The Rams are bringing in a pair of veteran kickers for a workout on Tuesday after Blake Grupe was placed on injured reserve Monday with a knee injury. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported that Brandon McManus and Matt Prater will try out for the team, a quick response to a kicking situation that changed again within 48 hours.
Grupe’s injury came in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, his first game for the Rams. That forced the team back into the market, and Prater is now part of the answer it is evaluating. The 19-season veteran spent last season with Buffalo and was 18-of-20 on field goals, including the 82nd make from at least 50 yards in his career, an NFL record from that distance.
The Rams have already been through one kicking reset this season. Harrison Mevis opened the year as the team’s kicker, then lost the job after missing one field goal and having another blocked in Week 5. Now the team is looking again, this time with McManus and Prater in the building at the same time, and the decision after Tuesday’s workout should tell the Rams whether they want another veteran fix immediately or need to keep searching.
