November 28, 2025 • 9 mins
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay provides injury updates, details decision to waive kicker Joshua Karty and talks about former Rams players on the Carolina Panthers roster.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As far as injuries are concerned, the guys that will
be limited will be Cam Kitchens, David Questenberry, b Y
will be a d m P. Feel good about where
he's at, our consistent kind of rhythm and routine, and
then Poona will be limited. You know, So that's kind
of you know where we're at injury wise, But I
am yeah, yeah, don't expect any sort of limitations. You know,
(00:24):
We're just you get a little bit later in the season.
Guys have their typical bumps and bruises at him, and
with the amount of experience that he's had, you want
to be smart and I think, you know, Joe and
Iglio are outside linebacker coaching. Reggie have done a great
job of kind of continuously figuring that out while having
some fluidity for what's best for be Why but he's
chomping at the bit, he'll be ready to go. Yeah. Honestly,
(00:45):
it wasn't something that we wanted to be able to do.
We always had the intention of being able to keep
two kickers. That was contingent upon the health of our roster.
What went into it had nothing to do with Josh
has done a great job. I've been I think there's
been a lot of growth that's goning on that hasn't
been seen by you guys or others in terms of
the way he's gone about his weekly rhythm. What a
(01:06):
good job he's done of making a couple of little tweaks,
and the way he's handled it says as much as
anything about who he is. And I think his future
is going to be really bright. But it's a long
winded way of saying. It was just roster management, you know,
because you end up putting as many guys on IR
gotten a little bit banged up at the dB position obviously,
you put Rob Higbee with what you want to do
with the tight ends on the back end, and really
(01:28):
just kind of projecting and thinking about your overall forty
eight and fifty three. It was just exclusively a numbers thing.
That's it's just hard to keep two kickers when some
of the things that have come up did If he
clears Waivers, is bringing him back on the practice squad? Absolutely, Yeah,
Now that's what we want to be able to do,
you know, And so you know, I want to see
what's what's best for Josh, you know, first and foremost,
(01:48):
even if that doesn't necessarily suit the rams because of
the you know, appreciation I have for the human being
first and foremost. But I'm certainly hopeful that the journey
does continue with us in that capacity if that's something
that that you know, works out for us. So how
are you feeling about the kicking operation? Do you feel
like that problem? How do you feel about it? It
doesn't matter what I think. I feel good, Gary. Here's
(02:11):
what I would say is, you know, we've been automatic
on the extra points and I'm excited that we were
able to get two field goals off last week. This
guy's got a nice, steady approach. I think Jake McQuaid
has done an excellent job as well, and you can
even see just him getting back into the rhythm. He's getting,
you know, more consistent, and he and Ethan developing a
rapport on snap and holding their nonverbal communication, you know.
(02:32):
And then Harris Harrison has been really comfortable with the operation,
and so I certainly have been pleased with what it's
looked like from the forty nine ers game on. I'm
a lot happier just overall as a head coach when
we're kicking extra points and not field goals. But I've
been pleased and we put a lot of work into it,
and I think the protection has been really good. I
think Chase and coach kot week I have done an
excellent job and we want to continue with that theme
(02:54):
because a lot of points go through that operation against
Harrison can in kickboms like type of how are you
guys kind of navigating just kind of you know, it
depends on what the approach is to you know, are
we are we trying to keep the ball on play
or are we thinking let's just hang it out in
the back of the end zone. You know, So that
(03:14):
was what was reflected in terms of just the overall approach.
And then sometimes you might say, well there was a
couple of instances where they were both touchbacks. Well maybe
we didn't want it to play out that way, but
that was what went into seeing both of those guys.
And then once you get a little bit later on
where we had a little bit of a lead, some
of the guys are doubling down playing both offense defense
and in that kicking phase, and you don't love putting
(03:34):
the ball at the thirty five. But based on how
that game unfolded, that was what kind of led to
that approach in some of those you know, specific instances
that you're talking about. In the NFL, guys are always
moving to different teams, so I know there's some familiarity,
but this roster seems to have a lot of former reams. Yeah,
especially on defense. It does look when you're watching them, Yeah,
(03:55):
does that show up here? Yeah? Yeah, I mean, oh yeah,
numbers or for oh no, no, no, I mean these
are still people. You know, you're seeing jersey numbers of
what they represent in terms of how they're playing and
what it really looks like. But you still see and
remember and have a lot of appreciation for Bobby Brown
and Christian rose Boom and you know, and Ashn Robinson
and those guys, and so you know, and then they
(04:17):
added to DBS this week with some of the injuries
that they've had, and David Long and Robert Rochelle. I
got a lot of love for you, Zero evro. I mean,
he's a great coach. He was an incredibly influential in
a positive way on a lot of great things that
went on in the first five years I've learned from him.
He's a close friend. I love his family, and you
see his identity in terms of the detail, the precision,
(04:38):
the competitive character that this group plays with some of
the different nuances that they're able to activate, you know,
whether it be with their front mechanics or some of
the things they're doing on the second and third level.
So absolutely you see and think about those things, and
in a lot of instances you're remembering a lot of
cool memories. But what's pretty special about that, Gary is
this is kind of becoming a little bit consistent. You know.
(04:59):
There's a lot of people that we've had. You know,
when you when you're in your ninth you know, year
at a place and people leave, usually for the right reasons.
That's a pretty cool thing. And then when you have
to compete against them, you try to be able to
lock in and get after them, and then you root
for them after that game. We once it gets past
he consistent rumors about coach, What do you feel like
(05:20):
for you is the biggest compliment as a head coach
that so many of the guys that have worked with
you or been in this culture seem to be a
trusted resource for another friendship. Well, they're that for me too.
I think it goes both ways, and so I think
the most important thing is is you know, you just
be totally and completely present and you know, you you
(05:40):
you don't take for granted what a cool opportunity it
is to do what we're doing and to do with
people with that you you know that you really love
and care about. And if those things happen, man, it's
like the best way to get your heart broken. But
you're happy for your guys, you know, And so but
we'll we'll continue to try to do the best we
can for week twelve. But you know, I am always
appreciative of the relationships that are developed as people are
(06:05):
here and they have an impact on me just as
much as i'd like to think on them. And I'm
sure there's moments where they're thinking that guy is a
real jerk sometimes, but you know, it goes both ways.
And so I'm really grateful to be in a place
that I've had a lot of meaningful relationships and then
guys go on to do some really cool stuff like
what we've seen as all the coaches that character capacity
(06:26):
and a heart for players. You know, I think that's
really what it boils down to. I think, you know,
number one, you better be a good person. There's too
many ebbs and flows, and it's too challenging, and there's
too many things that really try to divide you. We
want to be inside out. You want to have character.
Where are you a good person? Do you have a
heart for people? Are you secure enough in yourself to
be able to, you know, be accountable or have ownership
of where you can consistently grow and be a never
(06:48):
ending learner even as a coach, you know, do you
have the capacity? Are you willing to work at the
game to try to be able to provide our players
with successful situations that we put them in both technically
and schematically. Are we able to provide the fixes for him?
And then you know, I think the most important thing
is are you able to develop meaningful relationships that creates
a cohesive group through you know, the natural challenges that
(07:10):
this season will take you on with that journey. You
better have all those things. And I've been around a
lot of people that check all those boxes. He was
hired in Atlanta and you had the open DC joke,
what was it about Chris and what you've seen from
him that well, obviously there's a lot of love you know,
and experience together. You know, just going back to even
playing ball with him in college. I think there's a
(07:30):
lot of consistencies that we can relate to in terms
of coming from football families understanding this space. But you know,
it's it's really all those things that I just talked
to Aaron about. He checks all those boxes. I think
what's really cool is he's had a chance to coach
on all three levels. He and I are so connected
in regards to how we see the game and how
we believe the game should be played, really both from
an offensive and a defensive and really just a holistic perspective.
(07:54):
And so that rapport that you have with him and
guys like Aubrey and give Smith in our defensive staff
as a whole. But it was really just the connection,
and then you know, when you open up the competition,
you know he earned the job, did a great job
with his interview, has done a great job I think
of really being able to collaborate with his coaching staff.
You know, Chris will be the first to tell you
this is a collective effort. You hear the headsets in
(08:14):
the game day, and what a phenomenal job he and
our defensive coaches do of collaborating to try to be
able to put our guys in good positions throughout the
game and having a feel for our what's needed, how
do we want to play that, what's their approach? And
he's a stud I'm really proud of them, you know.
I don't even say proud because it's not like I
have anything to do with it. I'm just really happy
and I'm not at all surprised. And there's a lot
(08:35):
of love for him. I think the players feel that,
and the coaches that he works with, and he's doing
a great job and it's a big reason why we've
had you know, a lot of cool things go on,
you know, through eleven games so far. Do you remember
the first time you looked at what he was doing
or just as a friend where you felt like this
guy could be a thin I think you always are
around people that have capacity to be able to lead
(08:56):
and are you intrinsically motivated. I felt that and stuff,
you know, from when we were playing college ball together
when we were freshmen in the dorm room meeting for
the first time. The way you go about his workouts
and stuff like that. Same thing with Joe Coniglio. But
we got a lot of intrinsically motivated people that are
good people first and foremost. And I think we positively
push each other with a good positive peer pressure of
like continuing to elevate, adapt and you know, continuously try
(09:18):
to find edges ultimately geared towards putting our players in
good situations. Do you guys bond up with the fact
that you came from football family, Oh, for sure. I
just think there's you know, there's kind of an unspoken
understanding of just you know, things that you don't even
realize you're taking in that you realize you're so fortunate
to be exposed to that. Now when you're in these situations,
you're thinking, man, what a blessing that was? You know, Shoot,
(09:39):
we showed you know in ninety three when the Dolphins
beat the Cowboys after leon Lette hit that one and
got him an extra chance to be able to kick it.
And I mean, he and his grandpa look exactly alike.
There is some good genes. So he's done a hell
of a job. I know, I know his grandpa smiling
on the way that he's leading and affecting an influencing
positive change with our group
As far as injuries are concerned, the guys that will
be limited will be Cam Kitchens, David Questenberry, b Y
will be a d m P. Feel good about where
he's at, our consistent kind of rhythm and routine, and
then Poona will be limited. You know, So that's kind
of you know where we're at injury wise, But I
am yeah, yeah, don't expect any sort of limitations. You know,
(00:24):
We're just you get a little bit later in the season.
Guys have their typical bumps and bruises at him, and
with the amount of experience that he's had, you want
to be smart and I think, you know, Joe and
Iglio are outside linebacker coaching. Reggie have done a great
job of kind of continuously figuring that out while having
some fluidity for what's best for be Why but he's
chomping at the bit, he'll be ready to go. Yeah. Honestly,
(00:45):
it wasn't something that we wanted to be able to do.
We always had the intention of being able to keep
two kickers. That was contingent upon the health of our roster.
What went into it had nothing to do with Josh
has done a great job. I've been I think there's
been a lot of growth that's goning on that hasn't
been seen by you guys or others in terms of
the way he's gone about his weekly rhythm. What a
(01:06):
good job he's done of making a couple of little tweaks,
and the way he's handled it says as much as
anything about who he is. And I think his future
is going to be really bright. But it's a long
winded way of saying. It was just roster management, you know,
because you end up putting as many guys on IR
gotten a little bit banged up at the dB position obviously,
you put Rob Higbee with what you want to do
with the tight ends on the back end, and really
(01:28):
just kind of projecting and thinking about your overall forty
eight and fifty three. It was just exclusively a numbers thing.
That's it's just hard to keep two kickers when some
of the things that have come up did If he
clears Waivers, is bringing him back on the practice squad? Absolutely, Yeah,
Now that's what we want to be able to do,
you know, And so you know, I want to see
what's what's best for Josh, you know, first and foremost,
(01:48):
even if that doesn't necessarily suit the rams because of
the you know, appreciation I have for the human being
first and foremost. But I'm certainly hopeful that the journey
does continue with us in that capacity if that's something
that that you know, works out for us. So how
are you feeling about the kicking operation? Do you feel
like that problem? How do you feel about it? It
doesn't matter what I think. I feel good, Gary. Here's
(02:11):
what I would say is, you know, we've been automatic
on the extra points and I'm excited that we were
able to get two field goals off last week. This
guy's got a nice, steady approach. I think Jake McQuaid
has done an excellent job as well, and you can
even see just him getting back into the rhythm. He's getting,
you know, more consistent, and he and Ethan developing a
rapport on snap and holding their nonverbal communication, you know.
(02:32):
And then Harris Harrison has been really comfortable with the operation,
and so I certainly have been pleased with what it's
looked like from the forty nine ers game on. I'm
a lot happier just overall as a head coach when
we're kicking extra points and not field goals. But I've
been pleased and we put a lot of work into it,
and I think the protection has been really good. I
think Chase and coach kot week I have done an
excellent job and we want to continue with that theme
(02:54):
because a lot of points go through that operation against
Harrison can in kickboms like type of how are you
guys kind of navigating just kind of you know, it
depends on what the approach is to you know, are
we are we trying to keep the ball on play
or are we thinking let's just hang it out in
the back of the end zone. You know, So that
(03:14):
was what was reflected in terms of just the overall approach.
And then sometimes you might say, well there was a
couple of instances where they were both touchbacks. Well maybe
we didn't want it to play out that way, but
that was what went into seeing both of those guys.
And then once you get a little bit later on
where we had a little bit of a lead, some
of the guys are doubling down playing both offense defense
and in that kicking phase, and you don't love putting
(03:34):
the ball at the thirty five. But based on how
that game unfolded, that was what kind of led to
that approach in some of those you know, specific instances
that you're talking about. In the NFL, guys are always
moving to different teams, so I know there's some familiarity,
but this roster seems to have a lot of former reams. Yeah,
especially on defense. It does look when you're watching them, Yeah,
(03:55):
does that show up here? Yeah? Yeah, I mean, oh yeah,
numbers or for oh no, no, no, I mean these
are still people. You know, you're seeing jersey numbers of
what they represent in terms of how they're playing and
what it really looks like. But you still see and
remember and have a lot of appreciation for Bobby Brown
and Christian rose Boom and you know, and Ashn Robinson
and those guys, and so you know, and then they
(04:17):
added to DBS this week with some of the injuries
that they've had, and David Long and Robert Rochelle. I
got a lot of love for you, Zero evro. I mean,
he's a great coach. He was an incredibly influential in
a positive way on a lot of great things that
went on in the first five years I've learned from him.
He's a close friend. I love his family, and you
see his identity in terms of the detail, the precision,
(04:38):
the competitive character that this group plays with some of
the different nuances that they're able to activate, you know,
whether it be with their front mechanics or some of
the things they're doing on the second and third level.
So absolutely you see and think about those things, and
in a lot of instances you're remembering a lot of
cool memories. But what's pretty special about that, Gary is
this is kind of becoming a little bit consistent. You know.
(04:59):
There's a lot of people that we've had. You know,
when you when you're in your ninth you know, year
at a place and people leave, usually for the right reasons.
That's a pretty cool thing. And then when you have
to compete against them, you try to be able to
lock in and get after them, and then you root
for them after that game. We once it gets past
he consistent rumors about coach, What do you feel like
(05:20):
for you is the biggest compliment as a head coach
that so many of the guys that have worked with
you or been in this culture seem to be a
trusted resource for another friendship. Well, they're that for me too.
I think it goes both ways, and so I think
the most important thing is is you know, you just
be totally and completely present and you know, you you
(05:40):
you don't take for granted what a cool opportunity it
is to do what we're doing and to do with
people with that you you know that you really love
and care about. And if those things happen, man, it's
like the best way to get your heart broken. But
you're happy for your guys, you know, And so but
we'll we'll continue to try to do the best we
can for week twelve. But you know, I am always
appreciative of the relationships that are developed as people are
(06:05):
here and they have an impact on me just as
much as i'd like to think on them. And I'm
sure there's moments where they're thinking that guy is a
real jerk sometimes, but you know, it goes both ways.
And so I'm really grateful to be in a place
that I've had a lot of meaningful relationships and then
guys go on to do some really cool stuff like
what we've seen as all the coaches that character capacity
(06:26):
and a heart for players. You know, I think that's
really what it boils down to. I think, you know,
number one, you better be a good person. There's too
many ebbs and flows, and it's too challenging, and there's
too many things that really try to divide you. We
want to be inside out. You want to have character.
Where are you a good person? Do you have a
heart for people? Are you secure enough in yourself to
be able to, you know, be accountable or have ownership
of where you can consistently grow and be a never
(06:48):
ending learner even as a coach, you know, do you
have the capacity? Are you willing to work at the
game to try to be able to provide our players
with successful situations that we put them in both technically
and schematically. Are we able to provide the fixes for him?
And then you know, I think the most important thing
is are you able to develop meaningful relationships that creates
a cohesive group through you know, the natural challenges that
(07:10):
this season will take you on with that journey. You
better have all those things. And I've been around a
lot of people that check all those boxes. He was
hired in Atlanta and you had the open DC joke,
what was it about Chris and what you've seen from
him that well, obviously there's a lot of love you know,
and experience together. You know, just going back to even
playing ball with him in college. I think there's a
(07:30):
lot of consistencies that we can relate to in terms
of coming from football families understanding this space. But you know,
it's it's really all those things that I just talked
to Aaron about. He checks all those boxes. I think
what's really cool is he's had a chance to coach
on all three levels. He and I are so connected
in regards to how we see the game and how
we believe the game should be played, really both from
an offensive and a defensive and really just a holistic perspective.
(07:54):
And so that rapport that you have with him and
guys like Aubrey and give Smith in our defensive staff
as a whole. But it was really just the connection,
and then you know, when you open up the competition,
you know he earned the job, did a great job
with his interview, has done a great job I think
of really being able to collaborate with his coaching staff.
You know, Chris will be the first to tell you
this is a collective effort. You hear the headsets in
(08:14):
the game day, and what a phenomenal job he and
our defensive coaches do of collaborating to try to be
able to put our guys in good positions throughout the
game and having a feel for our what's needed, how
do we want to play that, what's their approach? And
he's a stud I'm really proud of them, you know.
I don't even say proud because it's not like I
have anything to do with it. I'm just really happy
and I'm not at all surprised. And there's a lot
(08:35):
of love for him. I think the players feel that,
and the coaches that he works with, and he's doing
a great job and it's a big reason why we've
had you know, a lot of cool things go on,
you know, through eleven games so far. Do you remember
the first time you looked at what he was doing
or just as a friend where you felt like this
guy could be a thin I think you always are
around people that have capacity to be able to lead
(08:56):
and are you intrinsically motivated. I felt that and stuff,
you know, from when we were playing college ball together
when we were freshmen in the dorm room meeting for
the first time. The way you go about his workouts
and stuff like that. Same thing with Joe Coniglio. But
we got a lot of intrinsically motivated people that are
good people first and foremost. And I think we positively
push each other with a good positive peer pressure of
like continuing to elevate, adapt and you know, continuously try
(09:18):
to find edges ultimately geared towards putting our players in
good situations. Do you guys bond up with the fact
that you came from football family, Oh, for sure. I
just think there's you know, there's kind of an unspoken
understanding of just you know, things that you don't even
realize you're taking in that you realize you're so fortunate
to be exposed to that. Now when you're in these situations,
you're thinking, man, what a blessing that was? You know, Shoot,
(09:39):
we showed you know in ninety three when the Dolphins
beat the Cowboys after leon Lette hit that one and
got him an extra chance to be able to kick it.
And I mean, he and his grandpa look exactly alike.
There is some good genes. So he's done a hell
of a job. I know, I know his grandpa smiling
on the way that he's leading and affecting an influencing
positive change with our group
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