In his first and only game with the Rams, kicker Blake Grupe suffered a torn ACL while making a tackle on a punt return. That leaves the Rams without a kicker. For the second week in a row.
On Monday, coach Sean McVay told reporters that the Rams will add a new tackle very soon.
“We’re in the process,” McVay said. “(Assistant General Manager) John McKay, (special teams coordinator) Bubba (Ventrone), (General Manager) Les Snead, those guys are working on some different options. Certainly, we’ll have something here in the next day or two.”
McVay was also asked about the 156-pounder’s decision to attempt a back-to-back tackle during the comeback that resulted in his injury.
“(H)e did an instinctive thing to try to knock it out of bounds,” McVay said. “You wish we’d get the ball up the front line so it doesn’t get spit on him. But maybe you go lower and avoid the knee injury. It was one of those deals that I felt terrible. He does a great job converting with his shot. Then right after that you’re like, ‘You’ve got to do me.’ I feel terrible for him. The only thing I would say is maybe I go down instead of bringing it up.”
It’s a difficult situation for any striker, especially the one who is the smallest player on the pitch. His choice was to try for a shoulder tackle or basically get trampled.
For the Rams, it’s a matter of finding the right guy to replace the guy who replaced Harrison Mevis. They are it is said to be working Brandon McManus and Matt Prater on Tuesday.