Rams’ new kicker Blake Grupe forced out with injury just minutes into debut

Rams' new kicker Blake Grupe forced out with injury just minutes into debut.

Key points

• 18 to cap off the Rams' opening drive against the Arizona Cardinals and nailed a 44-yard field goal.
• Adam Kaufman breaks down his NFL Week 6 best bets, explaining why the Panthers and Rams are smart plays and what makes both matchups worth backing.
• NFL Week 6 best bets: Why you should lock in the Panthers and Rams.
• Rams punter Ethan Evans was spotted on the sideline kicking into the net as Grupe headed to the locker room.
• Fox afterwards noted on the broadcast that Grupe went into the blue medical tent before heading back to the locker room, where he remains.

Adam Kaufman breaks down his NFL Week 6 best bets, explaining why the Panthers and Rams are smart plays and what makes both matchups worth backing. The Los Angeles Rams might already need another kicker.

Blake Grupe, signed this week after Harrison Mevis was booted for missing a potential 48-yard game-winning field goal in overtime against the Buffalo Bills, was called upon Sunday, Oct. 18 to cap off the Rams' opening drive against the Arizona Cardinals and nailed a 44-yard field goal.

On the ensuing kickoff, the 27-year-old out of Notre Dame and Arkansas State lowered his shoulder to push Cardinals kick returner Devin Duvernay out of bounds at the 47-yard line.

Grupe stayed down on all fours after the play, visibly in pain, and had to be supported off the field by the training staff.

Fox afterwards noted on the broadcast that Grupe went into the blue medical tent before heading back to the locker room, where he remains. He is doubtful to return with a knee injury. Who is the Rams' emergency kicker?

Rams punter Ethan Evans was spotted on the sideline kicking into the net as Grupe headed to the locker room. He's never attempted a field goal in his NFL career. He does have experience as a placekicker in college, nevertheless, where he went 10-for-18 at Wingate University and hit a career-long 41-yarder on Nov. 5, 2022.

NFL teams rarely carry two kickers on a roster, so in cases like this, an emergency kicker is usually called upon. Evans will probable kick if necessary, but Grupe's absence will almost surely produce McVay more aggressive when his offense is in field goal range. Rams' two-point conversion attempt almost ends in disaster.

McVay's aforementioned aggressiveness wasted no time in showing up with the Rams going for two after a 15-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Blake Corum rather than letting Evans take the PAT. Stafford stood in the pocket, trying to find a way to obtain the ball to Devontae Adams on the back pylon until he secured rocked on a blindside sack from Josh Sweat that forced a fumble.

Cardinals D-lineman LJ Collier scooped the ball up and ran it all the way down to the Rams' 35-yard line before Jordan Whittington created a diving tackle to save LA from giving up the two points to Arizona. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, rams new kicker Blake Grupe forced out with injury just minutes into is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.