The Aporia · Rams’ kicking nightmare continues as Sean McVay turns to yet another veteran

Rams’ kicking nightmare continues as Sean McVay turns to yet another veteran

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Duarte, M. (2026, October 20). Rams’ kicking nightmare continues as Sean McVay turns to yet another veteran. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/20/sports/rams-sign-brandon-mcmanus-as-sean-mcvays-kicker-carousel-spins-out-of-control/

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Quick Summary

The Los Angeles Rams have signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus to address their ongoing kicking issues, marking the team's third change in this position within three weeks. Since 2020, when Greg Zuerlein left for Dallas, the Rams have used 14 different kickers under head coach Sean McVay. McManus, who previously played with Denver and Jacksonville, has a recent record of 24-for-30 on field goals in 2025, including a poor performance from beyond 50 yards. The frequent turnover at the kicker position highlights the team's struggle to find a stable solution for this crucial role.

Written by AI on 2026-10-20, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Los Angeles Rams have signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus on Tuesday, according to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. This move continues a pattern of frequent changes in the kicking position that has plagued the team under head coach Sean McVay since 2020. Since Greg Zuerlein left for Dallas as a free agent in 2020, the Rams have used 11 different kickers and punters, including punter Ethan Evans who filled in during an emergency last week when kicker Grupe injured his ACL. McManus, aged 35, has spent nine seasons with Denver, one with Jacksonville, and two with Green Bay, bringing significant experience to the position. However, this latest change underscores the Rams' ongoing struggle to find a consistent performer at kicking, despite their reputation for making strong personnel decisions.

Written for “Rams Kicking Issues” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 9% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Rams’ kicking curse strikes again as new kicker Blake Grupe gets hurt Different event

New York Post

Hedges 3 of 15 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A describes Blake Grupe's injury during a game on Sunday, while Article B reports the signing of Brandon McManus as a new kicker on Tuesday to address ongoing issues with the kicking position.”

Rams special teams takes another massive hit with tragic injury news to newly-signed kicker Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 8 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss the Rams signing a new kicker after an injury, Article A focuses on Blake Grupe's ACL injury and its immediate aftermath, while Article B reports on the subsequent signing of Brandon McManus several days later.”

Rams shed 100 pounds at kicker, but special teams problems still weigh ton Different event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 44 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles describe different signees for the Los Angeles Rams' kicker position, with Article A mentioning Blake Grupe and Article B discussing Brandon McManus.”

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1 of 11 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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takes no side on a contested political question

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Who wrote this

Michael Duarte

87 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Even injured Rams superstar Myles Garrett, watching from a nearby exercise bike, couldn’t contain his amusement.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Aaron Donald’s embarrassing blunder has Rams laughing hysterically

🔮 At this rate, they might need Waze to tell them how to get there.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Chargers’ misery hits ironic 26-year low that’ll have Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel on hot seat

🔮 Fortunately for Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Chargers were more than willing to take that burden off their hands.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Rams win Battle for LA as Chargers’ winless nightmare hits new low

🔮 Entering Saturday’s BIG10 showdown on Saturday, Lincoln Riley was running out of excuses, running out of goodwill and, depending on whom you asked, running out of time as head coach of the USC Trojans.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · From the hot seat to Halloween hero: Lincoln Riley shocks No. 2 Ohio State in USC’s biggest win in years

🔮 But Thursday, they were confronted with a sobering reminder that football’s most devastating hits might not reveal their consequences for decades.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Aaron Donald and Puka Nacua’s candid reaction to alarming CTE study

🔮 After a week in which the Rams lost Davante Adams, Poona Ford, Kobie Turner and Blake Grupe to significant injuries, with Trent McDuffie and Nate Landman also sidelined and Puka Nacua battling a calf injury, McVay could have spent his postgame press conference explaining why his depleted roster couldn’t compete.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Sean McVay delivers best coaching performance of season as Rams beat Raiders, revive playoff hopes

🔮 That physical mentality could prove invaluable Sunday against a Raiders defense that has struggled to limit yards after the catch.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Rams receiver opens up about Davante Adams injury, stepping into spotlight

🔮 For a Rams team desperately trying to climb out of last place in the NFC West, Stafford’s historic afternoon couldn’t have come at a better time.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Matthew Stafford makes NFL history with record-breaking touchdown pass against Raiders

🔮 Afterward, McVay admitted he regretted the decision. “I wish I would have had a better play call and gone forward, got it a lot tighter.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Sean McVay is the reason the Rams are falling apart — and the only man who can fix them

🔮 “Vegas, baby, Vegas!” Thirty years later, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams could use a similar intervention. Because what began as a season filled with Super Bowl aspirations has become a five-alarm fire, and the team that dreamed of playing for a Lombardi Trophy in its own stadium might need a miracle just to escape the NFC West basement.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Vegas, baby, Vegas! Why the Rams’ season could go bust in Sin City

Also by Michael Duarte

Aaron Donald’s embarrassing blunder has Rams laughing hysterically

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Chargers’ misery hits ironic 26-year low that’ll have Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel on hot seat

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Rams win Battle for LA as Chargers’ winless nightmare hits new low

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Lincoln Riley erupts at Ohio State coaches in wild postgame confrontation after USC upset

2026-11-01 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 87 articles by Michael Duarte →

Narrative

Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)

The Los Angeles Rams have found another kicker. asserted

Rams → find → kicker

Whether they’ve finally found the answer is an entirely different question. asserted

found → find → answer

On Tuesday, the Rams agreed to sign veteran Brandon McManus, according to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, continuing a kicking carousel that has become one of the most embarrassing recurring problems of Sean McVay’s tenure. uncertain

that → agree → tenure

McManus, 35, beat out fellow veteran Matt Prater following a workout on Tuesday. asserted

McManus → beat → Tuesday

He becomes the Rams’ third official kicker in three weeks, and fourth if you count punter Ethan Evans’ emergency appearance Sunday against Arizona. asserted

you → become → Arizona

Since Greg Zuerlein departed for Dallas as a free agent in 2020, the Rams have cycled through 11 different kickers, including McManus and Evans in seven years. asserted

Rams → depart → years

The latest change comes just one week after Los Angeles released Mevis and signed Grupe off the Jets’ practice squad. asserted

Angeles → come → squad

Grupe promptly tore his ACL attempting a tackle against the Cardinals, leaving Evans to handle kicking duties during an 18-16 loss that dropped the Rams to 2-4. asserted

that → tear → 2

McManus brings experience, having spent nine seasons with Denver, one with Jacksonville and two with Green Bay. asserted

McManus → bring → Bay

But his 2025 numbers offer little reassurance: 24-for-30 on field goals, including 3-for-5 from beyond 50 yards. asserted

numbers → offer → yards

For an organization that prides itself on finding answers, the kicking position remains a glaring indictment of its personnel decisions. The Rams have changed kickers frequently and the only question now is how long McManus will last. asserted

McManus → pride → kickers

Rams’ kicking nightmare continues as Sean McVay turns to yet another veteran

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Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)