The Los Angeles Rams have had to adjust and adapt in the absence of their injured starters, particularly at wide receiver. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have each missed the last game and a half and the Rams have missed them sorely.
Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington have done a nice job filling in, but no one can replace those two All-Pros. In Sunday’s loss to the Bears, it was Whittington who assumed the role of WR1.
He played the most snaps of any receiver on the team after playing just 38% of the snaps last week against the 49ers. At running back, there’s still no sign of Blake Corum, who didn’t play a snap for the third time in four weeks.
Here’s a look at the offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 4.
Offense
For just the second time this season, all five starting linemen finished the game without missing a snap, which is encouraging. It was the same starting five as last week and it’ll remain the same group moving forward until Steve Avila or Jonah Jackson returns.
Whittington missed just two plays all afternoon, providing good value on offense. Atwell played 55 of 61 snaps, overtaking Robinson, who played 52 of 61 snaps. Tyler Johnson was the wideout whose role got reduced the most, playing just 10 snaps on Sunday. Xavier Smith got in two snaps on offense.
There was less 12 personnel in this game as Sean McVay leaned heavily on his top three receivers, which led to just 13 snaps for Hunter Long. Davis Allen was active but he didn’t get on the field on offense.
Kyren Williams had his workload reduced slightly, playing a season-low 79% of the snaps. Ronnie Rivers played a season-high 21% as the backup, rushing for 26 yards on six carries. Corum did not get on the field for a single play, the third time in four weeks that’s been the case.
Defense
All four starters in the secondary played every snap on defense, which is typical when healthy. Kamren Kinchens played 63% of the snaps as the fifth defensive back, with Ahkello Witherspoon making his debut; he played just nine snaps but could work himself into a bigger role if Tre’Davious White continues to struggle.
It’s unclear if someone has taken signal-calling duties from Troy Reeder, but he didn’t play every snap on defense, which is surprising. Christian Rozeboom played 62% of the snaps as the second and only other inside linebacker.
Along the defensive line, Kobie Turner played his usual share of snaps, the only defensive lineman to play more than 33 snaps. Braden Fiske was second (55%), followed by Bobby Brown (53%) and Neville Gallimore (50%). Gallimore continues to eat into Brown’s playing time, and Tyler Davis got an opportunity with 11 snaps played, too.
At edge rusher, Byron Young was the clear No. 1 option, playing 49 of 60 snaps. Jared Verse played 41 snaps, only seven more than Michael Hoecht. No other edge rushers got on the field.