Rams plan McManus and Prater workouts after Blake Grupe’s season-ending injury
Los Angeles is looking for another kicker after Grupe tore an ACL against Arizona. NFL Network reported that Brandon McManus and Matt Prater were due to work out Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Rams planned to work out veteran kickers Brandon McManus and Matt Prater on Tuesday, October 20, after Blake Grupe tore an ACL in Sunday’s home loss to the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo. The injury has left Los Angeles seeking another kicker ahead of its next game.
Garafolo’s reported plan identifies the two candidates; the Rams have not announced a choice. Coach Sean McVay said Monday that the team was working through its options and expected to have an answer within a day or two, according to a Rams injury update. The team placed Grupe on injured reserve Monday afternoon and said he would miss the rest of the season.
How Grupe’s injury changed the Rams’ kicking plans
Grupe had joined the Rams the previous week to replace Harrison Mevis. He made a 44-yard field goal in his Rams debut against Arizona before hurting his knee while pushing returner Devin Duvernay out of bounds after a 40-yard kickoff return, according to the report carrying Garafolo’s account. Grupe’s stint ended before the first quarter was over.
Punter Ethan Evans then handled most of the kicking in the Rams’ 18-16 loss. McVay went for a two-point conversion after a Blake Corum touchdown catch; Evans later made the first placekick of his NFL career, an extra point with 47 seconds left that gave Los Angeles a 16-15 lead. Arizona’s Chad Ryland answered with a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
The reported auditions would give Los Angeles a chance to assess two experienced free agents before Sunday’s game at Las Vegas. A signing this week would bring the Rams their third kicker in three games: Mevis was released after a missed field goal and a blocked attempt in the Week 5 overtime loss to Buffalo, and Grupe was injured in Week 6.
What McManus and Prater bring to the workout
Prater, 42, made 18 of 20 regular-season field goals for Buffalo in 2025, according to the report. It says McManus, 35, made 44 of 51 across two seasons with Green Bay, including 24 of 30 in 2025. Those records give the Rams two established candidates, but the reported workouts alone do not establish that either has been selected.
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Sources and context
- NFL insider reveals Rams’ plan to replace injured K Blake GrupeYahoo Sports / Gridiron Heroics; report credited to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo
- Rams Injury Updates: Blake Grupe and Poona Ford sustain season-ending injuries vs. Cardinals; Davante Adams out 6-10 weeks after rupturing hamstring; latest on Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffieLos Angeles Rams
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.