Los Angeles Rams kicker Blake Grupe left his debut with a knee injury after attempting to stop Arizona Cardinals returner Devin Duvernay on a kickoff Sunday, according to the supplied report. Grupe had made a 44-yard field goal earlier in the game, finishing the Rams’ opening drive with points.
On the kickoff that followed, Duvernay advanced through the coverage. Grupe, described by the report as the last Rams player in position to make the stop, lowered his shoulder and collided with the returner. The play ended with Duvernay out of bounds at the 47-yard line. Grupe remained down on all fours, appearing to be in pain.
Medical staff took him to the blue medical tent, and he later went to the locker room with a knee injury designation. He was listed as doubtful to return. The report did not provide a diagnosis or further details about the injury.
Grupe had joined the Rams days earlier after the team waived kicker Harrison Mevis. Mevis had missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt in overtime against the Buffalo Bills. The report said the miss cost Los Angeles the game. Grupe’s successful kick against Arizona gave the new signing an immediate contribution, but his injury left the team facing another special-teams question.
With Grupe unavailable, Rams punter Ethan Evans took practice kicks into a net, according to the report. It said Evans had not attempted a field goal in an NFL game. The Rams did not have another kicker on the active roster, leaving head coach Sean McVay with the possibility of using Evans in an emergency role and adjusting decisions on fourth down.
The source report said the team’s front office would likely look for another kicker. It did not identify a replacement or describe any subsequent roster move. The account also did not give a confirmed timetable for Grupe’s recovery.
