Rams sign kicker Brandon McManus after Blake Grupe tears ACL

The signing

The Los Angeles Rams signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, Bleacher Report reported, citing NFL Network reporters Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. USA Today described him as the team's third kicker in three weeks. ^{[1] [2]}

Bleacher Report said McManus and fellow free-agent kicker Matt Prater worked out for the Rams earlier the same day. It did not say whether Prater was offered a contract. Contract terms for McManus had not been reported in the sources reviewed. ^[1]

Grupe's injury

USA Today reported that McVay said Grupe suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter of the Rams' 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Bleacher Report described the injury as season-ending. ^{[2] [1]}

Yahoo Sports reported that Grupe tried to tackle a returner on the kickoff that followed his first field-goal attempt, missed, was knocked over and hurt his knee. He did not return. The Rams used punter Ethan Evans on an extra point and went for two after an earlier touchdown, Yahoo said. Grupe wrote on social media that he had "no choice other than to attack rehab," according to Yahoo. ^[3]

A revolving kicker spot

The Rams released Harrison Mevis after a 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo in Week 5, in which he missed a 50-yard field goal and had a 48-yard attempt blocked. Newsweek reported he had made 5 of 9 field goals this season, with all four misses from beyond 40 yards. ^[4]

The team signed Grupe from the New York Jets' practice squad. McVay called him the best available kicker with real game experience, according to the team's website. Grupe made 11 of 11 field goals in five games for Indianapolis last season, after 75 of 94 in 45 games for New Orleans. ^{[4] [5]}

USA Today counted McManus as the Rams' fifth different kicker since 2023, when Matt Gay left for the Indianapolis Colts. ^[2]

Who McManus is

McManus, 35, is in his 13th NFL season, Yahoo Sports reported. He spent nine years with Denver, where he is the franchise's second-leading scorer with 946 points, then one season with Jacksonville and 2024 and 2025 with Green Bay. Last season he made 24 of 30 field goals in 14 games, including three from 50 yards or longer, with a long of 56, Yahoo said. ^[3]

Green Bay released him in May and gave the job to sixth-round rookie Trey Smack, USA Today reported. McManus had signed a three-year, $15.3 million contract with the Packers in March. In Green Bay's 31-27 wild-card loss to Chicago, he missed three kicks, including an extra point and a fourth-quarter field goal, USA Today said. ^[2]

What comes next

The Rams are 2-4, according to Yahoo Sports, and play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, USA Today reported. The Rams had not formally announced the signing in the sources reviewed, and no team statement on Grupe's recovery timeline has been published beyond McVay's description of the injury. ^{[2] [3]}