The Los Angeles Rams have officially released kicker Harrison Mevis, just one day after a disappointing 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills. The decision comes as the team looks to stabilize its special teams unit, which has struggled significantly throughout the early stages of the season.
To fill the vacancy, the Rams have signed former New Orleans kicker Blake Grupe, who was most recently associated with the New York Jets' practice squad. The turning point for Mevis came during Monday's high-stakes matchup.
He missed an early 50-yard field-goal attempt that could have shifted the momentum in favor of the Rams. The situation worsened in overtime when his 48-yard attempt was blocked by Buffalo Bills defender Greg Rousseau, effectively sealing the Rams' fate.
With these two misses, Mevis has now recorded four missed field goals across five games, placing him at the top of the National Football League (NFL) for the most missed attempts this season. Head coach Sean McVay did not mince words regarding the team's performance, explicitly stating that the placekicking unit "cost us the game." The Rams currently hold a 2-3 record, and the inconsistency in their special teams has become a recurring issue that dates back to the previous season.
The coaching staff felt that a change was necessary to maintain their competitive standing in a tightly contested division. Mevis, who earned the playful nickname 'The Thiccer Kicker' among fans, had initially replaced Joshua Karty and showed early signs of promise.
However, his recent slump proved too costly for the franchise to overlook. The team's management is hopeful that the arrival of Blake Grupe will provide the reliability they have been missing.
Blake Grupe enters the Rams' roster as a four-year NFL veteran. His professional journey includes stints with the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.
During his time with the Colts, Grupe demonstrated impressive accuracy, successfully converting all 11 of his field-goal attempts. The Rams are banking on this track record to help them bounce back in their upcoming fixtures as they aim to improve their season standing.