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May 9, 2026 — The Los Angeles Rams have spent months trying to fix a special-teams unit that keeps breaking down, and the latest batch of roster moves reads like a mechanic swapping parts without a diagnosis.
The Rams signed linebacker Jon Rhattigan, brought back kicker Joshua Karty, and added long snapper Jake McQuaide for a third tour. They also released cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, linebacker Elias Neal, and offensive lineman Austin Blaske from the practice squad. Karty and McQuaide are familiar names in the building. Rhattigan is the kind of coverage player the staff clearly felt was missing.
That should be the good news. The bad news is that the pattern hasn't changed.
There is a reason good repair shops run a diagnostic before ordering parts. Replacing one component after another without finding the root cause only makes the bill longer. That is exactly what the Rams' special-teams operation has looked like.
They have changed kickers, added coverage players, and brought back a long snapper who knows the building. But none of those moves has answered the basic question: Why is this unit still underperforming?
Los Angeles is not short on effort. General manager Les Snead has been aggressive, and that should not be dismissed. He is working with a roster built around offensive stars and defensive playmakers, not necessarily deep in proven special-teams talent. Still, there is a difference between trying things and actually turning the unit around.
Karty's return stood out because the Rams had already cycled through other kicking options during the 2025 season. The team went from Harrison Mevis to Blake Grupe, then from Grupe to Brandon McManus, before bringing Karty back into the fold.
Kickers are a unique case. They depend on rhythm, protection, and the routine of the operation. A kicker who feels secure can be sharp late in games. One who is looking over his shoulder at roster-wire news is usually not.
That made the constant changes risky. It also made Karty's return a logical move, but it did not mean the deeper problem was solved. If the blocking, snapping, and coverage around him are still shaky, the entire unit will keep costing the Rams close games.
Rhattigan should help on coverage teams. He has the mentality and speed to run down kicks and make open-field tackles. McQuaide's experience also matters for a snap operation that needs to be painless and precise. Those are the kinds of proven specialists Los Angeles hoped to add.
But special teams are built through continuity. Players need repetitions together. They need to know the angles the coverage call requires and trust the guys beside them to hold their lanes.
The Rams keep introducing new pieces in-season, which makes it harder for those relationships to form. It is possible some of these moves will work. It is also possible the Rams are only giving themselves more options without a clear plan for how the unit should play together.
Nobody wants to hear that the front office is trying when points are slipping away on missed kicks or bad coverage. The Rams have playoff expectations. Special teams are not a side issue in January; they are often the difference between a clean win and a confusing loss.
The frustration is understandable. Fans watch other teams get consistent punts, sturdy protection, and clean returns. They watch the Rams make changes and still wait for results.
The bottom line is that the roster churn is a sign of instability. It shows that the original plan did not work and that the staff is now searching for answers on the fly.
Heading into the rest of the year, the main test is whether the Rams can finally establish a core group on special teams and leave it alone. Cohesion matters more than a collection of talented individuals.
That means picking a kicker, trusting the snapper, and building coverage units with clear roles. It also means coaching the details hard enough that the replacements do not have to carry the entire scheme.
If the Rams keep treating special teams like a pile of interchangeable parts, they will stay stuck in the same cycle. The best special-teams units in the NFL are rarely the ones with the most roster moves. They are the ones that settle into an identity.
A good mechanic knows when the real fix is obvious. The Rams have not reached that point yet. They have added familiar faces and tough coverage players, but they still seem to be guessing.
The special-teams warning light is still on. Until the staff finds the actual fault, the part swaps will keep happening, and the bill will keep climbing.
Los Angeles has the pieces to get this fixed. The next step is proving it on the field, not just on the transaction wire.
