LOS ANGELES — Brandon McManus spent the first six weeks of the season chasing his three sons around their Florida home. He got a couple of calls from NFL teams, but nothing that led to him having to leave his duties coaching their soccer team.
Read more How I met your head coach: UCLA’s Dean Kennedy wrote 290 letters to build one strong bond
But on Monday, the Rams called him to work out for their open kicker position. By Tuesday afternoon, he was signed on to try to bring some stability to what has been a revolving the door the past two years.
“Any chance you get to play this game that I love, that I’ve had a chance to play for a long time, I was excited to get the call to come to the workout,” McManus, 35, said. “I’m excited to get back out here and have an opportunity.”
He will be the third kicker to get an opportunity with the Rams (2-4) in three weeks. Harrison Mevis was released after Week 5 after he missed four of his nine field-goal attempts to start the season. Blake Grupe made his lone attempt in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals before tearing his ACL making a tackle on the ensuing kickoff.
So enter McManus, a 12-year veteran with a career 82% mark on field goals, who will get his first shot this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders (3-3).
He is the latest to try to build chemistry with his new battery of long snapper Joe Cardona and holder/punter Ethan Evans. But McManus pointed to his experience joining the Green Bay Packers midseason in 2024 and his experience with – he estimated – eight or nine punters in nine seasons with the Denver Broncos as reasons for optimism that they can get on the same page quickly.
“I’m used to seeing new things,” McManus said. “I’ve known Joe for a long time and I know his work ethic. Just meeting Ethan here, his willingness to work and listen so I can bounce ideas off him. See what he’s comfortable doing, the holding, what am I like.”
JACKSON BACK AFTER SUSPENSION
Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday after his one-game suspension for punching Bradley Chubb in the face following the Rams’ Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Speaking for the first time since the suspension, Jackson declined to share what Chubb said to provoke him.
Read more Ducks can’t keep up with Devils in 5th straight loss
“Probably just a tough game, high emotions. We were playing hard for the most part,” Jackson said. “We’re kind of past that though, to tell you the truth. … I’m moving on from it.”
Chubb said last week that he told Jackson that if the two teams met again in the Super Bowl, chip blocks wouldn’t help Jackson with his blocking. Jackson neither confirmed nor denied that that was what instigated the incident.
Following that game, Rams head coach Sean McVay said he wanted Jackson to make better decisions that keep him on the field. Jackson was suspended for two games in 2024 by the NFL for violations of the league’s personal conduct policy, then was arrested in June on a felony domestic battery charge.
No charges were officially filed in that case as the matter was referred for a pre-filing diversion.
“Just being more accountable for myself, for the team moving forward. Honestly not smart on my behalf, obviously,” Jackson said of the message he received from McVay. “Just trying to be more smarter overall in how I conduct myself.”
INJURY REPORT
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua left practice early with a calf injury on Thursday. He was listed as a limited participant on the team’s injury report.
Linebacker Nate Landman (concussion) and cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) did not practice Thursday, their second consecutive missed practices of the week. McDuffie missed the game against the Cardinals with his injury, which he suffered in practice last week.
Read more The risky decision that changed Jide Abasiri’s life and led him to USC