kicker

A week ago, Harrison Mevis was working out on his own, kicking and preparing for the day an NFL team came calling.

On Sunday, Mevis will be the Rams’ kicker when they play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, coach Sean McVay said Friday.

Mevis and long snapper Jake McQuaide were signed to the practice squad this week because of kicking-game issues that led to early-season losses against the Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers and resurfaced in last Sunday’s victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Mevis and second-year pro Joshua Karty competed during practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Ultimately, in its simplest form, who do I think gives us the best chance to have successful outcomes, particularly in that operation with the given factors on Sunday,” McVay said.

Mevis, 23, made 89 of 106 field-goal attempts at Missouri, including one from 61 yards. In the United Football League this past season, he made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts.

Mevis said he had been preparing for a call every week since the New York Jets cut him from their practice squad in September. He said he performed well this week.

“I feel like I put myself out there, I showed what I can do and proved that I can play at this level,” he said after Friday’s practice. “And I’m ready to go.”

Not only for this week.

“The work’s just starting,” he said. “This is not the end goal. I didn’t come here just to be the starter for one week. So I’m just here to help the team win.”

McVay said he still has “a lot of confidence” in Karty, a 2024 sixth-round draft pick in Karty, who has made 10 of 15 field-goal attempts and 23 of 26 extra-point attempts.

“He’s not going anywhere,” McVay said, noting that the situation would be evaluated again after Sunday’s game.

McQuaide, a 15th-year pro who played for the Rams from 2011 to 2020, replaces Alex Ward. He will work with punter/holder Ethan Evans and Mevis in what the Rams hope will be an improved operation.

“It’s definitely been a little chaotic,” Evans said of the changes this week. “But I feel very confident we’ll be able to go out there and execute our jobs.”

Kickers have been making long field goals look routine at the college and NFL level. Now they’re becoming the same in high school football.

Noah Thayer, a senior at JSerra, has booted field goals from 55 and 54 yards this season, made a game-winning 31-yard field goal against Oak Hills and is 16 for 16 on PATs.

There’s lots of kickers this season with the ability to try long field goals, but they must first get the permission from their coach. JSerra coach Victor Santa Cruz said Thayer has his complete confidence.

“It’s an easy decision when you have a weapon like Noah,” Santa Cruz said. “It’s exciting to have him. He’s been developing since he was a freshman. He’s just a confident kid.”

Thayer said he gained strength and muscle in the offseason, going from 5-feet-8, 140 pounds to 5-9, 165 to help him increase his distance on kicks. He’s missed field goals from 60 and 55 yards.

Other long field goals this season include a 50-yarder from Mel Huerta of Lawndale, a 49-yarder from Nico Talbott of Mira Costa and a 49-yarder from Ishaan Kedia of Portola.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

Irish kicker Mark McNamee made his debut for the Green Bay Packers just a day after landing in the United States.

The Dubliner took all three kick-offs for the Packers in a 30-10 NFL pre-season defeat to the New York Jets on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was part of the 2025 International Player Pathway programme and signed a contract with the Packers in July.

Despite this, his arrival in Wisconsin was delayed as he waited to be granted a visa, which he received last week, leading to him landing in the US the night before the game.

“I landed at about 11pm [the night before the game],” he told reporters after the game.

“The Packers and the immigration lawyers have been great with me in just getting it done, it’s not an easy thing to get a visa. It felt like a long time, but it was only two weeks. It was really quick and I’m really grateful to be here.

“It feels like it’s the beginning, it’s a good moment for me and my family.”

Elsewhere, Derry native Jude McAtamney kicked a 43-yard field goal and an extra point in the New York Giants’ 34-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.