Rams begin a busy business week with a pair of practice squad moves

To start what could be a flurry of roster moves, the Los Angeles Rams today announced the practice squad release of offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe and the addition of kicker Tanner Brown. In addition, the NFL released both quarterback Jimmy Garappolo and tackle Alaric Jackson from the commissioner’s Suspended List.

Although L.A. has yet to officially announce the designation status of wide receiver Cooper Kupp, safety John Johnson, and guard Jonah Jackson, all three are expected to be placed on the Injured Reserve List some time this week. When official, the Rams will need to make coinciding additions to the active roster.

Brown begins his third stint in L.A., brought aboard as insurance for starting kicker Josh Karty. Karty tweaked a groin in the Cardinals loss. Although Head coach Sean McVay feels he should be good to go for the 49ers game this Sunday, with the Rams current injury epidemic, Brown offers inexpensive security.

Rams signed kicker Tanner Brown to practice squad. Josh Karty is dealing with a groin issue but Sean McVay said he’s expected to play Sunday; still need some insurance there.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 17, 2024

Last year, L.A. signed Brown as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State. Even though he was the only placekicker in training camp, Brown struggled with field goal accuracy in preseason games and the Rams decided to let him go in final cuts. He was re-signed to a Reserve/Futures contract this past January and competed in training camp for this season’s job. Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn called the competition “really tight”, but the Rams decided on Karty. For a second consecutive year, Brown was waived in final cuts.

This was also Nsekhe’s third go-round with the Rams, the first coming back in 2012 and then again in 2022 when he was poached off the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. He ended up starting 10 games for L.A.’s injury-plagued offensive line. This visit to SoCal only lasted a week, his presence now deemed unnecessary with Alaric Jackson’s return.

Nsehke has an interesting back story, with 17 career stops spanning 13 different cities. He started out back in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas State. His first pro season with the Corpus Christi Sharks of the Arena Football League 2 was cut short by a seven month prison stretch for burglary and he played his second season there living in a halfway house. He kept his nose clean and became a football vagabond.

Currently, the Rams have their full limit of 53 players on the active roster, before the expected designations of Kupp, Jackson, and Johnson. The practice squad stands at 16, leaving one opening to be filled.