Overview
- Blake Grupe injured his right knee while making a tackle on a 40-yard kickoff return after hitting a 44-yard field goal, a play that left him limping and later on crutches.
- The Rams announced Grupe was placed on injured reserve on Monday and head coach Sean McVay said the injury is an ACL tear that will keep Grupe out for at least the IR minimum.
- With Grupe sidelined during Sunday’s game, the Rams relied on punter Ethan Evans to kick an extra point and abandoned some kicks in favor of two-point tries and fourth-down attempts.
- Los Angeles worked out veterans Brandon McManus and Matt Prater and signed McManus on Tuesday as the immediate replacement to handle kicking duties for upcoming games.
- The quick turnover from Harrison Mevis to Grupe to McManus illustrates ongoing special-teams instability for the Rams, a problem that is forcing urgent roster moves and changing late-game decision making while Grupe begins rehab.