Rams' Tanner Ingle promotion isn't a good sign for Kam Kinchens' Week 2 status

The Los Angeles Rams filled Myles Garrett's vacated roster spot by elevating safety Tanner Ingle from the practice squad, the team announced Friday.

While that's good news for Ingle, it's a bad sign for Kamren Kinchens' availability nearing Monday's game. Kinchens has been a DNP in practice all week with a hamstring injury, and Ingle's elevation indicates that the Rams may anticipate a need for depth at the position. 

Elsewhere on the injury report, Kam Curl has been nursing an ankle injury. Although he's been a limited practice participant and is expected to play in Week 2, adding Ingle can't hurt in case a need arises in-game.

Ingle's promotion over a linebacker suggests Rams more concerned about safety depth  

In practical terms, Kinchens' absence wouldn't mean much playing time for Ingle. His snaps would fall to Jaylen McCollough, who replaced Curl against the 49ers when the latter was injured in the second half. Assuming Curl is healthy, he and McCollough would likely start as the deep safeties with Quentin Lake playing the "star." 

The Rams also elevated Ingle ahead of Week 1 using the extra spot created by Aaron Donald's roster exemption. Ingle played a handful of special-teams snaps and should see a similar role this week, although he could rotate in defensively here or there. 

Now in his third year with the franchise (all on the practice squad), Ingle has appeared in four games, mostly on special teams. He has played three career snaps on defense. He also appeared in a special-teams role last season in the Wild Card Round against the Panthers.

Big picture, Ingle's elevation is most significant for what it suggests about Kinchens, who is coming off a rough game and may now miss time due to injury. It's not the start fans envisioned for one of the team's brighter breakout candidates entering the year. 

Injury-wise, it's also telling that the Rams again elevated Ingle, a safety, instead of a linebacker despite injuries to Nate Landman (shoulder) and Omar Speights (hip). Both have been limited participants in practice and are more likely to suit up than Kinchens, although the fact that hamstring issues are generally handled cautiously could also explain the latter's absence from practice. 

It's also worth noting that receivers Puka Nacua (hip) and Jordan Whittington (quad) both missed Friday's practice. As of right now, that doesn't seem like a cause for alarm, although it's definitely an attention-grabber in Nacua's case given his importance to the offense. 

Missing Kinchens and, of course, Myles Garrett won't help the Rams defense bounce back from Week 1's rough showing, but McCollough is more than a capable backup and it sure sounds like Aaron Donald is eyeing his debut. All in all, not so bad.

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