The Rams signed kicker Brandon McManus on Tuesday, a move that highlights deeper roster issues as the team grapples with injuries. Alongside McManus's signing, nose tackle Poona Ford was placed on injured reserve due to a season-ending ruptured triceps, and wide receiver Davante Adams is expected to miss 6-10 weeks with a ruptured semitendinosus. This comes as the Rams, currently 2-4 and coming off an 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, see their playoff chances plummet from 90.1% to 26.0% and Super Bowl odds drop from 16.3% to 1.5%.
The kicker change follows Blake Grupe's placement on injured reserve after tearing his ACL, forcing the Rams to address a struggling special teams unit that has the worst field goal percentage in the NFL at 60%. However, the challenges extend beyond just the kicking game, as the Rams have yet to field their complete roster, with key players like Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald unable to play together due to injuries.
As the Rams attempt to stabilize their lineup amid these setbacks, the focus shifts from merely replacing individual players to addressing the broader availability issues affecting multiple positions. The team's efforts to salvage a disappointing season are increasingly complicated by the ongoing roster turmoil.