Rams rebuffed in reported Ladd McConkey interest, but help may return before long

If you wondered why the Los Angeles Rams were not active at the NFL trade deadline, it was through no fault of general manager Les Snead. As has often been the case, Snead is very particular when sizing up potential players to upgrade the roster. And it's clear that many of the options at the deadline were not deemed suitable.

ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano recently surveyed the aftermath of the trade deadline. They had some intriguing tidbits about the Rams and Snead.

Fowler contends that Snead inquired about Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey and was turned away. McConkey's luster has been fading fast in the Bolts' limited offense. After putting up over 1100 receiving yards as a rookie in 2024, he has been less effective in the past two seasons.

McConkey makes a solid case for a rebound in the right offense. Unfortunately, he won't get the chance to reclaim his shiny reputation with the Horns, but if the reports are accurate, he could serve as a template for the skill set the Rams seek in a watered-down free agent market or the 2027 NFL draft.

Rams hope to get Puka Nacua and Davante Adams back sooner than expected

The Rams have already sent Davante Adams and Jordan Whittington to injured reserve. Adams is progressing well and the team hopes to have him back following Week 12 against Green Bay.

While Puka Nacua is expected miss several weeks, he has not gone on IR and the Rams no longer plan to move him there. Graziano speculates that they hope to get him back within four weeks, not the four-game minimum required by an IR designation. LA has its bye in Week 11.

There are also limits on how many players can return from injured reserve in a season. LA runs the risk of exceeding that limit already with the current number of injuries. Avoiding unnecessary IR designations is wise. That is especially true for players who have any hope of healing sooner than in four games' time.

Counterintuitively, the Rams' decision to stand pat at the deadline could be a positive sign for fans concerned about the state of the roster.

While there will be a painful period to endure without a full receiver room, the team's willingness to wait for players' healthy return is a flicker of hope that fans desperately need. Reinforcements could be coming sooner rather than later.

All the same, smart fans know better than to count out Snead. He works his magic when the situation becomes dire.

As always, thanks for reading.

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