LOS ANGELES — With injuries striking the roster the last couple of weeks, the Rams (9-2) are looking to add some reinforcements this week ahead of their game against the Carolina Panthers (6-6).
The Rams opened the practice window for cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and wide receiver Tutu Atwell, with the expectation that both will be available against the Panthers.
This has been the plan with Atwell four games after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. But Witherspoon was expected to miss at least 12 weeks after suffering his injury in the Rams’ second game of the season. Originally, the injury was reported to media as a broken collarbone, but Witherspoon clarified on Wednesday that it actually was a scapula injury.
“I don’t really think they’re important,” said Witherspoon, who studied pre-med at Colorado. “That’s why I’m back so fast. The collarbone’s way worse. … I’m ready to play football.”
After he underwent tests on the shoulder this week, the Rams’ medical team cleared him to return to practice a week early.
“With he and Tutu, we’ll get through the week and we’ll see where they’re both at,” head coach Sean McVay said. “He’s been chomping at the bit. The scan looked really good and so he’s done some different things with [VP of sports medicine Reggie Scott] and his group that would try to simulate some of the physical contact and how to trust it. Obviously the practice settings will be really good.”
Witherspoon’s return to practice comes on the same day the Rams placed cornerback Roger McCreary on injured reserve with a groin injury.
The Rams acquired McCreary via trade midseason to be a depth piece at nickel corner. Quentin Lake’s elbow dislocation seemed to open an opportunity for McCreary, but he only played one defensive snap against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend before suffering the injury.
The Rams did claim cornerback Derion Kendrick off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. Kendrick has familiarity with the Rams after spending the last three-plus years with the organization, and he has the flexibility to play inside or out.
But nothing could be more impactful than adding Witherspoon – the team’s top cornerback at the beginning of the season – for the stretch run.
“It means a lot,” McVay said. “To get Ahkello back, we’ve got some flexibility. … This is that time of year, but we do feel fortunate that guys that we’re asking to step up are people that understand what’s going on, have real game experience and that means a lot this time of year.”
The wrinkle is that the Rams’ cornerback room is in much better shape than it was before Witherspoon’s Week 2 injury. Emmanuel Forbes has 11 passes defended in the last four weeks as well as three interceptions, while Cobie Durant has five pass breakups and two interceptions in the last three games.
So the Rams will need to develop a plan for how to utilize all three cornerbacks based on how practice goes Wednesday and Thursday, then communicate that to the players so they can prepare before Sunday. Durant has played inside in his career, but like Forbes he has been thriving on the outside since the Rams’ Week 8 bye.
“We definitely don’t want to get those guys out of their flow, playing great football and want to keep those guys in a good rhythm,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “[Defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant] does such a good job of giving each guy roles. There’s ways to get guys on the field where they have specific roles for the game.”
Shula to be selective
Shula said Wednesday that he will be selective about any possible head coaching opportunity that arises for him this winter.
In his ninth year with the Rams, Shula has served in several roles, most recently as defensive coordinator the last two seasons. His name has been regularly mentioned in coaching speculation this year because of how he’s elevated the Rams’ defense to one of the best in the league, as well as how closely he has worked with McVay, dating to their days as college teammates at Miami (Ohio).
“I think that’s the goal of any coach that wants to be in the league, you want to take yourself to the highest profession. That doesn’t mean you’re going to walk away for any single opportunity,” Shula said. “I love it here, my family loves it here. We’ve been here 9-10 years, coaching with my best friends. We obviously have a great group of players and a great staff. So for the right opportunity we’ll see. But like I said, not really thinking too much about that.”
Injury report
Rams safety Kamren Kinchens (shoulder), offensive lineman David Quessenberry (groin) and outside linebacker Byron Young (knee) all did not practice Wednesday. Young and Kinchens are expected to play vs. the Panthers, McVay said.