The Rams’ special teams headaches just got even messier.
Los Angeles already had to move on from Harrison Mevis after his rough showing against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, when his second missed kick of the game ended with a blocked attempt that helped send Buffalo to an overtime win. A day later, the Rams cut Mevis and signed Blake Grupe off the New York Jets practice squad to take his place.
Grupe’s start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals looked promising enough. The 27-year-old connected on a 44-yard field goal to open his day.
Then came the kickoff that changed everything.
On the ensuing return, Cardinals returner Devin Duvernay broke through several tackles with Grupe left as the last defender standing. Grupe pushed him out of bounds, but he came away hurt in the process. Not long after, the Rams announced that he was doubtful to return because of a knee injury.
Blake Grupe Goes Down in 1st Quarter
Rams New Kicker Blake Grupe Tried To Tackle Somebody On The Kickoff And Ended Up Injuring Himself.
The Rams Just Signed This Guy After Cutting Harrison Mevis.
Rough Start. 😬 pic.twitter.com/0BDZRD1hzh
- SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 18, 2026
For the moment, punter Ethan Evans is set to be the emergency kicker, though that is hardly a long-term answer. Losing a second kicker in less than a week is a brutal turn for a unit that has already been one of Los Angeles’ biggest problem spots.
McVay now has another kicking decision waiting for him before the Rams play again in Week 7, assuming Grupe’s knee issue keeps him out for any length of time.
In Other News...
Cardinals Fans Need To Know If Sundays Rams Game Is On Local TV
Week 6s schedule has the usual mix of prime-time spots, early windows and a London kickoff, but for Cardinals fans the bigger question is the one tied to Sunday afternoon in the desert: whether the Rams matchup will be available on local television. With four teams on bye and CBS and FOX each locking in their regional coverage for the early and late windows, the broadcast map matters just as much as the matchup itself for viewers trying to plan their day.
For Arizona, the key is the late FOX slot, which is the lone game in that window and carries the kind of regional assignment that determines who gets to watch without hunting for an alternate feed. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. Arizona time, and fans will want to check their local coverage before settling in, because the broadcast reach is exactly the sort of detail that can turn a routine Sunday into a little more frustrating than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head To L.A. With NFC West Pressure Suddenly Building
The Cardinals head to SoFi Stadium in Week 6 for their third NFC West game of the season, and the timing could hardly be more delicate. Four straight losses have turned a division matchup with the Rams into a test of staying power, while Los Angeles comes in at 2-3 and dealing with its own issue up front after losing left tackle Alaric Jackson to suspension.
Arizonas challenge gets a little harder with a key back unavailable, leaving the offense to find answers in a matchup that already carries extra weight in the standings. The game will air on FOX, with streaming available on Fubo, and for a Cardinals team trying to stop the slide, this trip feels like more than just another road division date. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jrs Texans Debut Gives Cardinals Fans A New Debate
Marvin Harrison Jr.s first game in Houston was a modest one, but it was enough to give Cardinals fans something to chew on. In his Texans debut against the Jaguars, the former Arizona wideout was used sparingly, playing 12 snaps and finishing with three catches for 34 yards as Houston eased him into the offense.
For Arizona followers, the more interesting part is what comes next. Harrisons limited role on Sunday was never likely to be the end of the discussion, especially after the trade that sent him and a sixth-round pick in 2027 to Houston for a 2027 second-rounder and seventh-rounder. The Texans expect his workload to grow, and every step up in usage will only deepen the debate over what the Cardinals gave up and what they might have to live without. [Read more 🡒]