New Rams Kicker Blake Grupe Injured in 1st Game Since Replacing 'Thiccer Kicker' Harrison Mevis

The Los Angeles Rams have a kicker problem.

Blake Grupe—who was signed this week to replace Harrison Mevis—suffered a knee injury during Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals while covering a kick-off:

Mevis was just 5-for-9 on field goals this season, which included a miss and blocked attempt during last week's 37-34 overtime loss against the Buffalo Bills. His release didn't come as a major surprise.

Special teams have been an issue for the Rams in general—last season, head coach Sean McVay fired special-teams coordinator Chase Blackburn late in the season after gaffes from that unit contributed to a number of losses.

"This isn't the first time that we've had adversity and the first time that we've had some different things that I have to do a better job of," McVay said of his special teams' group this season. "We'll lean in. We'll go back to work. We'll use these as growth opportunities."

Grupe, 27, was expected to upgrade the kicker position. He started his career with the New Orleans Saints (2023-25) before a five-game stint with the Indianapolis Colts last season, where he was 11-for-11 on field goals and 10-for-10 on extra points. For his career he's 86-for-105 on field goals.

"Those five weeks in Indy were seriously big for me, big for my career," he told reporters this past week. "I was able to get the ball rolling and show what I can do, and that was big for me."

But the Colts gave the starting kicker position back to the previously injured Spencer Shrader over the summer and released Grupe, who then picked up with the New York Jets on their practice squad before the Rams signed him this week.

Unfortunately for both Grupe and the Rams, injury very quickly struck. It had an immediate impact on Sunday—after scoring their first touchdown, the team went for a two-point try instead of kicking and failed to convert.