The Los Angeles Rams‘ special teams room has felt like a constant rotation all season, and Monday brought yet another adjustment. The team announced that kicker Joshua Karty, waived just days earlier, has been re-signed to the practice squad. It’s a move that keeps the former sixth-round pick in-house while continuing the organization’s search for stability in its kicking operation.
Karty, 23, opened the year as the Rams’ starting kicker but saw his grip on the job loosen after a bumpy stretch. He converted 10 of 15 field goal attempts and 23 of 26 extra points in eight games, numbers that left the door open for competition. His stint included several blocked kicks, one of which famously turned into a last-second touchdown for the Philadelphia Eagles.
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McVay’s Confidence Never Wavered
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Though the Rams replaced Karty with rookie Harrison Mevis in early November, head coach Sean McVay was clear that the team still believed in the young kicker’s long-term upside.
“I still do have a lot of confidence in Josh Karty. He’s not going anywhere,” McVay said at the time. “I think he’s got a really bright future; I think he’s done a lot of really good things for us.”
Karty went unclaimed on waivers and ultimately returned to Los Angeles as a practice squad exception. For now, he slides into the depth role previously occupied by Mevis—who has since taken over the starting job and has looked sharp, including 40- and 52-yard field goals in Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay. McVay emphasized the decision to move on from Karty initially was “exclusively a numbers thing,” noting, “It’s just hard to keep two kickers.”
Rams Roster Shuffling Extends Beyond the Kickers
Karty’s return came with a corresponding move: the Rams released offensive lineman Wyatt Bowles from the practice squad. Bowles had been brought in as emergency depth amid injuries on the offensive line but was squeezed out as the roster was reshaped ahead of Week 13.
The Rams have been busy across the board—placing Tyler Higbee, Rob Havenstein, and Quentin Lake on IR while welcoming back Tutu Atwell and Ahkello Witherspoon. Meanwhile, veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide replaced Alex Ward and has helped steady the field-goal operation alongside holder Ethan Evans.
As the Rams continue searching for the right mix on special teams, Karty’s return signals that his story in Los Angeles isn’t finished—just rewritten in a new chapter of the season-long rotation.
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