The Rams are signing free agent kicker Brandon McManus, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, following a successful workout on Monday. Rapoport said he and Tom Garafolo had the news. His post said McManus worked out alongside free agent K Matt Prater, and the Rams chose McManus. ESPN, citing NFL Network sources, framed the move as a response to two events: the release of Harrison Mevis and the injury to Blake Grupe.

The order of events matters. Per NFL Trade Rumors, the Rams cut Mevis before Week 6, when Grupe, the new kicker, tore his ACL in the first half. Yahoo Sports counts McManus as the third official kicker of the season, and it isn't Week 7 yet. NFL Trade Rumors adds that McManus is 35 and originally signed with the Colts in 2013. The other outlets don't have that detail, and the feed text we have ends there.

Our box score of that Week 6 game fits the account. Grupe kicked a 44-yard field goal against Arizona, and the Rams' only extra point was kicked by punter Ethan Evans. The Rams lost 18-16 to the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium, and Arizona's C. Ryland kicked a 43-yard field goal on the last play. A game that close is the case for settling the kicking job. The loss left the Rams 2-4, fourth in the NFC West, on a two-game skid. The one before it was a 37-34 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 12.

McManus's most recent numbers are from Green Bay in 2025. He made 24 of 30 field goals (80.0 percent) in 14 games and 32 of 33 extra points, with a long of 56. He was 3 of 5 from 50 yards or more, but only 3 of 7 from 40 to 49. He was 18 of 18 inside 40 yards. His last game of that season, at Chicago on Jan. 10, was 0 for 2 on field goals. We have no 2026 kicking line for him. None of the reporting says whether he has kicked for a team this season.

The reports don't give contract terms, and none of them says whether Prater will sign anywhere. They also don't say if the Rams will bring in a kicker for the practice squad or place Grupe on injured reserve. The next date is Sunday, Oct. 25, when the Rams play at Las Vegas. McManus will presumably kick in that game if the signing is finalized by then, which none of the outlets states.