What changed
The Los Angeles Rams have suspended offensive lineman Alaric Jackson for two games and released kicker Harrison Mevis after their 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb near midfield and will miss games against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders. Mevis is out after missing a field goal in regulation and having another blocked in overtime. The Rams are signing Blake Grupe from the New York Jets’ practice squad.
Why it matters
The Rams are replacing two problem areas at once: Jackson’s absence weakens the offensive line, while Grupe inherits a kicking job that suddenly became impossible to ignore.
Mevis, 24, made five of his past nine field-goal attempts and only one of his last four over the previous two games. Coach Sean McVay said the kicking performance “cost us the game,” making the release a direct response to a decisive failure rather than a quiet roster reshuffle.
Grupe, 27, brings a stronger recent record on paper, having converted 81.9% of field goals and 98% of extra points in 50 NFL games with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. Whether that holds under the pressure of a new team and close games remains unknown.
Jackson’s suspension adds a different kind of cost. A heated moment after a narrow defeat now carries into the Rams’ next two fixtures, leaving the team to absorb the loss of a starter while trying to steady its kicking game.
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