Brandon McManus becomes Rams' third kicker this season amid special teams woes
The Los Angeles Rams have signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus as their third kicker this season after Blake Grupe suffered a torn ACL in Week 6, deepening the instability in a special teams unit already rocked by inconsistent play. Grupe was placed on injured reserve on Monday, October 20, 2026, following his debut for the Rams, where he made a 44-yard field goal before tearing his knee while pushing Devin Duvernay out of bounds on a kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams had previously released Harrison Mevis ahead of Week 6 after he went 5-for-9 on field goals, including a missed 50-yard attempt and a blocked 48-yard game-winning try in Week 5. McManus, who appeared in 25 games for the Green Bay Packers over the last two seasons, joins the Rams after they hosted workouts for two veteran kickers—McManus and Matt Prater—on Tuesday, October 21, 2026, to replace Grupe.
McManus’s arrival marks the third kicking change for the Rams in as many weeks, following the release of Mevis and the signing of Grupe. The team’s special teams unit has been a major liability, with Grupe’s injury accelerating a crisis that began with Mevis’s struggles.
Coach Sean McVay had expressed confidence in Grupe before his injury.
McManus, a veteran with stints in Denver, Jacksonville, and Green Bay, brings experience, having gone 44-of-51 on field goals in his last two seasons. Prater, another veteran with 19 NFL seasons, including an 18-of-20 performance for the Buffalo Bills in the 2026 regular season, was also considered but did not secure the role.
[ADD: The Rams’ kicking instability follows a critical juncture in the season, though no specific opponent or date for the upcoming game was confirmed.]
This report also draws on coverage from Pro Football Talk.
