Rams Change Kickers Before Key Game Against 49ers

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are making a change at kicker ahead of their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Harrison Mevis has been elevated from the practice squad to take over the kicking duties, head coach Sean McVay announced on Friday. He replaces Joshua Karty, who has struggled this season.

After a victory in Week 9, where Karty missed an extra point and a 39-yard field goal, McVay expressed concerns over the team’s special teams performance, which has impacted their success. The Rams have previously missed five field goal attempts this season, placing them among the NFL’s worst.

“The operation and the standard that we have set hasn’t been reached to this point,” McVay said. McVay also noted that Karty will remain on the team but will not kick this week, allowing the Rams to reassess the situation after Sunday.

Mevis just recently signed to the practice squad and expressed that he is ready for the opportunity ahead. He said, “I feel like I put myself out there, I showed what I can do and proved that I can play at this level.”

This will mark Mevis’s NFL debut. He previously made 89 out of 106 field-goal attempts during his college career at Missouri and performed well in the United Football League earlier this year.

To accompany Mevis, longtime veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide has also returned to the Rams, replacing Alex Ward. McQuaide played for the Rams from 2011 to 2020 and made two Pro Bowl appearances.

The Rams are 6-2 this season and aim to maintain their winning streak against the 49ers. McVay acknowledged the need for improved execution from the special teams unit to secure points and support the team’s drive towards a potential playoff run.