LOS ANGELES _ The Rams are a Super Bowl favorite, but they recognize their vulnerabilities.
They moved to address one Tuesday by releasing kicker Sam Ficken and signing veteran Cairo Santos.
Santos, 26, made 90 of 107 field-goal attempts during three-plus seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and part of last season with the Chicago Bears.
He was released by the New York Jets during training camp.
The Rams also worked out kicker Kai Forbath, who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings in August.
The Rams' kicking carousel began after Greg Zuerlein, the NFL's leading kicker last season, suffered a groin injury during warm-ups for a Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Coach Sean McVay said Monday that there was "a possibility" that Zuerlein would be available for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
The Rams were off Tuesday, so McVay did not speak to reporters. Santos presumably was signed in case Zuerlein needs more time.
Ficken's second regular-season stint with the Rams did not go as well as the first.
Last year, the Rams signed Ficken after Zuerlein suffered a Week 15 back injury that required season-ending surgery. Ficken proved mostly reliable _ he made four of five field-goal attempts _ as the Rams won the NFC West and advanced to the playoffs before losing to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Rams re-signed Ficken after the season as a precaution in case Zuerlein suffered a setback in his recovery. Ficken was released at the end of training camp because Zuerlein appeared to be fully recovered.
Zuerlein kicked four field goals in a season-opening victory at Oakland, and then suffered the groin injury the next week. The Rams immediately called Ficken and signed him before their Week 3 game against the Chargers.
Ficken got off to a shaky start, missing a 46-yard field-goal attempt and also shanking a kickoff out of bounds.
In last Thursday's 38-31 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Ficken made a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter but missed a 28-yard attempt in the fourth that would have increased the Rams' lead to 41-28.
The Vikings then drove for a field goal that pulled them to within seven points with 3 minutes 46 seconds left.
"When we get a chance to go up 13 in a game that's been back and forth, those are plays that we have to be able to make, and make them consistently," McVay said during a teleconference Friday.
At the time, McVay stopped short of saying that the Rams were considering a change. He said Zuerlein was "making progress" toward a return but did not provide a timetable.
On Monday, McVay said the coaching staff was "still evaluating" the kicking situation.
