Is Rams K Tanner Brown a Lock for Week 1?

The Los Angeles Rams were dismantled by the Denver Broncos, 41-0, on Saturday. Los Angeles can take solace in their key contributors resting for Week 1, but the loss revealed potential cracks in an already thin roster.

Rookie kicker Tanner Brown missed a 39-yard field goal, his only attempt of the night. It completed a preseason in which Brown hit two of four field goals and all four of his extra points. His performance was not enough to earn the praise of head coach Sean McVay.

“I think there are some things we need to be able to look at and evaluate,” McVay said after the loss. “That’s just the honest truth right now.”

Brown, an undrafted free agent, is the lone kicker on the Rams’ roster. Tuesday’s cutdown day should flood the free agent market with new special teamers, and frankly, it would be hard to blame Los Angeles for looking.

Special teams, while often forgotten, can be vital in flipping one-possession losses into wins. The Rams chose to tempt fate with a rookie kicker. At some point, not bringing in some semblance of competition feels like asking for trouble.

Whether it’d be Robbie Gould, Rodrigo Blankenship, or another kicker off the street, there’s no guarantee they outperform Brown. Signing a kicker may dent the rookie’s confidence, though.

It seems Los Angeles is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Brown will likely have a chance to regain McVay’s confidence during the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. 

You can follow Anthony Licciardi on Twitter @ALiccScouting