Guess who will be running for LA Rams against Buccaneers?

The latest LA Rams roster moves are in the news, and the team appears to have another week where the offense will be powered, on the ground at least, by the activated-from-the-practice-squad running back Ronnie Rivers.  And that pretty much tells you the state of this LA Rams rushing offense.

The LA Rams do have plenty of players in the running back room and on the Rams roster. There is RB Darrell Henderson Jr., RB Cam Akers, RB Malcolm Brown, and designated to return RB Kyren Williams.  Now, the team has augmented their rushers even further by activating Rivers to the active roster for another game.

That means that the Rams have activated Rivers twice, and have just one more ‘free elevation’ before the Rams must sign him to their active roster. But the question is, how serious are the Rams about running with the football if they are placing Ronnie Rivers into the rotation?

The football ends up in the hands of the guy who suits up

Now, this is not intended to slight Rivers’ efforts. But there are plenty of players on the Rams roster who have done next to nothing so far this season. If Rivers is running the football, what are the three other rushers doing?

So far this season, the Rams’ leading rusher is RB Darrell Henderson Jr. with 50 rushes for 197 yards. Next is RB Cam Akers with 51 rushes for 151 yards. Next is Cooper Kupp with six rushes for 51 yards. Next is Malcolm Brown with 12 rushes for 25 yards. Finally, Ronnie Rivers checks in with nine rushes for 21 yards.

Rivers, like Henderson and rookie Kyren Williams, is a smallish running back, the type that seems to be the latest flavor for the Rams. Unlike Williams or Henderson, though, he has not had any reports of injury so far.

Perhaps that is why he is getting the nod for Game 8 after all? Between injuries, illnesses, and being held out of practice and games, Rivers is perhaps the most dependable rusher on the Rams roster right now. Much like Sony Michel’s promotion in 2021, ultimately the football does find itself in the hands of the guy who suits up consistently.

Right now, that guy is Ronnie Rivers.