Tag: Ahkello Witherspoon

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent cornerbacks

Top cornerbacks entering free agency in the 2024 offseason

The Carolina Panthers have lacked cornerback depth for a few seasons now. Will this be the offseason where they finally address it?

Here are the top 12 free-agent cornerbacks of 2024:

10 CBs the Colts should target in free agency

Taking a look at free-agent CB options for the Colts.

There is some potential in the cornerback group for the Indianapolis Colts but it’s the same old offseason story of a position group with promise that should add a veteran in case they don’t live up to the billing.

General manager Chris Ballard has taken his chances in this scenario in the past and it hasn’t always worked out for him. If he wants to stabilize the group, then a top-tier corner should be pursued heavily.

If he can’t land one, then a veteran to push the younger corners has to be considered. Ballard also has to keep an eye on nickel corners if he doesn’t re-sign Kenny Moore II and could use one for depth even if he is back for the 2024 season.

We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.

If Chris Ballard decides to add to the position group via free agency, here are 10 players that the front office should target:

Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon (groin) expected to play vs. Saints

Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a groin injury in Sunday’s win, but he’s expected to be good to go for Thursday’s game against the Saints

Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon left Sunday’s win over the Commanders with a groin injury in the fourth quarter and was unable to return. The secondary missed him down the stretch, as Terry McLaurin caught two long passes from Jacoby Brissett to help pull the Commanders within eight points.

With the Rams’ next game coming on Thursday, there was some concern Witherspoon might not be able to recover quickly enough, but Sean McVay shared some good news during his media session Monday. He told reporters that Witherspoon should be good to go for Thursday’s game against the Saints.

After the win, McVay said Witherspoon’s groin “got a little bit tight,” but he didn’t share any further information on the injury then. It must have just been a minor injury because he’s turning around quickly in time to play Thursday against New Orleans.

Witherspoon had two pass breakups against Washington and has three interceptions this season, operating as the Rams’ top cornerback all season.

Ahkello Witherspoon exits with groin injury, questionable to return

Ahkello Witherspoon, the Rams’ top cornerback, left Sunday’s game in the second half with a groin injury

Ahkello Witherspoon has been the Rams’ top cornerback all season, but his absence was felt in the fourth quarter after he exited the game against the Commanders. He left in the second half with a groin injury and the Rams listed him as questionable to return.

As soon as he went out, the Commanders attacked Derion Kendrick with Terry McLaurin, hitting two long plays down the field with Kendrick in coverage. Witherspoon had a near-interception earlier in the game, his second pass breakup of the afternoon.

Rams’ defense has been playing lights out since Week 10 bye

The Rams have held all three of their opponents since their bye week in Week 10 to 19 or fewer points.

Much was made about the inexperienced defense the Los Angeles Rams trotted out to begin the 2023 season. Following the departures of Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, and Bobby Wagner, the Rams elected to start plenty of first- and second-year players instead of replacing those players with veterans.

There have understandably been growing pains for a new-look defensive unit since the season opener versus the Seattle Seahawks. Raheem Morris and the rest of the coaching staff have had to adjust on the fly and make alterations to the starting unit, whether it be due to injuries or because of a player not performing up to the team’s standards.

Aside from Aaron Donald, Jordan Fuller, John Johnson III, and Akhello Witherspoon, the other seven starters on defense in Week 13 have played three or fewer seasons in the NFL. And after a few rough patches early in the season, the defense has begun to round into form since the Rams had their bye week in Week 10.

In their last three games against the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Seattle Seahawks, the defense has held each of their opponents to 19 or fewer points. All three phases of the defense have done their part in evolving into a formidable group, with rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young emerging as key contributors alongside Donald.

Ernest Jones has become a leader in the middle of the defense, and Ahkello Witherspoon has continued to be a solid signing for the Rams in the secondary. Quentin Lake has been dealing with an injury in recent weeks, but he was also becoming a marquee fixture in the secondary as he was playing the ‘star’ role in Morris’ defense.

When it comes to advanced numbers, the defense has allowed an EPA per play of -0.086 (10th-best in the NFL) since Week 11. The pass defense specifically has been dominant, permitting a dropback EPA per play of -0.132 in the last three weeks, which is the sixth-best mark in the league in that span.

The last time the Rams had a three-game stretch of allowing 19 or fewer points was from Week 5 through 7 during the 2021 season. Besides the young players who have performed well to help the defense drastically improve, credit deserves to go to Morris, Sean McVay, and the rest of the coaching staff for the job they’ve done with this current group.

Look: DK Metcalf used sign language to trash talk Ahkello Witherspoon after TD

DK Metcalf subtly trolled Ahkello Witherspoon with sign language after his touchdown on Sunday

Aside from a 53-yard catch, the Los Angeles Rams did a pretty good job limiting DK Metcalf in Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks. He caught five passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, with that score coming in the first quarter against Ahkello Witherspoon.

Metcalf may play for the enemy, but it’s hard not to admit how cool his trash talk was after his touchdown. Metcalf said last month that he began taking American Sign Language classes because he kept getting flagged for things he said on the field, so he wanted to learn how to talk trash in ASL.

After scoring against Witherspoon, he used ASL to troll the Rams cornerback, signing “44 is my son” – 44 obviously being Witherspoon’s number.

Pretty good, DK. Pretty good.

No word on whether Witherspoon signed “Hold this L” back to him after the game.

Ahkello Witherspoon was ‘extremely concerned’ NFL career might be over after 2022

Ahkello Witherspoon says he was “extremely concerned” he might not get another opportunity in the NFL after his injury-plagued 2022 season.

One of the few free-agent additions the Los Angeles Rams made this past offseason was Ahkello Witherspoon, a cornerback whose career has been plagued by injuries. He played just 13 games combined in 2021 and 2022 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while he performed relatively well when he was on the field, he just wasn’t available as much as he needed to be.

Witherspoon landed with the Rams this offseason and he’s played all 10 games up to this point, barely missing a snap on defense. during the spring, however, he wasn’t sure he’d even get another opportunity in the NFL.

Witherspoon told J.B. Long on the “Rams Revealed” podcast that he was “extremely concerned” about his future in the league after suffering a bad hamstring injury in 2022.

“I was extremely concerned, I have no problem saying it,” he said. “Just coming off the injury that I had last year, pretty bad hamstring. That was very stressful, just wondering if I could ever run again at the clip that I had. And will I have an opportunity to play the game I love? Definitely wasn’t sure where it would be and just thankful that it’s been this.”

Witherspoon has aspirations to go to med school after his playing days are over, and there was some legitimacy to the thought that he might pursue his career in medicine this year before signing with the Rams.

“Absolutely not,” he said when asked if his medicine career was far off earlier this year. “It was just comfortable wherever it went, knowing I always put my best foot forward.”

As for where his desire to go into medicine came from, it started in college when he got his biology degree. He’s always been interested in math and science, so he wants to put his education to use and go into medicine.

He’s just not sure what path he wants to go down, and will just go into the process with an open mind.

“Really wanted to do something that challenged me,” he said. “Aways been a math, science-type guy. Went to Colorado and got my biology degree. Obviously, I have aspirations to go to med school when I’m done with football. Just taking whatever the path was that I found fit to pursue those goals – really, regardless of what happened in the football world because at the time, you’re not sure if you’re going to go to the NFL, and shoot, even start when I was in college at one point. Just really doing my due diligence and taking ownership of my education.”

Witherspoon has had an up-and-down season in 2023, but one thing’s for sure: He’s still plenty talented enough to continue playing in the NFL and put his education on hold for a little while longer. After all, he’s just 28 years old.

This season in Los Angeles, he has two interceptions, six passes defensed and 25 tackles as one of the Rams’ starting cornerbacks.

Watch: Ahkello Witherspoon mic’d up in Rams’ win over Cardinals

Ahkello Witherspoon was mic’d up against the Cardinals and he had a funny chat on the sideline about his dropped pick

Ahkello Witherspoon has been a big reason for the Rams’ success on defense this season, stepping up as the team’s No. 1 cornerback and locking down one side of the field in Los Angeles. He’s not an outspoken defender who talks trash on the field like many other corners around the league, but he’s a quiet leader, according to coaches.

Witherspoon was mic’d up in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, which gives fans an idea of the type of player he is on the field. He even had a funny conversation with his teammates and DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant after he dropped a pick in the fourth quarter, which would’ve been his third interception of the season.

Check out the mic’d-up video below and stay for his chat with Cardinals receiver Marquise Brown at the end.

Watch: Ahkello Witherspoon makes slick toe-tapping INT in end zone

Ahkello Witherspoon came up with his second interception of the season and it was another beauty

Ahkello Witherspoon is making the Los Angeles Rams look incredibly smart for signing him this summer because he’s been nothing but a stud on defense. The veteran cornerback had a clutch interception against the Bengals in Week 3 and on Sunday against the Eagles, he did the same thing again.

On an underthrown ball by Jalen Hurts, Witherspoon located the pass and made a toe-tapping interception in the end zone to prevent the Eagles from scoring any points. It was a huge play with the game being 17-14, Eagles, keeping the Rams in it in during the third quarter.

6 Rams to watch in Week 5 vs. Eagles

Here are 6 players from the Rams to watch in their Week 5 matchup against the Eagles.

The Los Angeles Rams are set to host the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are coming off a 29-23 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4 after jumping out to a 23-0 lead in the contest.

Following the win against the Colts, the Rams improved to 2-2 on the season, with three of their first four games taking place on the road. As for the Eagles, they are among the two unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL (the other team is the San Francisco 49ers) after edging out the Washington Commanders 34-31 in overtime in Week 4.

Ahead of what could be described as another litmus test for the Rams, here are six players to watch in Sunday’s showdown versus the Eagles.