When Sean McVay said he was going to evaluate everything after yet another special teams debacle for the Los Angeles Rams, he wasn’t kidding.
On Monday, Rams kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter and had what would have been the game-winning 48-yard field goal blocked in overtime of the team’s 37-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills. On Tuesday, the Rams released Mevis, OutKick confirmed.
The team signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets’ practice squad to replace Mevis. NFL Network first reported the Rams’ moves. McVay was blunt in his assessment of the kicking game.
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“In the kicking game, especially with our PAT, field goal, not even close to good enough,” McVay told reporters after the loss. “It cost us the game tonight.”
The Rams’ special teams struggles have been a common theme since McVay took over in 2017. Including the playoffs, the Rams have had 81 kicks either missed or blocked since 2017, the third most in the NFL.
Since the start of last season, opponents have blocked three of the Rams’ kicks, tied for the most in the NFL, according to ESPN.
“I felt like I hit it good,” Mevis said. “That’s all I can tell you. I mean, I hit it good, gave it a chance. I’ll have to look.”
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Mevis, nicknamed the “Thicker Kicker” because he weighs 245 pounds, was signed to the Rams’ active roster last November. In nine games last season, the 24-year-old made 12 of 13 field goal attempts and all 39 extra-point attempts.
He was also perfect in the Rams’ three playoff games last year, making all six field goal attempts and nine extra-point attempts.
This season has been a much different story, as Mevis made five of nine field goal attempts in the team’s first five games.
The Rams hope Grupe can stabilize the position moving forward. The 27-year-old has played for the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints over three seasons, making 86 of 106 field goal attempts and 96 of 98 extra-point attempts.
Grupe finished last season with the Colts, and in five games, he made all 11 of his field goal attempts.
OutKick’s Armando Salguero contributed to this report.
