Just how deep into the Rams roster did the team dive in Week 18?

While it would have been nice for the LA Rams to win their final game of the season, the team opted to sit starters and bank on the healing effects of a week's worth of rest to recharge the starting veterans on the roster. While we know that the Rams' inactive list for Week 18 revealed the team's no-going-back decision for the offensive starters, I continued to be curious as to who did, and did not, play in the Rams' final game of the season.

So how can we solve this minor mystery for curious minds? Well, we turn to Lineups.com, the online website that tracks who plays in the NFL and for how many snaps.

While curiosity may kill the cat, there is good reason to investigate who contributed in Week 18. If a player sat out, then their role is secure, and the team was aiming at resting them for postseason competition. If a player's role was reduced, the coaching staff wanted to limit the risk of injury, but felt it necessary to get some playing time from those players. If a player continued to start, the team felt that starter either needed additional work (perhaps due to an earlier injury), or that the drop in quality from starter to an alternative was simply too great.

Finally, there are those players who played for the first time, or in a much greater role. I consider those players who may be extended or in line for a larger role in 2025. So let's dive in, shall we?

Who did NOT play in Week 18?

The first Rams roster question to be answered is the most obvious. Which starters did not play in Week 18? There are many reasons for sitting starters. The first reason is that the player is a bit banged up, and simply needed the time to heal more fully. But another reason could simply be to afford players who have played all season, and who have not had a down week for 2+ months.

So, which starters did not play in Week 18?

Offense

QB Matthew Stafford
RB Kyren Williams
WR Cooper Kupp
WR Puka Nacua
LT Alaric Jackson
C Beaux Limmer
RG Kevin Dotson
RT Rob Havenstein

Defense

CB Darious Williams
ILB Christian Rozeboom
S Kam Curl

While the Rams sat eight offensive starters and only three defensive starters, I believe that there are valid reasons for the disparity. The offensive line has been banged up and bruised all season long. Only left guard Steve Avila played, likely his choice as he had already missed seven games this year. On the defense, players were not held out.

That does not mean that the defense did not get rested. Heading into Week 18, the Rams defense had been playing its best football of the season. And the group used rapid rotations and sub packages to keep starters fresh for the most part. And last but not least, the defense is very young, with few long-term veterans in significant roles.

Who played, but in a significantly reduced role?

Some starters for the team simply could not sit out. Whether it was a coach's decision to keep them active, but in a reduced role, or a player's decision, but limited by the coaches, who can say. Still, when the smoke cleared, these players simply did not have nearly the same level of work as has been the trend this season:

S Quentin Lake (10 snaps)
DL Braden Fiske (11 snaps)
OLB Byron Young (11 snaps)
OLB Jared Verse (11 snaps)
NT Kobie Turner (11 snaps)
TE Hunter Long - (7 snaps) suffered a knee injury in the game.
DB Ahkello Witherspoon (13 snaps)
OLB Michael Hoecht (26 snaps)

These players saw reduced roles in Week 18. It's important to note that seven defensive starters appear in this list, which gives reason for the team to surrender 30 offensive points. Much of the day, even the defense was stocked with backups and first-time players.

Just another day at the office

Even as the team sat players, or limited their work in Week 18, there are those players who showed up to face the Seattle Seahawks with not discernible changes to their snap count. Those players were either too important to sit, or needed a bit more work to continue working on their craft Who fell into this category? Surprisingly more than I expected:

RB Blake Corum - (12 snaps) He sat after injuring his forearm, but was expected to start the entire game
WR Demarcus Robinson (62 snaps)
WR Tutu Atwell (36 snaps)
TE Tyler Higbee (27 snaps)
TE Colby Parkinson (26 snaps)
TE Davis Allen (20 snaps)
LG Steve Avila (66 snaps)
DB Cobie Durant (55 snaps)
DB Kamren Kinchens (55 snaps)
ILB Omar Speights (44 snaps)
DL Tyler Davis (28 snaps)
NT Bobby Brown III (22 snaps)

All players on this list either sat out multiple games in 2024, or had a rotational role this season that kept them fresh all season long.

Who had larger roles or appeared for the first time?

Now for the part that I am most eager to look over. Who saw larger roles in Week 18, or appeared for the first time? Not only does that matter in terms of who might show up in postseason competition, but it could indicate who is in line for a greater role next season. They are:

QB Jimmy Garoppolo - He impressed many in Week 18. (66 snaps)
RB Ronnie Rivers (52 snaps)
RB Cody Schrader (2 snaps)
WR Tyler Johnson (55 snaps)
WR Jordan Whittington (31 snaps)
WR Xavier Smith (5 snaps)
C Dylan McMahon (66 snaps)
LT Joe Noteboom (66 snaps)
RG Jonah Jackson (66 snaps)
RT Warren McClendon (66 snaps)
DB Jaylen McCollough (55 snaps)
DB Emmanuel Forbes (52 snaps)
ILB Jacob Hummel (51 snaps)
OLB Keir Thomas (39 snaps)
DB Josh Wallace (30 snaps)
NT Neville Gallimore (28 snaps)
OLB Brennan Jackson (27 snaps)
DE Desjuan Johnson (26 snaps)

* Bold print indicates 1st appearance this season

As you can see, the team increased the workload for 18 players across 22 starting roles in Week 18. That translates into the fact that the team was able to redirect the workload from 18 starters and significant rotational players to the 18 players listed above, five of whom debuted for the Rams in 2024.

Better late than never.

Having broken down how the team managed to sit 11 starters outright, while reducing the roles of eight additional players, raises the eyebrows. The coaches certainly accomplished their goal, giving players who needed time to heal that opportunity to do so. And now, with a week off, those players can gear up for what may be a four game run.

The team has done it before. Stay tuned. And as always, thanks for reading.