The Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth, safety Taylor Rapp to miss Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Los Angeles Rams are ruling out Andrew Whitworth and safety Taylor Rapp for Sunday’s division round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Sean McVay said Friday.
Whitworth injured his right knee in the opening game of the Rams’ 34-11 wildcard win over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. He played 30 of the team’s 60 offensive snaps before Joe Noteboom replaced him for the rest of the game. McVay said earlier in the week that Whitworth was struggling with swelling in his knees and ankles and that his status for Sunday was in question.
Whitworth, 40, ranked third in ESPN’s pass block win rate among offensive tackles during the regular season.
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Rapp missed the Arizona game with a concussion he sustained in the regular-season finals. McVay said he has yet to complete the final phase of the NFL’s concussion protocol.
“I know Taylor is doing everything in his power to come back and be out there with his boys,” McVay said. “He’s a great, tough competitor. But these are things we know how serious they can be. I have a feeling that hopefully after next week we will get positive news if we can continue our season and maybe next week he will come back.”
Rapp’s concussion and the season-ending ankle injury sustained by Jordan Fuller in Week 18 prompted the Rams to bring 37-year-old Eric Weddle out of his two-year retirement last week. The six-time Pro Bowler played 19 of 56 defensive snaps while Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess took the starting spots. It was Weddle’s first game in 750 days.
He would have played more if the game was closer, McVay said.
“He felt good,” McVay said. “What a great communicator, great energy. He just brought such a positive aura, energy to our building. I know how much respect he already has from the boys. I loved having Eric around. What I also loved was seeing how Terrell Burgess and Nick Scott played. These two guys did an excellent job. I think the depth of our secondary school was really challenged but the guys showed why they did a good job and they were ready when the time came number was called. And this week will be no different as Taylor is back out there.
Linebacker Troy Reeder appeared on the Rams’ injury report this week but will play Sunday, according to McVay.
He said none of the four players the team is scheduled to return to practice from injured reserve this week will play on Sunday, although there is “a likely possibility” that one of them, linebacker Ernest Jones, will be available next week would stand if the Rams advance to the NFC Championship game.
McVay said the team is taking it day-to-day with the other three — cornerback Robert Rochell, running back Darrell Henderson Jr. and defenseman Sebastian Joseph-Day — and it makes sense to start their 21-day window for the 53-man -Squad activated whether or not they can return before the end of the Rams season.
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