Rams Kicker Blake Grupe Injures Knee on Kickoff Tackle in Debut
Grupe, signed earlier in the week, left the game after a collision with the Cardinals' returner.
Los Angeles Rams kicker Blake Grupe sustained a knee injury on a kickoff tackle Sunday, forcing him out of his debut game just moments after successfully converting a field goal. The injury occurred on the play immediately following Grupe's 44-yard field goal in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals.
Grupe was the last line of defense on the ensuing kickoff when Cardinals returner Devin Duvernay broke through coverage. The kicker attempted to make a tackle, lowering his shoulder, but sustained a knee injury in the collision. Trainers attended to Grupe on the field before he was taken to the locker room and later deemed doubtful to return.
This incident adds to the Rams' recent struggles with their kicking position. The team had signed Grupe earlier in the week after waiving kicker Harrison Mevis, who missed an overtime game-winning field goal attempt against the Buffalo Bills. The Rams' special teams unit now faces another challenge with their third kicker potentially needed within a week.
Following Grupe's exit, punter Ethan Evans began taking practice kicks. Evans has no prior NFL field goal attempts. Head coach Sean McVay will likely need to rely on aggressive fourth-down conversions and Evans as an emergency option, necessitating a search for a new primary kicker by Monday.