The Sam Ficken era is off to an inauspicious start.
Ficken, signed by the Rams after NFL point leader Greg Zuerlein was sent to injured reserve with a back injury this week, missed a field goal and an extra point attempt in the first half of Sunday's matchup against the Titans in Nashville.
Rams coach Sean McVay wasn't showing a ton of faith in Ficken even before he started missing kicks. On their first possession, the Rams opted to send punter Johnny Hekker on the field rather than attempt a 49-yard field goal. Los Angeles called a fake and Hekker heaved a deep pass on 4th-and-10 that fell incomplete.
Ficken's first field field goal attempt struck the right upright from 36 yards out. He successfully converted a PAT after Todd Gurley's 80-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. You can assume the Rams will be conservative in their kicking game for the rest of the afternoon.
