INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Rams kicker Blake Grupe injured his right knee in his first game with his new team Sunday while making a tackle on special teams in a 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Grupe was hurt after bringing down Devin Duvernay on a 40-yard kickoff return near midfield just over five minutes into the game.

Grupe went straight back to the locker room following an evaluation in the blue medical tent. The Rams ruled him out for the rest of the game early in the fourth quarter. Grupe had a large brace on his knee in the locker room after the game.

Grupe had made a 44-yard field goal to put the Rams up 3-0 with 9:41 left into the first quarter.

Los Angeles signed him off the Jets’ practice squad on Tuesday to replace Harrison Mevis, who had a potential winning field goal blocked and missed another in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

Rams kicker Blake Grupe injures knee vs. Cardinals in first game with new team | iNFOnews.ca — Los Angeles Rams punter Ethan Evans (42) kicks an extra point against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Grupe was the Rams’ fifth kicker in their past 57 games. He made all 11 of his field goals in a five-game stint with the Indianapolis Colts last season, having started his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints in 2023.

Mevis was 5 of 9 on field goals this season, having made just three of seven attempts from 40 yards or longer.

Punter Ethan Evans worked out on the sideline practicing kicks following Grupe’s injury, but the Rams chose to go for a 2-point conversion — which failed — instead of kicking an extra point following their first touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the second quarter.

Evans did make an extra point with 47 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, putting Los Angeles ahead 16-15, as part of a reconfigured operation. Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett was the holder, a job that normally belongs to Evans.

“We make sure we’re all prepared for it,” said Evans, who kicked and punted at Division II Wingate in college. “Once something like that happens, it’s just kind of on to the next snap. Do your job. That’s what we’re here for. Go out and execute when the team needs it.”

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