Blake Grupe injures knee in Rams debut making tackle seconds after first field goal

Blake Grupe’s first game for the Los Angeles Rams lasted barely five minutes after his first kick, the new kicker injuring his knee while making a touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.

Grupe, signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad on Tuesday to replace the released Harrison Mevis, drilled a 44-yard field goal to give the Rams a 3-0 lead with 9:41 left in the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. On the ensuing kickoff, Devin Duvernay returned the ball 40 yards near midfield, and Grupe — the last line of defence — brought him down out of bounds, injuring his knee in the process, per the AP. He was evaluated in the blue medical tent and went straight to the locker room, listed as doubtful to return.

It is the second consecutive game in which the Rams’ kicker has been forced into a touchdown-saving tackle, the New York Post noted. Mevis was released after Monday night’s 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo, in which he had a potential winning field goal blocked and missed another; he had made just five of nine attempts this season, three of seven from 40 yards or more, per the AP.

The injury forced the Rams to chase two points — the attempt failed — instead of kicking the extra point after their first touchdown with 8:23 left in the second quarter. Punter Ethan Evans practised field goals on the sideline as emergency cover, with backup quarterback Stetson Bennett working holds with long snapper Joe Cardona. Evans handled the next kickoff, sending it out of the end zone for a touchback. Grupe is the franchise’s fifth kicker in its past 57 games, the AP said.