The Los Angeles Rams made a change at kicker when they replaced Harrison Mevis with Blake Grupe, and Grupe gets the chance to rock and roll on Sunday. How much of a leash will Sean McVay give Grupe? How many attempts can we expect to see in his first game with the Rams?
It’s all very interesting as the Rams hope they can at least improve their kicking position in the short-term, if not the long-term. Grupe is getting the chance. The team and the fans will see if he can take advantage.
The Rams need
a win more than anything on Sunday.
Rams better hope they get Colts’ Blake Grupe, not the Saints’ (ramblinfan)
“Like the Rams’ Joshua Karty, Grupe was released by the New Orleans Saints, the team that originally signed him in 2023, in late November after a rough start. The Colts picked up early the next month and Grupe was spotless the rest of the way: 11-of-11 on field goals, 10-of-10 on extra points.
That’s the version the Rams will hope they get for as long as Grupe holds the job. If the other Grupe rears his head, he won’t have the gig for long.
Can Blake Grupe approximate his Colts precision with Rams?
Here’s a reason for hope: although Grupe wasn’t often asked to make long kicks in New Orleans, he promptly banged through a career-long 60-yarder with the Colts.“
Sean McVay believes the Harrison Mevis blocked field goal would have missed anyway (sports.yahoo)
“And it wasn’t just that the potential game-winning field goal from 48 yards was blocked. McVay believes, even without the effort from Gregory Rousseau to get a hand on the ball, the kick would have missed.
“I didn’t think it would have gone in, I did not,” McVay told reporters on Friday. “I could be wrong, but it didn’t look like the trajectory was on alignment.”
If so, the block straightened it out. And it nearly had enough distance to clear the crossbar.
With Mevis gone, Blake Grupe takes over.
“He has a nice demeanor about himself,” McVay said regarding the team’s new kicker. “There’s a quiet confidence, but a humility that you want. I’m looking forward to seeing him produce and then I think it’s part of our job to put him in positions that have successful outcomes. Ideally, it’s more extra points than anything else.”
Rams Add 6-Foot-4, 311-Pound OL & Former UDFA CB for Cardinals Game (heavy.com)
“The team announced its “Roster Moves” with a list posted on X on October 17.
Activated from Reserve OL Keagen Trost
Activated from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) CB Cam Lampkin
Trost, 25, was a third-round pick, taken 93rd overall by the Rams in the 2026 draft. The 6-foot-4, 311-pound offensive tackle has been sidelined on injured reserve since three days ahead of the Rams’ regular-season opener.
“He has a broad, proportional build and plays with good body control/firmness through contact,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote ahead of the 2026 draft. “Pro edge speed could push him inside to guard, where his tackle experience and ability to play in gap or zone scheme are differentiators. Position versatility, toughness and a ready-made frame give Trost a chance to eventually become a starter.”
Know Before You Go: Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium (therams.com)
“As the official healthcare partner of the Rams, Cedars-Sinai is honored to sponsor the Crucial Catch game.
Cedars-Sinai Cancer is one of the nation’s premier clinical and research destinations for cancer care. Serving one of the most diverse populations in the country, Cedars-Sinai Cancer offers interventions and screening services to patients across the Los Angeles region and beyond. Researchers have launched innovative clinical trials aimed at improving treatment for an array of cancers. Together, Cedars-Sinai and the Rams amplify these efforts to advance cancer care and survivorship locally, nationally and internationally through their Crucial Catch activations.“
Rams activate 3rd-round rookie off IR, promote CB from practice squad (ramswire)
“Trost had been on IR all season, missing the first five games with a hamstring injury that he suffered in the first quarter of the Rams’ preseason opener in August. Now that he’s been activated, he could provide much-needed depth at offensive tackle while Alaric Jackson serves his one-game suspension.
Lampkin has been promoted from the practice squad again, which could be an insurance policy in case Trent McDuffie is unable to play due to his groin injury. Lampkin’s elevation doesn’t mean McDuffie will be out, but it’s certainly a backup plan for Los Angeles.“
Los Angeles Rams Get Good News on Myles Garrett After NFL Warning (sports.yahoo)
“”I believe Garrett, who’s made more than $180 million on the field, gets to keep some of his money because of the deal recently struck between the NFL and NFL Players Association. Last week the two sides issued a joint statement saying the league would relax its fines on player celebrations and that when ‘conduct falls into a gray area, the league will contact the player and provide direction before imposing discipline.'”
Rams’ Myles Garrett Catches Break From NFL
Jones argued that while it was not a celebration from Garrett, “warn first, fine later applies” to the Rams star’s situation.
“It seems the league might be offering a small olive branch to players in this area, which would explain how Jameson Williams, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins had their fines rescinded after some rather cockamamie excuses,” Jones wrote.“
NFL Drops Hammer With Punishments Over Los Angeles Rams Game (heavy.com)
“Bills running back James Cook took a handoff and gained five yards. Josaiah Stewart and Kam Curl made the stop, but Fiske was called for a facemask over his attempt that fell short. It avee the Bills an additional 15 yards.
Fiske’s fine is a standard-issue amount for a first-time infraction.
A second infraction could see Fiske incur a fine as high as $17,911, according to the NFL’s public-facing manual.“
Bradley Chubb Fined for Taunting in Exchange That Led to Alaric Jackson Punch After Bills-Rams(bleacherreport)
“Chubb told his side of the story to reporters on Wednesday.
“I’ll tell you exactly what I said,” Chubb began. “I’ve heard I was talking about his mom. That’s not true at all. I said, ‘We’re gonna see y’all’s ass again. And when we see you again, all that chipping ain’t gonna save you. That tight end and guard is not going to save you.’ He said, ‘What’d you say?’ I said, ‘That chip’s not gonna save you. The guard’s not gonna save you.’ And then boom.”
The Cardinals must show up vs. Rams or a volatile fanbase may lose it (arizonasports.com)
“Today, the team and the mood have changed dramatically. Bidwill is feeling unprecedented heat. Billboards are imploring him to sell the team. An online petition gathered over 1,300 signatures and was forwarded to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The groundswell of revolt has revealed a deeply resentful fan base that has seen too many overmatched coaches, too many failed rebuilds, too many failed report cards over the past 11 years. A fan base that has seen too many lawsuits, too many failed draft picks and far too much losing.
The Cardinals are 62-106 since the magical season of 2015, and from Cris Carter to Keyshawn Johnson to media members in other cities, our NFL team is once again a punching bag.
“They’re awful. The way they do things is awful,” Carter said on a February podcast. “(Fitzgerald) was lucky to survive his career there.”
NFL announces fines following the Bills’ win at Rams (wgrz)
“Jackson was initially suspended two games, but that penalty has since been dropped down to one.
Chubb received a fine of $14,329 for taunting.
Running back James Cook was docked $21,167 for unnecessary roughness, for what the NFL deemed improper use of the helmet, during a run that happened late in the first quarter. There was no flag on the play.
Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was fined $11,194 for striking/kicking/kneeing on a play with roughly eight minutes left in regulation. That’s when Rams running back Kyren Williams lost a yard on a second-and-goal carry from the Buffalo 4-yard line. No flag was thrown on that play.“
Comment of the day:
“If the special teams unit makes any type of mistake this week, the ST coordinator should absolutely be gone after this game even if we easily… Mcvay has no patience left with this unit just as much as us fans.. Not only not making mistakes, they need to start playing better and actually start making plays to help us win games..How about a block kick once in awhile or return for a touchdown or 50 plus yards instead of the usual nothing..” -STLRAMFAN27
