Rams Release Kicker Harrison Mevis After Bills Loss, Sign Blake Grupe

The Los Angeles Rams released kicker Harrison Mevis on Tuesday following a costly overtime defeat to the Buffalo Bills, moving swiftly to address lingering special teams woes by signing veteran kicker Blake Grupe off the New York Jets practice squad.

The decision unfolded in the wake of a high-stakes Monday Night Football matchup at SoFi Stadium where kicking miscues directly shaped the outcome. Tied at 34 at the end of regulation, the Rams drove into field goal range during overtime, but Buffalo blocked Mevis’ potential 48-yard game-winning attempt. The Bills subsequently capitalized on the turnover, marching down the field to secure the victory on a game-winning drive.

Special Teams Breakdown and Head Coach Reaction

Mevis also missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt during the first half of the contest, compounding an erratic five-game stretch in which he converted just five of nine field-goal tries and suffered a blocked kick. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Rams head coach Sean McVay did not mince words regarding the performance of his special teams unit.

Not even close to good enough, McVay told reporters, assessing the field-goal and extra-point units. It cost us the game tonight.

McVay further indicated that the entire special teams operation would face a comprehensive internal evaluation. The frustrations highlight a wider trend in Los Angeles. Under McVay’s tenure dating back to 2017, the franchise has accumulated 81 missed or blocked kicks.

History of Kicking Instability in Los Angeles

The departure of Mevis highlights an ongoing special teams saga that has plagued the front office for consecutive seasons. During the 2025 campaign, the Rams suffered a dramatic defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles after two kicks by then-kicker Joshua Karty were blocked, including a decisive final-play block returned for an Eagles touchdown.

Following Karty’s continued struggles, Los Angeles released him and turned to Mevis, who had originally joined the team’s practice squad in November 2025. Mevis provided a brief stability spark last year by hitting 12 of 13 regular-season field-goal attempts across nine games, adding a perfect six-for-six performance in the playoffs. However, that momentum vanished this autumn, prompting the team to cut ties.

Blake Grupe Steps In as the New Kicker

To fill the vacancy, the Rams turned to Blake Grupe, securing the kicker from the New York Jets practice squad. Grupe entered the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints, serving as their primary starter for two seasons before his release in November 2025.

Grupe’s journey since leaving New Orleans includes a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts, where he converted all 11 of his field-goal attempts across five starts and signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract in March. After being waived by Indianapolis at the end of August, Grupe was claimed by the Jets, eventually landing on their practice squad ahead of his cross-conference move to Los Angeles.

The Roster Outlook Moving Forward

As the Rams prepare for their upcoming schedule, the sudden kicking change highlights the mounting urgency for a 2-3 squad attempting to stabilize its roster amid injuries to prominent veterans. With special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone—who assumed leadership of the unit in January following the dismissal of Chase Blackburn—facing intense scrutiny, Grupe inherits an uphill battle to restore consistency to the franchise’s kicking game.