LOS ANGELES — The Rams made three additions to their practice squad on Wednesday with an eye toward shoring up their beleaguered special teams unit.
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The Rams (3-4) signed long snapper Jake McQuaide to the practice squad after Joe Cardona injured his ankle early in Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cardona did not practice on Wednesday as he nursed the injury.
McQuaide, 38, returned to the Rams for a second stint last season after spending the first 10 years of his career with the franchise. He was brought in to replace Alex Ward after the field goal unit struggled with its consistency.
The kicker who was replaced simultaneously with Ward last year was Josh Karty. And on Wednesday, the Rams also signed Karty to their practice squad.
The Rams have had three different kickers the past three weeks. Harrison Mevis was cut after missing two field goal attempts in a Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills, then his replacement, Blake Grupe, tore his ACL in the first half of the ensuing game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams brought in veteran Brandon McManus last week and he made all five of his extra points. But the Rams’ special teams continued to struggle covering kickoff returns, allowing returns of 36 and 42 yards before opting to kick touchbacks the rest of the game.
While Karty struggled with field goals a year ago – he made 10 of 15 attempts in eight games – he excelled at delivering “dirty” kickoffs that spun and bounced and made life difficult on returners.
“With some of the different, thought McManus did a really good job last week but we’re looking at just being able to add value to our specialists with the different situations that have occurred,” McVay said.
McVay did not rule out the possibility of keeping two kickers on the 48-man game-day roster this week against the Chargers (0-6).
“It all depends. When you have 48 bodies and the different guys that are filling in, you got to really ask yourself, ok, does that really make sense, does it fit?” McVay said. “And there’s a lot of layers to it. So wouldn’t be ready to answer that question yet.”
The Rams also signed linebacker Jon Rhattigan to the practice squad with an eye toward his potential contributions on special teams.
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“We’re looking to just increase and figure out ways to improve some of the areas that need to be improved upon,” McVay said. “This is a case of he’s had success. Coached against him and if need be if you’re in a flex up situation he would be a guy that would be in consideration because of his value he provides teams-wise.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams will not start the 21-day practice clocks for defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) or tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) to return from injured reserve, McVay said.
McVay said Garrett – the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who underwent knee surgery after Week 1 – has not suffered any setbacks in his recovery.
“He’s making good progress and we’re just on a week-to-week basis right now,” McVay said.
Wide receiver Davante Adams underwent successful surgery to clean out his injured hamstring, McVay said.
McVay described the All-Pro receiver as in “good spirits” and said he sent McVay a video of him walking in the hours after his surgery. The Rams are optimistic that he will be back on the shorter side of the 6-10-week timeline they laid out last week.
“It went really well, he’s feeling good, in the process of recovery,” McVay said. “I think it’s probably closer to the shorter term. He tells me, which I believe, he’s Wolverine. He’ll heal quick and be ready to go.”
Center Coleman Shelton did not practice on Wednesday after injuring his hip early in Sunday’s victory over the Raiders. Tight end Colby Parkinson did not practice either on Wednesday after adding a rib injury to the knee and shoulder ailments he’s been playing through.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) was limited Wednesday while linebacker Nate Landman (concussion) was a full participant at practice.
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