Will the Rams Use Two Kickers Against the Chargers in Week 8
Turf Show Times reported that the Los Angeles Rams will dress Brandon McManus and Joshua Karty on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. McManus is expected to handle field goals, while Karty may handle kickoffs.
The Rams two kickers arrangement gives the team separate options for field goals and kickoffs, with Ethan Evans listed as the punter. Turf Show Times reported that Karty’s potential kickoff role is connected to his knuckleball-style delivery.
Rams Wire reported that the Rams activated Joshua Karty and long snapper Jake McQuaide after adding both players to the practice squad. Karty was waived after missed field goals and extra points, according to Rams Wire.
Key Takeaways
- Brandon McManus and Joshua Karty are being carried for the Rams’ Week 8 matchup with the Chargers.
- Ethan Evans is listed as the punter, while Jake McQuaide was activated with Karty.
- McManus is expected to handle field goals, and Karty may be used on kickoffs.
Why the Rams Are Carrying Two Kickers for Week 8
Turf Show Times reported that McManus should remain the Rams’ field-goal option while Karty could handle kickoffs. Evans remains the listed punter, giving the Rams three specialists in the reported Week 8 plan.
Rams Wire reported that the Rams activated Karty and McQuaide after placing both players on the practice squad. The move returns Karty to the game-day plan and adds McQuaide as the long-snapping option.
Rams Wire described Karty’s kickoff as a possible answer to the Rams’ coverage problems. The reported division of responsibilities would allow McManus to focus on field goals while Karty handles a different kicking assignment.
Karty Kickoffs Offer a Different Special Teams Option
The Rams drafted Karty in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, according to Yahoo Sports. Rams Wire reported that Karty was waived after missed field goals and extra points.
Rams Wire also reported that Karty’s kickoff has a knuckleball-style trajectory. That approach is the reason the Rams could use him on kickoffs while relying on McManus for field goals, according to the outlet’s account of the planned roles.
Yahoo Sports reported that the Rams’ previous game against Las Vegas produced two significant kickoff returns before the team changed its approach. Las Vegas returners gained 42 and 39 yards before the Rams asked McManus to kick through the end zone.
McManus Kickoff Results Explain the Special Teams Pivot
| Opponent | Kickoff return gain |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 42 yards |
| Las Vegas | 39 yards |
Yahoo Sports reported both Las Vegas return gains and the Rams’ decision to have McManus kick through the end zone afterward. Those figures provide the numerical context for Karty’s potential kickoff assignment against the Chargers.
Turf Show Times reported that the Rams entered the Las Vegas matchup leading the NFL in total offense at 399.1 yards per game. The outlet also reported that Matthew Stafford had thrown eight touchdowns against one interception over his previous three games, completing 75.9 percent of his passes with a 113.4 passer rating.
The Rams’ offensive numbers and the special-teams return figures were part of the context surrounding the reported two-kicker plan. The club’s Week 8 setup places McManus, Karty and Evans in separate specialist roles, with Karty’s kickoff assignment presented as a possibility rather than an official game-day announcement.
The Chargers Matchup Raises the Stakes
Turf Show Times reported that the Chargers were 0-6 and had an NFL-high 15 giveaways entering the Week 8 matchup. The Rams will face Los Angeles on Sunday in the first game tied to the reported two-kicker setup.
Chris Shula discussed Justin Herbert’s size, pocket strength and field vision, saying the Chargers quarterback stands tall in the pocket and sees the whole field. Shula also said Herbert can activate the entire field with Los Angeles’ playmakers.
Those comments from Shula provide the defensive context for the Rams’ Sunday matchup, while McManus’ field-goal work and Karty’s potential kickoff role remain the central special-teams story.
