACL trying to make a tackle in his very first game. It’s a brutal break for Grupe and a wild scenario that leaves the team scrambling just days before they need someone to kick field goals.
A 156-Pound Kicker Tries to Be a Hero and the Rams Pay the Price
Talk about an unfortunate debut. In his only game with the Rams, Blake Grupe went for an “instinctual thing to try to knock him out of bounds” during a kick return. This “instinctual thing” was a shoulder-to-shoulder tackle attempt, and it ended with Grupe, all 156 pounds of him, suffering a torn ACL. Coach Sean McVay, clearly frustrated, told reporters he felt “terrible” for Grupe. He even admitted his immediate thought after seeing the injury was, “You got to be shitting me,” right after Grupe had converted his kick. McVay mentioned wishing they’d “shoulder leverage the ball up on the front line first so that it doesn’t get spit out to him,” and even suggested Grupe “maybe go lower and avoid the knee injury” instead of “taking him on high.” It’s a tough spot, no doubt, but the result is devastating for both the player and the team.
Rams Are Hunting For a Kicker, Again
So here we are, the Rams are without a kicker for the second straight week. You can practically hear the urgency in McVay’s voice. On Monday, he confirmed the team is “in the process” of adding a new kicker “very soon,” like in the “next day or two.” Assistant General Manager John McKay, special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, and General Manager Les Snead are all on the case, working through “different options.” This isn’t just about finding a body; it’s about finding someone who can step in cold and deliver for a team that desperately needs stability in its kicking game.
The pressure is on for McKay, Ventrone, and Snead to find a reliable leg, and fast. The Rams need someone who can come in and make an immediate impact, putting points on the board without the added drama of a tackling injury.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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