Hey has anyone bothered answering the question in the title of this thread?
I answered it in another thread recently: 4 to 6 weeks.
It's time for the Rams to make a change at kicker until Greg Zuerlein returns
By: Cameron DaSilva
https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/28/nfl-los-angeles-rams-sam-ficken-kicker-greg-zuerlein/
Since he went down, the Rams have tried Johnny Hekker and Sam Ficken at kicker. Unfortunately, Ficken hasn’t looked any better than Hekker did in Week 2 when he was called upon on short notice. That’s a problem for Los Angeles and Sean McVay knows it.
In two games since taking over for Zuerlein, Ficken has made just 1 of 3 field goal attempts and booted a kickoff out of bounds. His first miss was from 46 yards just before the half against the Chargers, which would’ve given the Rams a 24-13 lead. Not a gimme by any means, but certainly one he should make.
His most recent miss, however, is the one that’s especially troubling. From 28 yards out with the chance to give the Rams a 13-point lead and almost put the game out of reach, Ficken missed wide right. The Vikings came back and kicked a field goal on the ensuing possession to cut the lead from 10 to seven, giving Kirk Cousins a chance in the final minutes to tie it up. Had Ficken made the kick, Minnesota couldn’t have settled for a field goal, forcing the Vikings to go for it on fourth.
McVay didn’t address Ficken’s woes after the win, but his decision-making during the game was telling enough. Rather than trying a 54-yarder to give the Rams a 31-20 lead in the third quarter, McVay opted for a fake punt with Hekker throwing it deep to Josh Reynolds on fourth-and-10. Not a terrible call, but also one he doesn’t make with Zuerlein healthy. McVay kicks a field goal in that situation nine out of 10 times.
So what are the Rams to do now? They’ve remained loyal to Ficken twice now, giving him every chance to prove he’s an NFL kicker. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards for him. He’s 3-for-6 on field goals in his career, while also missing an extra point last season.
Granted, Chris Boswell of the Steelers – who signed a five-year contract this offseason – has been even worse in 2018 (1-for-4 on field goals, 9-for-11 on PATs), but Pittsburgh is stuck with him. The Rams have a chance to move on from Ficken right now before things get worse.
Pro Bowl kickers aren’t just walking the streets looking for jobs, but bringing in some competition for the time being might not be a bad idea.
The Rams are too good on offense to have a kicker who can’t make a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter. That’s must-make by every stretch of the imagination and it could’ve cost the Rams a win.
