A familiar face shows up at the LA Rams training camp

The LA Rams venerable and newly-retired offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth may no longer be an active member of the team’s roster, but he is still incredibly valuable to the team in so many ways. He has been the leader of the team’s offensive line since arriving on the team in 2017 and has been one of the principal contributors to an unparalleled string of five successful seasons.

Now, he’s stopping by to ensure that the 2022 NFL season continues that string of success.

It was Andrew Whitworth who gathered the battered pieces of the 2019 season’s offensive line, a unit that plummeted to the 29th-ranked offensive line in the NFL.  He personally worked with his teammates in the 2020 offseason while COVID-19 health and safety protocols prohibited players from using the team facilities. The result? The Rams emerged with the third-ranked offensive line from the 2020 NFL season.

Whitworth suffered a devastating knee injury in 2020 at mid-season but was back on the football competing with his teammates in the NFL Playoffs. That is just who he is. A natural communicator, an ultimate professional, a born leader.

So when Andrew Whitworth shows up at training camp, it’s sort of a big deal. You can bet he will be talking with former teammates, coaches, and even the team’s front office staff. But it’s not just a social call. Whitworth is there to observe, share his observations, and even help any younger player who may need a bit of clarity or guidance.  He may not be in uniform, but he is still a lifelong LA Rams player at heart.

But showing up at training camp is not the only place that Big Whit has appeared recently. He has finally joined Twitter too. And he is as masterful on social media as he is as a live speaker. Need an example? This one made me chuckle this morning:

I wouldn’t look for Andrew Whitworth to void his retirement like Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Tom Brady anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean that he won’t continue to contribute to the success of this team.

It just won’t be from the starting offensive left tackle position going forward.