What of the 5 LA Rams players injured in Week 14?

2 Rams who remain questionable for Week 15

Not all players who suffer an injury can bounce back instantly. That is the case for the next two LA Rams starters who, for various reasons, remain at a questionable status for Week 15. While neither player is currently at risk of being place on the LA Rams Injured Reserve list, the Rams must balance the need to get these players back onto the football field against the need to have them fully healed and available through the end of the season.

Tutu Atwell

The LA Rams young spry wide receiver Tutu Atwell did not catch the only pass thrown his way in Week 14, but he did not see a lot of gametime action. He was on the football field for just nine offensive snaps before a savage hit sent him to the medical tent as per the NFL Concussion Protocol. He remains in the concussion protocol through Thursday, December 14, 2023.

To clear the protocol, Atwell must demonstrate the ability to fully practice with the team, yet suffer no setbacks. He was able to fully participate in practice on Friday, so the Rams remain optimistic that he may be available this week. So far this season, Atwell has caught 37 of 63 passes thrown his way for 476 yards, 24 first downs, and three touchdowns.

Because he is so swift, he forces secondaries to alter their coverages whenever he is on the football field. That is why his is so important to the LA Rams offense this week, and through the rest of the 2023 NFL season.

Rob Havenstein

The LA Rams would love to have Rob Havenstein back from injury as quickly as possible. But it's better to have a fully healed offensive tackle starting for this Rams offense than one who is injured and playing at less than 100 percent strength. So the Rams may have to tough it without Havenstein for a week or two, as he is fighting though a groin injury.

Havenstein's injury, much like a hamstring injury, is tricky in that it is vulnerable to reinjury. If that happens, his availability goes downhill rapidly. So the Rams are being cautious about how they handle his injury this week

Per Pro Football Focus, Havenstein is having an incredible 2023 season so far. He has played 683 offensive snaps, and been penalized three times while only allowing one quarterback sack. That has been aggregated into a performance grade of 77.5, a very good grade. If he cannot suit up this week the Rams will likely promote swing tackle Joe Noteboom to fill in. Noteboom has primarily played left tackle for the LA Rams in the past, but he did step in for Havenstein in Week 14.