Rams injury report gives fans more reasons for hope ahead of Divisional Round

The LA Rams have struggled throughout the season to get healthy. The team opened with a game facing the top-seeded Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigans without two starting offensive tackles and without two starting defensive backs. The Rams lost that game by the thinnest of margins, falling by a score of 26-20 in overtime.

You can argue that a loss is a loss. But the fact that the Rams put up such a competitive fight against the arguably best team in the NFC will limping into that game says a great deal about the team and the coaching staff.

Don't underestimate the LA Rams.

Of course, the national narrative was already pre-written for the team. And with the team stumbling to a 1-4 record before the Week 6 BYE, that narrative seemed to say everything that casual NFL fans and fans of other NFL teams needed to know. But the underlying forces at work for the Rams had not yet begun to surface. The team was slowly getting healthier. New coaches and coordinators were starting to get a feel for the players - including who was a fit and who was not a fit.

Perhaps most importantly, the second-youngest team in the NFL was gaining experience and learning how to play football together. In 2024, the Rams roster was a woven tapestry of players from the past, other teams, and colleges. Thrown together in 2024, they had to learn who would start, who they could trust, and how to optimize their own role.

Some would not work out, like veteran DB Tre'Davious White. Others would re-sign with the team, like veteran DB Ahkello Witherspoon.

The Rams were not at full strength when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12. Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein did not suit up for that game. In his place, the Rams started backup OT Warren McClendon Jr.. The Rams had a rapid rotation on the defensive line, looking for some combination that could slow down Eagles veteran RB Saquon Barkley. Finally, it was rookie Omar Speights third start of the season.

The Rams are a healthier and more experienced team now.

Los Angeles Rams roster

Rams Reserve Injured (IR)

• OL K.T. Leveston (IR/Designated to return)
• RB Blake Corum
• DB Derion Kendrick
• OT Conor McDermott
• DB Tre Tomlinson
• DT Larrell Murchison (IR/Designated to return)
• ILB Troy Reeder (IR/Designated to return)
• OLB Nick Hampton

Rams Injuries

Here are the players listed in the Rams interim injury report:

• TE Tyler Higbee - Chest - Limited practice
• CB Ahkello Witherspoon - Thigh - Did Not Practice
• NT Bobby Brown III - Shoulder - Did Not Practice

Should fans be concerned? Well, there is always a bit of uncertainty when players emerge from football game with bumps and bruises. But the accompanying report from the Rams coaching staff has some positive spins to the Rams injuries:

To turn things even more to the positive, during the post-practice press conference, Rams HC Sean McVay shared that the team expects all players to suit up to face the Philadelphia Eagles this week:

But what of the Philadelphia Eagles?

Eagles Injuries

• WR AJ Brown - Knee - Limited Practice
• TE Dallas Goedert - Illness - Did Not Practice

Eagles injured Reserve (IR)

• DB James Bradberry IV
• DE Brandon Graham
• DT Byron Young
• MLB Nakobe Dean
• LB Ben VanSumeren
• OL Jack Driscoll
• OT Le'Raven Clark
• TE C.J. Uzomah
• WR Britain Covey

While the Eagles welcome WR DeVonta Smith to the fold, they are facing the Rams without two defensive stars who had huge games in Week 12 in the form of LB Nakobe Dean and DE Brandon Graham. In their earlier meeting, Graham/Dean combined for 10 tackles, 2.0 QB sacks, four tackles for a loss, one pass break up, one fumble recovery, and four quarterback hits.

In conversations with Eagles beat writers, their is far less confidence in Dean's backup, Oren Burks. Burks struggles in pass coverage, and he is a far less impactful presence in the Eagles defense. The Rams could find plenty of success running the football, while targeting the middle of the football field with tight ends and running backs in the passing game.

As always, thanks for reading.

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