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Rams Starter Needs to Lose His Job Immediately After SNF Loss

A struggling Rams rookie must be released if the team is serious about making the playoffs.

By Jason Schandl

Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, center, watches from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, center, watches from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images / Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
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Things are starting to look dire for the Los Angeles Rams. Sitting at 5-6 in the loaded NFC is making a playoff berth look more and more unlikely. The NFC West is close enough to keep the door open for now though, and even at only +450 to win the division and +390 to make the playoffs per FanDuel Sportsbook, it's too early to really panic and blow things up.

But there is one Rams starter who absolutely needs to be cut if the team is serious about making the playoffs.

Joshua Karty's missed 47-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter yesterday didn't end up deciding the game or anything, but it was just the latest instance of poor play from the rookie sixth-round pick.

Karty has five misses on the season, with four coming on kicks shorter than 50 yards. He's 5-of-6 from 20 to 29 yards, 6-of-7 from 30 to 39, 2-of-4 from 40 to 49 and 3-of-4 from 50-plus. He's also missed two extra points on the year. That's a terrible performance for a kicker, rookie or not.

Karty has the fifth-worst field goal percentage for any kicker allowed to play in 9 or more games this season, and he has the third-worst extra point percentage among qualifying kickers. For however much weight you want to give PFF's field goal grades, his 53.7 ranks 41st among anyone to attempt a kick this season.

There are viable starters available on practice squads around the league. Spencer Shrader has been perfect in two games for the Kansas City Chiefs since being signed off the Jets' practice squad a couple of weeks ago. Before that, he was perfect for the Jets after being let go by the Colts. Other teams are having no trouble upgrading their kicker position.

I get that Karty is a rookie, but the sunk cost of a draft pick shouldn't affect the decision-making. Could he develop into a good kicker? Maybe, but how much do you want to hurt your team now in hopes of having a good kicker in the future? Never mind the fact that if he's waived he would likely clear and be eligible to sign onto the practice squad.

There's no reason for the Rams to continue sacrificing points with Karty as their starting kicker if they have any intention of making a push for a playoff spot.

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