The kicking carousel in Southern California continues to spin at dizzying speeds. Just when the Los Angeles Rams thought they had found stability on special teams, tragedy struck during kickoff coverage, sending head coach Sean McVay and the front office back to square one. Now, seasoned NFL veteran Brandon McManus has emerged as a top candidate to stabilize the position.
A Costly Tackle: Blake Grupe Lost for the Season
In what turned out to be both his debut and swan song for the season with Los Angeles, kicker Blake Grupe suffered a torn ACL. The injury unfolded on a routine kick return when the undersized specialist felt compelled to make an instinctual, shoulder-to-shoulder tackle on the sideline to prevent a potential touchdown.
While the effort displayed unmistakable grit, the physical toll proved devastating for a player weighing roughly 156 pounds colliding with high-speed returners. The immediate aftermath left the Rams without an active kicker for the second consecutive week.
Sean McVay’s Candid Take on the Incident
Speaking to the media on Monday, Sean McVay held nothing back regarding the emotional and physical impact of losing another specialist:
“He did an instinctual thing to try to knock him out of bounds,” McVay noted. “You’d like us to shoulder leverage the ball up on the front line first so that it doesn’t get spit out to him. But maybe you go lower and avoid the knee injury. It was kind of one of those deals that I felt terrible. He does a great job converting on his kick. Then right after that you’re like, ‘You got to be kidding me.’”
Why Brandon McManus Makes Sense for Los Angeles
With a playoff push on the horizon, the Rams cannot afford growing pains from unproven rookies. General Manager Les Snead, Assistant GM John McKay, and special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone are actively evaluating seasoned veterans, with reports confirming workouts for Brandon McManus and longtime veteran Matt Prater.
Here is why McManus represents a compelling target for the Rams front office:
- Championship Pedigree: A Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos, McManus brings proven poise in high-leverage winter conditions.
- Leg Strength & Range: Throughout his decade-long career in the league, McManus has consistently delivered from 50-plus yards, an essential attribute for McVay’s aggressive offensive schemes.
- Instant Plug-and-Play Reliability: Having handled kicks across multiple stadiums, McManus requires minimal onboarding to take over field goal and kickoff assignments immediately.
What’s Next for the Rams?
Finding a consistent presence between the uprights has been an ongoing puzzle for Los Angeles since parting ways with Harrison Mevis earlier in the campaign. According to team officials via NFL.com, a formal signing is anticipated within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Whether the organization leans toward the experience of Brandon McManus or decides to bring in another free-agent specialist, the objective remains clear: solidify special teams before crucial division matchups decide their postseason fate.
