Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Rams' two-kicker plan brings mixed results against Chargers
The Rams used two kickers against the Chargers in an unusual plan aimed at improving kickoff coverage.
Brandon McManus handled field goals and extra points, while Joshua Karty was active to kick off.
McManus made all four of his kicks, including a 30-yard field goal and three extra points.
Karty's kicks that reached the landing zone were difficult for the Chargers to return, but two short kicks drew penalties and gave the Chargers the ball at the 40-yard line.
Rams coach Sean McVay said the team had struggled to cover kicks and wanted to use Karty's kicks to disrupt returns.
McVay may activate more players for special teams as he tries to improve an area that has often troubled the Rams.
The Rams used a field-goal kicker, a kickoff kicker and a punter against the Chargers.
Brandon McManus made all four of his kicks, including a 30-yard field goal and three extra points.
Joshua Karty, active to handle kickoffs, was penalized twice for kicks that fell short of the landing zone.
Rams coach Sean McVay said the two-kicker plan had mixed results.
McVay said the team used Karty to try to improve kickoff coverage and make returns harder.
- Who
- The Los Angeles Rams, including coach Sean McVay, and the Chargers.
- What
- The Rams used two kickers in a game, with McManus handling field goals and extra points and Karty handling kickoffs.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- McVay said the Rams wanted to improve kickoff coverage and make returns harder.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Rams activated a field-goal kicker, a kickoff kicker and a punter against the Chargers.
McVay described the two-kicker plan as a mixed bag and said Karty had been penalized twice for kicks short of the landing zone.
- Brandon McManus
- Made four kicks: three extra points and a 30-yard field goal
- Joshua Karty
- Active to handle kickoffs
- Karty's kickoffs
- Two of five were penalized for falling short of the landing zone
- Game date
- November 1, 2026
- Rams coach
- Sean McVay
What people are saying
We can’t have the two penalties that put the ball on the 40-yard line, but I did think Josh hit some of those early ones really well.
The thought process behind it was we had not been having any success covering kicks.