A head-shaking overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night led to a tumultuous day for the Rams on Tuesday.
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First, the Rams released kicker Harrison Mevis after he missed two field-goal attempts in the 37-34 defeat, including what would have been the game-winner in overtime. To replace him on the active roster, the Rams signed kicker Blake Grupe off the New York Jets’ practice squad.
Then, the NFL suspended Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson after he punched Bills defensive lineman Bradley Chubb in the face during postgame handshakes on Monday.
Mevis, who came in last season after the Rams lost faith in Josh Karty, missed four of his nine field-goal attempts to begin the 2026 season. Three of those misses had come from within 50 yards. He had previously gone 12 for 13 on field goals in 2025, including 5 for 6 on attempts from between 40 and 49 yards.
“I thought he was a rock for us last year,” McVay said. “Ultimately we need better production and that’s what we’re hoping to get out of Blake.”
McVay also attempted to clarify his comments from Monday night, when he said the field-goal unit was the reason the Rams lost to the Bills.
“That unit cost us an opportunity to win the game, that wasn’t the reason we didn’t win exclusively,” McVay said. “I should have articulated that better.”
Grupe, 27, is a career 81.9% on field goals. That includes going 19 for 27 on attempts from 50 or more yards, with a career-long of 60 yards.
“This guy has experience,” McVay said. “Has kicked in a lot of big-time, professional settings and we felt like he was the best guy available that had had real game experience.”
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Jackson was suspended for “unsportsmanlike conduct,” marking the second time in three years he has been suspended by the NFL.
On Monday, he was exchanging jerseys with a member of the Bills when Chubb stepped toward Jackson and said something. Jackson approached Chubb, and after Chubb waved his hand near Jackson’s face, Jackson punched Chubb in his.
“Have to make better decisions than that,” McVay said.
Jackson will appeal his suspension, McVay said. If he cannot play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday or the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, David Quessenberry will start at left tackle.
McVay spoke with Jackson on Tuesday, but he declined to say what the conversation was. He said he did not know what Chubb said to Jackson to provoke him.
This is just the latest incident with Jackson. The left tackle was suspended for two games to start the 2024 season for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. A lawsuit later revealed that the suspension was for allegedly filming a non-consensual video of a woman and then taunting her and denying her requests to delete the footage. After that suspension, Jackson signed a three-year, $57.5 million contract extension with the Rams.
Jackson was also arrested in June on suspicion of felony domestic battery for allegedly scratching a woman while attempting to take away her phone when he believed she was filming him. In July, his case was assigned to a pre-filing diversion program, meaning no charges will be filed as long as he meets the diversion terms.
The left tackle could still face discipline from the NFL for that incident.
“Very important to represent the things that we want to be about, and he’s got to consistently do a better job,” McVay said. “I want to understand the totality of the situation. … It certainly doesn’t help us when we’re missing a player of his caliber.”
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