INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Blake Grupe, the Los Angeles Rams' newest place-kicker, left Sunday's game in the first quarter because of a knee injury, and their punter, Ethan Evans, filled in by booting a go-ahead extra point in the fourth.
It didn't matter.
Evans' theatrics with 47 seconds left were short-lived as the Cardinals took the ensuing kickoff and marched downfield, winning Sunday's NFC West clash 18-16 thanks to Chad Ryland's 43-yard field goal -- his sixth of the game.
Grupe was added off the New York Jets' practice squad last week, replacing Harrison Mevis, who missed a 50-yard field goal attempt and then had a 48-yarder blocked in overtime of the Rams' loss to the Buffalo Bills last Monday.
But after making a 44-yard field goal in the opening quarter Sunday, Grupe hurt his right knee on the ensuing kickoff while trying to make a tackle, walking off the field with the assistance of the Rams' medical staff.
He was initially listed as doubtful to return but was downgraded to out in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Grupe was in the locker room with a big brace on his right leg and crutches at his locker. Coach Sean McVay said he didn't have any more details on the injury.
The Rams did not attempt another field goal in the half, but Evans was practicing place-kicking on the sideline during the game. Los Angeles did attempt a 2-point conversion after its second-quarter touchdown but did not convert. The Rams are the only team since the start of last season without a successful 2-point conversion (0-for-2), according to ESPN Research.
McVay also said the Rams ran the clock out at the end of the first half because of their kicking situation.
"Well, we're playing for a touchdown," he said. "We didn't have a field goal operation. And so the situation that we were in, that was why we approached it. If we had our normal kicker, if we had a kicker healthy, then that would've changed the approach."
Evans, though, then was thrust into action late in the fourth quarter on the shorter PAT try. Colby Parkinson's 6-yard touchdown catch tied the score at 15, and the Rams opted to kick it, with Evans converting as backup quarterback Stetson Bennett handled the snap. He said he kicked field goals in college, so he let the team know if it needed an extra point he could do it.
But Arizona marched 40 yards on five plays after that kick, with Ryland nailing a 43-yard winner as time expired for Arizona, which closed as a 13.5-point underdog and became only the second double-digit underdog to win outright in the past two seasons, per ESPN Research.
