The Los Angeles Rams are taking a different approach against the Jacksonville Jaguars than they had during the early stages of the regular season, and former undrafted free agent Ronnie Rivers will benefit.
The last time the Rams added a running back to their gameday roster was Cody Schrader before the regular-season opener.
Schrader is now a member of the Jaguars, creating an opportunity for Rivers.
Rams Elevate RB Ronnie Rivers for Jaguars Game
GettyRonnie Rivers #20 of the Los Angeles Rams in action against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams’ social media team posted “Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) RB Ronnie Rivers” on X on October 18.
Rivers, 26, is in his fourth season with the Rams. A California native, he was born in Castro Valley, went to Freedom High School, and attended Fresno State. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and spent time with another NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks.
Rivers rushed for 99 yards on 22 carries in 2024.
He added another 34 yards on five receptions in six targets. Rivers has 78 touches for 334 total yards from scrimmage in his career.
“An undersized back with three-down ability, Rivers is reliable and incredibly consistent. He runs with wiggle and does a nice job of finding efficient rush tracks early in the carry,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote before the draft in 2022. “His lack of size and leg drive could limit his success as an inside runner, while the lack of high-end burst could make him an average outside runner. Rivers won’t stand out in any particular area, but the sum of his parts gives him a shot to become a backup.”
That is effectively where Rivers has landed, starting two of his 34 career appearances.
Rams Deep at RB
GettyKyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during warm-ups before a game against the Houston Texans.
The Rams’ final injury report of Week 7 does not shed much light on the team’s plans for Rivers, who joins a running back room led by 2023 Pro Bowler Kyren Williams and that includes 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum and 2025 fourth-rounder Jarquez Hunter.
Hunter has played in five of the Rams’ six games this season, but he has yet to touch the ball, receive a target, or even play one snap on offense.
Corum was on the injury report this week with an ankle issue, but was cleared on Friday.
Corum has logged five or more carries in five of the Rams’ last six outings. He also has a role on special teams. Involving Hunter more on offense while letting Rivers pick up the special teams slack would have made sense if Corum was in danger of missing the contest.
With Corum active, the Rams, who rank 23rd in rushing attempts per game, will be four-deep at running back against the Jaguars and their eighth-ranked run defense in London in Week 7.
Rams Facing Familiar Faces in London
GettyCody Schrader #32 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after his run against the Dallas Cowboys.
Schrader, Rivers’ call-up predecessor, was signed from the Rams’ practice squad to the Jaguars’ 53-man roster, as league rules stipulate. He has yet to suit up for his new team, with the Rams’ season-opening win over the Houston Texans standing as his lone appearance.
The Jaguars are also four-deep at RB. They list Schrader last behind starter Travis Etienne, backup Bhayshul Tuten, and RB3 LeQuint Allen, who are all healthy, on their depth chart.
But Schrader is not the only Rams connection the Jaguars boast
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spent four years on Rams HC Sean McVay’s staff from 2018 through 2020 and again in 2022. Moreover, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone worked under Rams GM Les Snead for nine years before Jacksonville hired him this past offseason.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Rams Add Versatile Homegrown Veteran Playmaker in Roster Tweak appeared first on Heavy Sports.