Rams sign former Packers kicker Mason Crosby to practice squad
Rams coach Sean McVay says there’s a possibility that Crosby could kick as early as Sunday against Baltimore, but that they do not anticipate releasing Lucas Havrisik, who has missed two field goals and an extra point in the past two games
THOUSAND OAKS — Following Sunday’s victory over the Cleveland Browns, Rams head coach Sean McVay mentioned, unprompted, that the team would look to address its kicking situation. Kicker Lucas Havrisik had missed from 43 yards in the second quarter, marking his third missed field goal in four weeks, not to mention a missed point-after attempt against the Arizona Cardinals.
On Wednesday, the Rams made their move, signing veteran kicker Mason Crosby to their practice squad. Crosby will be a candidate to be promoted for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Sean McVay said, but Havrisik will remain with the Rams.
“It’s a unique opportunity where you still end up having Lucas; feel like he’s a guy that we want to be able to continue to work with,” McVay said. “But to have a veteran that has his experience, some of the success, some of the crunch time experience that he’s had … those are things that we wanted to be able to explore.”
Crosby, 39, spent the first 16 years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. With a career mark of 81.4% on field goals, Crosby made 25 of 29 attempts in 2022, going 1 for 4 from beyond 50 yards. He also connected on 37 of 39 PATs.
But the Packers drafted Auburn’s Anders Carlson in the sixth round in this year’s NFL draft and opted to allow Crosby to leave the team in free agency. He remained unsigned until the Rams called him on Tuesday.
“It’s weird being in Green Bay as long as I have,” Crosby said. “Getting all the new gear and the new helmet and all those things, it felt like kind of being a rookie again.”
Should he play on Sunday or at any point this season, Crosby will be the third kicker the Rams have utilized this season. Veteran Brett Maher was released after missing three kicks in a Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, after which the Rams signed Havrisik off the Browns’ practice squad.
The Rams signed Havrisik with the hope that he would blossom with his first opportunity on an active NFL roster. He has made just 70% of his field goal attempts, but he will get the chance to learn from Crosby, who is 11th all-time in career points scored in NFL history.
“The opportunity came here as this team is trying to do something,” said Crosby, who worked out with the Rams in October before they signed Havrisik. “I don’t think it has anything to do with Lucas, it’s just more having someone in the building, I’ve been through a lot and done a lot and try to go out there and compete and have success on Sunday.”
Nacua recovering after shoulder injury
Wide receiver Puka Nacua was a limited participant in Wednesday’s walk-through practice three days after suffering an AC sprain in his right shoulder.
Despite what looked like a serious hit late in the first half of Sunday’s win against Cleveland, Nacua was able to return and finish the game. And the expectation is he’ll be able to play against the Ravens.
“Sunday, I’ll be feeling a lot better on that day specifically,” Nacua said. “I try to go to bed as early as I can to make to try to make up on that recovery and then getting back in the training room and working with our staff. … Motion is lotion, is the best thing for me. From some of the vets, that’s the one thing I’ve learned is sitting down and feeling sorry for yourself won’t make you feel better for Wednesday practice.”
Nacua dealt with several injuries in college, including a broken foot as a freshman and leg and ankle issues that caused him to miss games. It was one of the knocks on him during the pre-draft process as he fell to the fifth round.
And he’s dealt with various issues since his breakout game against Seattle in Week 1 when he injured his ribs. But he has continued to play as he became the first rookie receiver this year to cross the 1,000-yard marker.
“The game of football, I wish it could be injury-free; it’d make it a thousand times more fun,” Nacua said. “It definitely has been a sense of pride being able to make it through and to make sure I can always give my best effort for the guys out there on the field and do my job.”
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