Los Angeles Rams dey move to sign veteran kicker Brandon McManus, according to NFL Network reports from Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The report come after the Rams lose two kickers within weeks: dem release Harrison Mevis after kicking miscues, and Blake Grupe land on injured reserve after e tear im ACL for im first game with the team.
McManus go become the third kicker in as many weeks to suit up for the Rams, after Mevis and Grupe, if the signing go through. Mevis go 5-for-9 this season before Los Angeles Rams release am. Grupe convert im only attempt in last Sunday loss to Arizona Cardinals, but e injure im knee during a kick return. One report say Grupe tear im ACL while e try make a tackle during the return.
Coach Sean McVay tell reporters on Monday say the team dey work on adding a new kicker very soon. E mention Assistant General Manager John McKay, special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone and General Manager Les Snead as people working on different options, and e talk say something go happen in the next day or two. McVay also react to the 156-pound Grupe decision to attempt shoulder-to-shoulder tackle. E say na instinctual thing to try knock the returner out of bounds, but maybe Grupe for go lower to avoid knee injury. McVay say e feel terrible for Grupe.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also report say the Rams work out veteran kickers Brandon McManus and Matt Prater on Tuesday. Prater don spend 19 years for NFL, including seven seasons with Detroit Lions, seven with Denver Broncos, four with Arizona Cardinals, one with Atlanta Falcons, and the 2025 season with Buffalo Bills. E make Pro Bowl twice, in 2013 and 2016, and last season e appear in 15 games for Buffalo Bills, making 46 of 49 extra points and 18 of 20 field goals. Prater be 42 years old.
McManus last kick in 2025 with Green Bay Packers, where e make 24 of im 30 attempts for regular season. But im final game as Green Bay Packers player end bad: e go 0-for-2 on field goal and 3-for-4 on extra point during playoff loss to Chicago Bears. The 35-year-old get 82% career field-goal success rate and don also appear for regular-season games with Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, apart from Green Bay Packers.
The kicker change dey happen as Los Angeles Rams struggle. Buffalo Bills beat Rams in Week 5, and Mevis miss two field goals for that game, one for overtime wey for win am. Rams enter Week 7 last place for NFC West with 2-4 record.
