The Los Angeles Rams have changed kickers after special teams mistakes helped derail Monday night’s overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Los Angeles released Harrison Mevis on Tuesday and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets’ practice squad. The move came one day after Rams coach Sean McVay voiced frustration with a special teams performance that proved costly against Buffalo.
Quick facts
- The Rams released kicker Harrison Mevis following the overtime defeat to the Bills.
- Blake Grupe joins Los Angeles from the Jets’ practice squad.
- Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal and had a 48-yard overtime attempt blocked against Buffalo.
- Grupe, 27, has made 81.9% of his career field-goal attempts and 98.0% of extra points over three NFL seasons.
Mevis had converted all 14 of his extra-point kicks this season, but his field-goal work fell well below last year’s standard. He went 12-for-13 on field goals and 39-for-39 on PATs during the 2025 season, but missed four of nine field-goal tries this year.
Two of those misses came against the Bills. His 50-yard try on the Rams’ opening possession failed, leaving Buffalo’s 3-0 advantage intact.
Mevis later made four extra points, but the decisive opportunity ended badly in overtime. Bills defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau broke through the protection and blocked a 48-yard attempt that could have won the game for Los Angeles.
The blocked kick was not solely on Mevis, with the Rams’ protection allowing Rousseau a clear path into the kicking lane. Still, the attempt appeared to come off low and left as it was swatted away.
Grupe now takes over with the assignment of stabilizing the Rams’ kicking operation. The 27-year-old was claimed by the Jets after the August roster reductions, then moved to their practice squad without appearing in a game this season.
Before his stint in New York, Grupe kicked for the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. Across three NFL seasons, he has converted 81.9% of his field goals while missing only 2% of his extra-point attempts.
