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 locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-20, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

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 2026-10-20, 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 · 95%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 20% hedged 3 of 15 📰 publisher trust 66

“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 · 75%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 12% hedged 1 of 8 📰 publisher trust 66

“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 · 20%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 2% hedged 1 of 44 📰 publisher trust 66

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

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

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

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

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

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Michael Duarte

73 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 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.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Rams’ kicking nightmare continues as Sean McVay turns to yet another veteran

🔮 Running back Kyren Williams, asked about the team’s inability to sustain energy between possessions, offered a pointed response, saying he didn’t know because he “wasn’t out there.”

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua deliver sobering messages after Rams’ stunning loss to Cardinals: ‘We are what our record is’

🔮 Even Matthew Stafford’s remarkable fourth-quarter touchdown drive couldn’t save them.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Sean McVay delivers brutal warning to Rams after embarrassing loss to Cardinals

🔮 Just when it seemed the Los Angeles Rams’ season couldn’t get any worse, one of their biggest stars went down without anybody touching him.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · Rams’ nightmare gets worse as Davante Adams suffers scary knee injury in heartbreaking loss

🔮 But the Rams couldn’t turn the takeaway into a touchdown, settling for a 44-yard field goal from newly signed kicker Blake Grupe.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Rams’ season hits new low after stunning last-second Cardinals loss

🔮 At this point, somebody might want to check whether the Los Angeles Rams’ special teams unit was built on an ancient burial ground.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Rams’ kicking curse strikes again as new kicker Blake Grupe gets hurt

🔮 On Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, the veteran offensive tackle will suddenly become one of the most important men on the field, entrusted with protecting Matthew Stafford’s blind side in a must-win NFC West showdown against the Cardinals.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Meet Rams forgotten veteran suddenly tasked with protecting Matthew Stafford

🔮 Sitting inside LaFleur’s head is a treasure trove of intelligence on the Rams that would make any CIA operative jealous.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Mike LaFleur knows all Rams secrets, but can Sean McVay outsmart former pupil?

🔮 And Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium will provide an immediate test of whether this latest overhaul represents actual progress or simply another rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Rams shed 100 pounds at kicker, but special teams problems still weigh ton

🔮 Hindoyan, who will conduct Georges Bizet’s Carmen at LA Opera from Oct. 17 through Nov. 7, invited Turner and his family to attend the production in downtown Los Angeles.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Rams ‘Conductor’ finally meets his match — and gets a surprise he’ll never forget

Also by Michael Duarte

Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua deliver sobering messages after Rams’ stunning loss to Cardinals: ‘We are what our record is’

2026-10-19 · New York Post

Sean McVay delivers brutal warning to Rams after embarrassing loss to Cardinals

2026-10-19 · New York Post

Rams’ nightmare gets worse as Davante Adams suffers scary knee injury in heartbreaking loss

2026-10-19 · New York Post

Rams’ season hits new low after stunning last-second Cardinals loss

2026-10-18 · New York Post

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

All 73 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)