The Los Angeles Rams are bringing back a familiar face to their special teams unit, signing kicker Joshua Karty to the practice squad on Wednesday. The move comes just days after Los Angeles signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus ahead of Week 7, making Karty’s return an interesting development as the team continues searching for consistency at the position.
According to the team’s announcement, Los Angeles also signed long snapper Jake McQuaide and linebacker Jon Rhattigan to the practice squad. The
Rams have cycled through multiple kickers amid their special teams struggles, and Karty’s return provides additional depth at a position that has become a concern.
Karty was selected by the Rams in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He made a solid impression during his rookie campaign, converting 29 of 34 field-goal attempts (85.3%) and 32 of 36 extra-point attempts. However, his performance declined during the 2025 season, when he made just 10 of 15 field goals and 23 of 26 extra points before Los Angeles released him. Across 25 regular-season games with the Rams, Karty converted 39 of 49 field-goal attempts and scored 172 points.
After being waived by Los Angeles in November 2025, Karty initially returned to the Rams on their practice squad. The Arizona Cardinals then signed him off that practice squad in December, giving him another opportunity elsewhere in the NFC West. Arizona re-signed Karty in April 2026, but released him in June, leaving him available to return to Los Angeles. He did not appear in a game for Arizona during his previous stint with the organization.
The timing of Karty’s return is particularly noteworthy. The Rams signed McManus on October 20 after Blake Grupe suffered a season-ending knee injury during his debut against the Arizona Cardinals. McManus was brought in after Harrison Mevis struggled earlier in the season, adding to Los Angeles’ revolving door at kicker.
Karty’s practice-squad signing does not necessarily mean the Rams are preparing to replace McManus. Instead, it gives the team another option while providing Karty with a chance to rebuild his confidence and potentially work his way back onto the active roster.
For a Rams team trying to stabilize its special teams, reuniting with a former draft pick is a move worth watching. Whether Karty eventually gets another opportunity to kick in a game remains to be seen, but Los Angeles is clearly keeping its options open.
The Los Angeles Rams could have a specific role in mind for Joshua Karty beyond simply providing insurance at kicker. Karty has experience using a knuckleball-style kickoff, a technique that can create unpredictable ball movement and make returns more difficult for opposing special teams. With the Sean McVay recently commenting on his frustrations with kickoff coverage, bringing Karty back could allow them to experiment with that approach while keeping Brandon McManus available for field goals and extra points. Although there is no confirmation that this is Los Angeles’ plan, Karty’s kickoff ability could provide an interesting wrinkle for a struggling unit.
