Tag: Ahkello Witherspoon

Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon underwent surgery on his thumb, can keep practicing

Ahkello Witherspoon injured his thumb and underwent surgery, so he’ll be practicing with a cast on his hand

Ahkello Witherspoon seemed to be off to a good start in his first training camp with the Rams, but the veteran cornerback hit a bump in the road already. Sean McVay told reporters Saturday that Witherspoon injured his thumb and needed surgery to repair it.

He had a couple of pins put in his hand and it’s now in a cast, but McVay said Witherspoon will still be able to practice and compete.

Ahkello just got his thumb, so he ended up getting a couple pins put in that thing,” McVay said. “He’ll have a little cast on. He’ll be able to come out and start competing, it’ll just be restricted with that thumb. He took part in the walkthrough this morning and so surgery went well. It was an unfortunate kind of just a freak little thing.”

The Rams signed Witherspoon in June, adding a veteran leader in the secondary, which is extremely young following the departures of Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill and David Long Jr. He brings great size at 6-foot-2 and he’s also started 40 games in his career, pulling down eight interceptions in six seasons.

Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like the injury will affect his availability moving forward, so he’ll still be battling for a starting spot.

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7 takeaways from Rams’ 3rd day of training camp

Here are 7 takeaways from the Rams’ 3rd day of training camp practices on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Rams held an open practice session for fans on Saturday for the third day of training camp. Position battles continue to take place, and some players are catching the eye of fans and the coaching staff in hopes to secure a role on the roster.

There were a handful of storylines that took place on the third day of training camp, including the sudden retirement of Sony Michel and the passing game being the star of the show. With the Rams looking to improve each day, here are seven takeaways from the team’s third practice session.

Raheem Morris likes what Ahkello Witherspoon has brought to Rams’ defense

Raheem Morris praised Ahkello Witherspoon on what he’s done thus far in training camp with the Rams.

In desperate need of a veteran presence in their secondary, the Los Angeles Rams inked a deal with cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon ahead of training camp. While Witherspoon hasn’t been with the team for a long time, Raheem Morris has been impressed with what the experienced corner has brought to the Rams thus far.

“Yeah, it’s really early, but I will say this…What he’s brought so far that I’ve noticed right away is his calm, cool demeanor and his willingness to learn, his willingness to gather information and to be able to go out here and just to even practice within the short time that he’s been here, I think it’s just a credit to him,” Morris said. “So, he’s brought that right now and it’s really early. He’s looked good, he’s done some really good things. Hopefully, continue to be able to get some opportunities for him and go out there and compete and just find out who’s the best three? Who’s the best two? Who’s the best four, whatever the case may be? Who those guys are.”

Before signing Witherspoon, the most experienced cornerback on the Rams’ roster was Robert Rochell, who is entering his third season. Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Shaun Jolly, Tyon Davis, and Jordan Jones are all first or second-year players.

Besides experience, Witherspoon immediately became the tallest cornerback on the Rams at 6-foot-2. Injuries have been a concern with Witherspoon in his career with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s been productive when he’s available.

Witherspoon is undoubtedly going to need time to get acclimated to Morris’ defense and playing with the other defensive backs on the Rams. But with the Rams needing size and experience at the cornerback position, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Witherspoon is starting in Week 1, especially if he continues to catch the eye of Morris.

Sean McVay excited about what Ahkello Witherspoon brings to Rams’ young secondary

Sean McVay said he’s always respected Ahkello Witherspoon’s game, which is why he’s excited that he’s now with the Rams

Following the departures of Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr., Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott, the Rams’ secondary was left as one of the youngest position groups on the roster this offseason. Los Angeles did add some help in the draft, but a key addition was Ahkello Witherspoon in free agency last month.

The Rams picked up the veteran cornerback at the end of June, adding some size and talent to the secondary – and maybe more importantly, some experience. Witherspoon has started 40 games in his career since being a third-round pick in 2017 and in that time, Sean McVay has appreciated his game.

And so on Tuesday, McVay explained what went into the decision to sign Witherspoon, who the Rams faced several times when he was with the 49ers.

“He is a guy that I have always respected his game from afar,” McVay said. “He’s got length, he has a lot of the traits and characteristics that you are looking for. Having seen him up close and personal against when he played for the 49ers and then I know he has had some injury things, but when he played, he did a great job in Pittsburgh. Both Raheem (Morris) and Aubrey (Pleasant) really liked what they saw on tape with him and I am excited to be around him. But he is a great competitor and he will add some depth and hopefully continue to push where we find the best guys for the secondary that is going to be a younger group and he has some veteran experience.”

Entering training camp, the Rams have Cobie Durant penciled in as one of their starting cornerbacks, along with Derion Kendrick. Both are just second-year players who were drafted on Day 3 in 2022, so they’re lacking experience.

The same goes for Robert Rochell, who hardly played last year despite the Rams’ struggles in the secondary.

Witherspoon has dealt with injuries throughout his career, limiting him to just 13 games in the last two years combined, but when he’s been available, he’s been a starter in the secondary. That provides a lot of value to the Rams, who need some veteran voices in the locker room with such a young team.

In 13 games with the Steelers the last two years, Witherspoon has four interceptions, 35 tackles and 11 passes defensed. He has good size at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, but he needs to stay healthy in order to carve out a role for himself in the Rams’ secondary.

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Watch highlights of new Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Ahkello Witherspoon has made some impressive plays over the course of his career so far

It wasn’t a marquee addition, and certainly not one that’s going to immediately make the Rams Super Bowl contenders, but the signing of veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon should certainly help the secondary in 2023. Witherspoon has started 40 games in his six-year career, 28 more than every other cornerback on the Rams’ roster combined.

And while he’s had his share of ups and downs, Witherspoon has actually had some success with both the 49ers and Steelers. He allowed the fifth-lowest completion percentage (48.5%) of any cornerback in 2021 and his passer rating allowed of 48.0 was also the fourth-best at his position.

At 6-foot-2, he has good size for a cornerback, too, which allows him to make plays on the ball in coverage. That could make him an impact player for the Rams this season, assuming he can beat out other corners on the roster to earn playing time.

Take a look at some of his best plays from his time with San Francisco in Pittsburgh, including a handful of impressive interceptions.

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NFC West Watch: Rams sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon

If the name “Ahkello Witherspoon” is oddly familiar to you, there is a reason.

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The Seattle Seahawks’ division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, are in the midst of a reboot. After having unequivocally the worst championship defense season in the history of the NFL, a reset is what they desperately need.

With a reset comes new faces, especially in the secondary after trading away cornerback Jalen Ramsey. One new face is rather recent, as they just signed cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.

If the name “Ahkello Witherspoon” is oddly familiar to you, there is a reason. Despite being with the Pittsburgh Steelers the last two years, Witherspoon started his career with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for four seasons. But in between stints in the City by the Bay and the Steel City, where was Witherspoon? In Seattle.

During the 2021 offseason, Witherspoon signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks, but he never saw any real action. Witherspoon was signed in March, spent a summer in Seattle, then was traded in September 2021 to the Steelers.

Now, he returns to the NFC West to play for the Seahawks’ and 49ers’ rivals.

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Robert Rochell could be on hot seat after Ahkello Witherspoon signing

With Ahkello Witherspoon coming aboard, Robert Rochell’s path to a starting job just got tougher

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It’s easy to understand why the Rams are bringing in Ahkello Witherspoon. They didn’t have a single cornerback with more than two years of NFL experience on their roster, so his veteran presence and six years of work as a pro give Los Angeles a bit of a safety net in a very young cornerback group.

He shouldn’t affect Cobie Durant’s standing as the presumed No. 1 cornerback on the team, particularly considering he doesn’t play in the slot like Durant. But he very well could impact Robert Rochell’s future in Los Angeles.

Like Rochell, Witherspoon is 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and almost exclusively plays on the outside instead of the slot. According to PFF, Rochell played 214 snaps as a wide corner in 2021 and only two in the slot. That same year, Witherspoon played 339 snaps out wide and only five in the slot.

Durant will presumably be the Rams’ primary slot corner, which means they need two outside corners when they’re in nickel packages. Derion Kendrick should be one of them, but the other is very much up for grabs. Rochell was viewed as the front-runner because of his size and athletic profile, but that’s now in question because of the Witherspoon signing.

It’s probably no coincidence that the Rams signed a bigger cornerback with the same measurables as Rochell. They didn’t go out and sign a smaller corner who can play the slot. They wanted an outside presence to work alongside Durant and Kendrick.

Rochell is on the hot seat as a result of this move, a sign of the team’s lack of confidence in him as a starter. That was evident last season when Rochell rode the bench through all of the Rams’ cornerback injuries. He played just 26 defensive snaps despite being healthy enough to play all 17 games.

Rochell came into the NFL as a raw prospect from small-school Central Arkansas but his athleticism and high ceiling got him drafted in the fourth round. He hasn’t panned out up to this point, making just five starts in two seasons, so the Rams wanted a player with a similar skill set – just with more experience and a higher floor.

It’s not out of the question for the Rams to cut Rochell this offseason, though given their cornerback questions, they should probably keep him around, especially since he’s only entering his third season. But now with Witherspoon, the Rams have a solid corner who has played 60 games and started 40 of them.

The battle between Witherspoon and Rochell will certainly be one to watch during training camp and throughout the preseason because the loser of that competition will be left on the bench.

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5 things to know about new Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Ahkello Witherspoon is the newest member of the Rams, bringing good size and ball skills to the cornerback position

The Los Angeles Rams added to their young and inexperienced cornerback room this week by bringing in a former rival, signing Ahkello Witherspoon as a free agent.

Witherspoon spent four years with the 49ers and the last two with the Steelers, and he now comes to the Rams where he’ll get another chance to start in the secondary. Injuries have plagued him throughout his career but if he can stay healthy, he can help Los Angeles in a big way.

Here are five things to know about the former third-round pick.

What does CB Ahkello Witherspoon bring to the Rams?

The Rams are signing Akhello Witherspoon, so what does he bring to an inexperienced CB room?

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The chances of the Los Angeles Rams bringing in an experienced cornerback before training camp was pretty high and they’ve officially inked a deal with a veteran. After spending the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ahkello Witherspoon is signing with the Rams.

Before signing Witherspoon, the Rams’ depth chart at cornerback featured Cobie Durant, Robert Rochell, Derion Kendrick, Shaun Jolly, and rookie Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson at the top. Durant is the team’s most productive cornerback and he’s only entering his second year in the NFL.

During his two-year stint with the Steelers, Witherspoon logged 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and four interceptions in 13 games (seven starts). Witherspoon spent the first four years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, so the Rams are plenty aware of what he brings to the field.

What stands out with Witherspoon compared to the other cornerbacks on the Rams is his size. With a listed height of 6-foot-2, Witherspoon immediately becomes the tallest cornerback on the roster entering training camp, tied with Rochell.

The former third-round pick also becomes the most experienced cornerback on the Rams. Witherspoon is currently the only cornerback on the Rams to play in the NFL for more than two years.

Injuries have limited Witherspoon throughout his career as he’s missed 21 games in just the last two seasons. The 28-year-old defensive back has also fallen short of starting in more than four games in a season since 2019 with the 49ers.

Given the lack of in-game reps the Rams had at the cornerback position, it made sense for them to bring someone in that has exposure to playing in the league. While Witherspoon isn’t a Pro Bowler or All-Pro-level player, he gives the Rams things they were desperate for in the secondary: experience and size.

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Report: Rams signing veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon

The Rams are adding to their secondary, bringing in veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon

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The Los Angeles Rams are adding a veteran to their very young secondary. According to Jordan Schultz of The Score, the Rams are signing Ahkello Witherspoon.

Witherspoon, 28, has played for the 49ers and Steelers in his six-year career, most recently playing two years in Pittsburgh from 2021 to 2022. He came into the NFL as a third-round pick with the 49ers in 2017 and has played 60 games, starting 40 of them.

He has yet to play more than 14 games in a single season, being hindered by injuries throughout his career. He was limited to just 13 games the last two years, but he still managed to pick off four passes and record 11 pass breakups – including a career-high nine in 2021.

Witherspoon joins Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Robert Rochell and others at cornerback, with all of them competing for playing time this year. It’s an extremely inexperienced group now that Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr. and Troy Hill are gone, but Witherspoon brings some veteran knowledge to the cornerback room.

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