The Rams’ search for stability at kicker has turned into a full-blown carousel, and Brandon McManus is the next man up.
Los Angeles is signing the veteran kicker, making him the team’s third kicker of the 2026 NFL season. The move comes after Blake Grupe suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
McManus, 35, worked out Tuesday with free-agent kicker Matt Prater as the Rams tried to steady a special-teams spot that has been anything but settled. The team is 2-4 through six games and is hoping the veteran can bring some calm to the position.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the agreement Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, and cited information gathered with fellow insider Mike Garafolo.
“The #Rams are signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, per me and @MikeGarafolo, the latest in Los Angeles’ kicker saga. He worked out today, along with FA K Matt Prater.
The #Rams are signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, per me and @MikeGarafolo, the latest in Los Angeles’ kicker saga. He worked out today, along with FA K Matt Prater.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2026
McManus most recently kicked for the #Packers and #Broncos. pic.twitter.com/eyzO9QmQjt
McManus most recently kicked for the #Packers and #Broncos.”
Los Angeles began the year with Harrison Mevis, who went 5 for 9 on field goals before being released after the Week 5 overtime loss to Buffalo. Grupe took over, made a 44-yard field goal in his Rams debut, then injured his knee while trying to make a tackle on the next kickoff return. He was later placed on injured reserve.
McManus arrives with plenty of NFL mileage: 12 seasons, a Super Bowl 50 ring with the Broncos, and a track record that includes 297 made field goals in 362 tries and 374 made extra points in 384 attempts. Last season in Green Bay, he hit 24 of 30 field goals and 32 of 33 extra points before the Packers cut him in May after drafting Trey Smack.
The deal is still contingent on a physical. If it goes through, McManus would be the Rams’ third kicker this season, and he’d be in place ahead of their Week 7 road matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
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