LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams put punters Johnny Hekker and Corey Bojorquez on the COVID-19 list Saturday, leaving them without a punter available for their second preseason game.
Kicker Matt Gay punted in high school and could handle those duties against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night in place of Hekker and Bojorquez.
Hekker, a four-time first-team All-Pro, ranks second in NFL history by averaging 46.9 yards per punt, second only to Shane Lechler (47.6). Hekker averaged 45.6 yards per punt last season, his lowest average in nine season with the Rams, and had a punt blocked for only the third time in his career.
With Hekker going into the third year of a five-year, $18 million contract and the Rams looking to create salary cap space wherever possible with a top-loaded roster, they signed Bojorquez to a one-year contract in April to set up a training camp competition.
Bojorquez spent the past three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He averaged a league-leading 50.8 yards per punt last year.
“I think whichever one of us is going to be punting for the Rams, the other guy’s going to get picked up very shortly thereafter,” Hekker said earlier this month.
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