Andrew Whitworth was in the midst of a Pro Bowl-caliber season for the Rams, playing some of the best football of his career. Then Week 10 hit and derailed what was shaping up to be a terrific campaign for the 39-year-old veteran.
Against the Seahawks, Whitworth suffered a torn MCL and damaged PCL, causing him to miss the last four games. Sean McVay initially said it wasn’t a season-ending injury, indicating that Whitworth could return at the end of the year or in the playoffs.
That timeline has held true with Whitworth making excellent progress, even pulling ahead of schedule. On Thursday, McVay provided an update and although Whitworth could push to play in the season finale against Arizona, the Rams are truly targeting the first week of the postseason for Whitworth to return.
“Andrew is doing great. He continues to amaze me. He’s somebody we could potentially really push to have him play whether it’s the Cardinals game or next week,” McVay told reporters. “But I think the most important thing is, let’s take it a day at a time. If we’re fortunate enough to get an opportunity to play after the regular season, I think that’s the goal, but nothing’s guaranteed for us. We haven’t done anything yet. I think he could really push it, but the goal is when Andrew comes back to be the Andrew Whitworth that we know. If you said, what does that look like? I think you could really push it and maybe say the last game against Arizona. But I think what would be more ideal is if we get an opportunity to play after the regular season, seeing him in that first game.”
Part of the reason the Rams can play it safe and not rush Whitworth back is the play they’ve gotten from Joe Noteboom in his place. The third-year lineman has played well at left tackle, doing a nice job protecting Jared Goff’s blindside.
He hasn’t been the force in the running game that Whitworth consistently is, but Noteboom’s steady play has been a pleasant surprise. Assuming Whitworth does return in the playoffs and unseats Noteboom, the Rams can at least feel good about the young tackle as a possible heir to Whitworth’s throne when No. 77 retires.
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