Rams rely on two kickers in 24-9 win over Chargers

The Los Angeles Rams fielded two kickers in their 24-9 victory over the San Diego Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. The move gives the team extra insurance on special teams as they enter the final stretch of the season. Coach Sean McVay said the unusual roster choice reflects the pressure on the club to secure a playoff berth.

Brandon McManus handles field goals and extra points, while Joshua Karty performs kickoffs. The Rams signed Karty back after Blake Grupe suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 7. Grupe, who weighs 156 pounds, suffered the injury while attempting a tackle after a field goal attempt against Arizona. The team had previously released Karty following a difficult 2024 season, including two blocked kicks against Philadelphia.

Karty specializes in knuckleball kickoffs, which are designed to land between the goal line and the 20-yard line. He said he was working on his technique at Stanford until this week. On Sunday, two of his kickoffs fell short of the target area, giving the Chargers the ball at the 40-yard line. A third kickoff landed at the 19-yard line, just inside the landing zone. Karty called it his worst kickoff day since last year, noting he may have been trying to do too much.

McVay expressed confidence that Karty will improve. The coach noted that the erratic flight of a knuckleball kickoff makes it difficult to predict. Karty, a computer science major from Stanford, views field position as a mathematical advantage. He estimates that every 10 yards of field position gained is worth about one point on the scoreboard. Pinning an opponent at the 25-yard line instead of the 35-yard line effectively removes a point from the opposing team before they run a play.

The Rams are 4-4 with nine games remaining. McVay and the front office believe the team needs at least seven more wins to ensure a playoff spot. The schedule includes home games against Green Bay and Kansas City, a rematch at San Francisco, and two games against Seattle in the final three weeks. With the NFC North and NFC West both competitive, the margin for error is slim.

The Rams are hoping for the return of several key players to reduce the need for roster flexibility. Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was seen on a stationary bike on the sideline and could return as soon as this week. The team expects receiver Davante Adams, tight end Terrance Ferguson, and defensive lineman Kobie Turner to be back by late in the season. Once these players return, the Rams may drop one of the two kickers to open up a roster spot.

The Chargers remain in a rebuilding phase after trading quarterback Justin Herbert for three first-round draft picks. The loss of Justin Herbert, along with other moves by rivals, has strengthened the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers acquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from Indianapolis, while the Seahawks took eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson. These additions have made the NFC West more difficult to navigate for Los Angeles.