LA Rams inactives list for Week 8 game against the Vikings gives some surprises

It's now or never for the LA Rams, a team that is teetering between the brink of disaster and a miraculous return to postseason relevance. As we are coming to understand, the stakes of each game played by the team this season are mounting ever higher in importance. The only way to abate the pressure is to lock up a berth in the upcoming 2025 NFL Playoffs, or simply fall to a depth where postseason competition is all but impossible.

Let's hope it's the former scenario.

For the next two weeks, pressure to win is more than just postseason implications. If the Rams fall to 2-5 or 2-6, the team will almost certainly pull the trigger on one of any number of trade options. The team has been in contact with any number of NFL teams, and the most likely player to be dealt elsewhere is veteran WR Cooper Kupp,

IF the Rams continue winning, the likelihood of trading away players dissipates.

And so, Rams fans are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Will the team avert trade talks by showing up in force against the Minnesota Vikings. Or will the team acquiesce to the inevitable outcome facing all non-playoff teams: We'll get them next season.

Even as fans scramble for hope, the LA Rams have plenty of future talent to remain optimistic over. The team has infused remarkable talented young players of the game. So if a 'rebuild' is needed, the team has a short shopping list to make that happen. But what of this week's game? Let's explore the likely inactives lists of both tams for Week 8.

Inactives list for Vikings in Week 8 (Official)

• QB Brett Rypien
• CB Akayleb Evans
• RB Myles Gaskin
• LB Blake Cashman
• OT Walter Rouse
• DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
• CB Dwite McGlothern

Inactives list for Rams in Week 8 (Official)

• DE Dejuan Johnson
• DB Tre'Davious White
• WR Jordan Whittington
• RB Cody Schrader
• QB Stetson Bennett

The official inactive players' names will be announced approximately 90 minutes before game time. We will amend this article as official names are released.

But one element is certainly to catch everyone's eye. The team has placed ILB Troy Reeder on IR.

Not only does that mean that Reeder is out for four weeks at a minimum, but it paves the way for WR Puka Nacua to be reinstated in time to compete in Week 8,.

Key Absences and Their Impact

Offensive Impact

• The offense will face the Vikings without rookie WR Jordan Whittington, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. But look for the Rams to have both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua suited up for this one. If anything can shake QB Matthew Stafford out of his lull, the return of his two top receivers can.
• The LA Rams will continue to bank on the rushing prowess of RB Kyren Williams. Williams has been an offensive superstar, particularly at scoring. Williams needs to extend his remarkable TD streak this season if the team is to have any chance of winning
• While the Rams continue to start two rookies on the offensive line, both Justin Dedich (left guard) and Beaux Limmer (center) have held up with respectable performances. I believe that Limmer's play has been good enough to warrant keeping his starting job at center.

Defensive Impact

• The LA Rams pass rush has been remarkable at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. the team simply struggles to generate QB sacks. But DC Chris Shula has begun to create an arsenal of unique blitzes that have been able to sack quarterbacks.
• Game day reports that starting ILB Troy Reeder getting sent to IR creates a dilemma of who takes over the position. The most likely candidate is veteran Jake Hummel, a player who has been with the team for some time. Fans continue to lobby for undrafted rookie ILB Omar Speights to get the nod. The team may compromise by rotating both Hummel and Speights into the game, ultimately going with the best performer.
• The team finally added DB Ahkello Witherspoon to the 53-man Rams roster. While long overdue, that does place the secondary into much better shape for Week 8 than at any other time previous in 2024

Special Teams Impact

• Fans were loud in protesting rookie kicker Joshua Karty. Karty missed an extra point and a field goal in Week 7. But bad games come with the turf of any rookie kicker. Calling for the Rams to release Karty makes zero sense.
• The team also managed to squeeze punt returner Xavier Smith onto the roster. With his presence assured for each week, special teams appears to be fully staffed.

The Rams are as healthy as possible for TNF. Let's hope the team shows up in full force, because the Minnesota Vikings are a very good team.

As always, thanks for reading.

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