Harrison Mevis attempted to kick a field goal against the Buffalo Bills during overtime but his effort was blocked

Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - The Los Angeles Rams are releasing kicker Harrison Mevis after his blocked field goal effort cost them victory against the Buffalo Bills, multiple US media reported Tuesday.

Mevis is to be replaced by Blake Grupe, the former New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts kicker who has spent this season with the New York Jets practice squad, NFL.com and The Athletic reported.

The decision comes less than 24 hours after the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to the Bills on Monday night, in which Mevis had a 48-yard effort that would have sealed the game blocked by Greg Rousseau’s fingertips.

Mevis also missed a 50-yard field goal effort in the first quarter. Moments after his overtime miss, Mevis’s Bills counterpart Tyler Bass scored his 45-yarder for a dramatic Buffalo win.

Head coach Sean McVay said the Rams’ kicking game had “cost us the game.”

“I thought offensively and defensively we battled. Thought some of the coverage units, we did some really good stuff,” he told a post-game press conference.

“And then the kicking game, especially with our PAT (point after touchdown), field goal, not even close to good enough. It cost us the game tonight.”

Mevis, who signed but never played for the Carolina Panthers in 2024, was brought in by the Rams last season to replace Joshua Karty.

In the 2025 season and post-season, Mevis made 18-of-19 field goal attempts. But Monday night’s misses sank his total this year to 5-of-9.

NFL sides often act decisively when kickers misfire.

The highly scrutinized position has a higher turnover than many others. Kickers frequently join teams as free agents rather than through the draft system, and are often on shorter contracts.