Tag: Jordan Whittington

Will Jordan Whittington play this week? Injury updates for Rams WR

Jordan Whittington missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 5 and he’s not certain to play Sunday against the Seahawks

It’s been an up-and-down five weeks for Rams rookie Jordan Whittington. The sixth-round pick went from playing 90-plus percent of the snaps against the Bears and Packers to only playing nine snaps in the next two games combined because of a lingering shoulder injury suffered at the end of Week 5.

Whittington managed to play nine snaps in Week 7 despite not being fully healthy, and even after an additional few days of rest, he was unable to suit up against the Vikings last Thursday night.

Sean McVay provided an update on the promising young receiver Monday and it doesn’t sound like he’s certain to be active this week when the Rams visit the Seahawks.

Jordan Whittington injury update

It was surprising to see Whittington inactive in Week 8 against the Vikings after he played nine snaps four days prior, but that was probably in part because of the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. With the Rams’ top two receivers healthy, as well as Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell all contributing, they chose not to put Whittington in harm’s way.

McVay told reporters Monday that he should be feeling better but it remains to be seen if he’ll be one of the 48 players who are active on game day this week.

“We’ll see. The shoulder injury, I’m sure that he’ll be feeling better and better,” McVay said. “How does that restrict his availability to be the player that we know we’ve seen and when he’s been playing the way that he’s accustomed to play? What does that mean in terms of your 48? There are some positive problems that we’ve to be able to figure out now, especially as it relates to that receiver room being able to get a couple of our lead dog guys back healthy and ready to go.”

How long will Jordan Whittington be out?

It’s unclear whether Whittington will play this week or not, but if he is sidelined again, it could be more about the depth the Rams have at wide receiver than his current health. Playing a similar role to Nacua, the Rams may not see a clear role for Whittington when everyone is available.

As a result, it’s entirely up in the air when we’ll see the rookie on the field again.

Rams WR depth chart

Starter Backup
WR1 Cooper Kupp Tutu Atwell
WR2 Puka Nacua Jordan Whittington
WR3 Demarcus Robinson Tyler Johnson

The Rams have plenty of depth at wide receiver, with all six of the above players seeing meaningful snaps this season. Kupp and Nacua will start to play more snaps as they near full health, and it seems Robinson is entrenched as WR3 alongside them.

How will Cooper Kupp’s return impact Rams’ WR depth chart?

With Cooper Kupp returning, how will the Rams deploy their Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and their other WRs?

The Los Angeles Rams have merely been trying to tread water in the last four and a half games without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua available. Their receiving corps has consisted of players such as Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington, with Tyler Johnson and Xavier Smith also contributing.

Despite only playing in a game and a half this season, Kupp still ranks third on the team in receptions (18), which shows how heavily utilized he was in Weeks 1 and 2 before injuring his ankle. With Kupp on the verge of returning this Thursday, it creates some questions about how the Rams’ receiving corps will look now that he’s back.

Even for a team that uses 11 personnel more than 90% of the time, fitting all six wideouts into the equation will be a challenge. So who stands to lose playing time when Kupp returns?

If we look at the snap counts from this season, it could help paint a clearer picture.

  • Demarcus Robinson: 352 snaps
  • Tutu Atwell: 220 snaps
  • Tyler Johnson: 196 snaps
  • Jordan Whittington: 190 snaps

Demarcus Robinson

Even though he’s only caught 13 passes this season, the fewest of the bunch, Robinson continues to play the majority of the snaps. He’s played at least 85% in every game this season, including 91% in the Rams’ most recent game against the Raiders. After starting the year as the No. 3 receiver, we can assume he’ll remain one of the starters with Kupp back.

Tyler Johnson

Johnson had been relegated to a role as the No. 4 receiver prior to Week 5 when Whittington was limited to just nine snaps due to a lack of practice time as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Johnson played just 10 and 11 snaps in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing 50 snaps on Sunday.

Tutu Atwell

Atwell’s role has been steady since Week 3, playing 74%, 90%, 81% and 78% of the snaps in the last four games. His skill set is completely different than Kupp’s, so he provides some variety at wide receiver with his speed and downfield ability.

Jordan Whittington

And then there’s the wild card Whittington, who caught a total of 13 passes for 151 yards in Weeks 4 and 5 before playing just nine snaps on Sunday. He played 97% of the snaps in Week 4 and 92% in Week 5, looking like he had fully taken over the Puka Nacua role. After being listed as a non-participant on Monday’s injury report, and with Sean McVay saying he hopes he has “a little bit more of a workload” this week, it doesn’t sound like Whittington is fully healthy.

Projection

As long as Kupp is healthy, which he appears to be after being a full participant on Monday’s estimated report, he’s going to play the majority of the snaps. We can probably expect Atwell to play about 75% of the snaps as one of the outside receivers, with Robinson getting a healthy number of snaps as the X-receiver on the boundary.

That leaves the rest of the snaps to Johnson and Whittington. Johnson led the team with 57 yards in Sunday’s win, but he’s not exactly a dynamic playmaker. And with Whittington banged up, he may not be ready for a full workload just yet.

Sean McVay explains why Jordan Whittington hardly played vs. Raiders

Sean McVay provided clarity on the reason for Jordan Whittington’s lack of playing time against the Raiders

With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined, Jordan Whittington became a focal point of the Los Angeles Rams’ offense. In Weeks 4 and 5, he played more than 90% of the offensive snaps and totaled 13 receptions for 161 yards, seeing 18 passes thrown his way by Matthew Stafford.

But in Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Whittington was only on the field for nine offensive snaps and wasn’t targeted a single time. In fact, all nine of his snaps came as a blocker in the run game, so he didn’t run a single route.

Whittington was limited all week in practice due to a shoulder injury suffered at the end of Week 5, but Sean McVay never indicated it would affect his availability for Sunday’s game. McVay said all along that Whittington was expected to play, and technically, he did.

On Monday, McVay explained Whittington’s lack of playing time, saying it was because the receiver wasn’t able to practice much throughout the week. He hopes that Whittington can have “a little bit more of a workload” against the Vikings on Thursday night.

Cooper Kupp is expected to return and play in his first game since injuring his ankle in Week 2, so there will be fewer snaps at wide receiver available. That alone could limit Whittington’s role, and McVay’s comments don’t exactly indicate the rookie will have a full workload Thursday night.

For now, Whittington can probably be viewed as a backup until he’s 100% healthy.

Everyone wants to know why Jordan Whittington barely played vs. Raiders

Jordan Whittington barely played in the Rams’ win over the Raiders, which made bettors and fantasy owners quite angry

Jordan Whittington injured his shoulder at the end of the Rams’ Week 5 loss to the Packers, but Sean McVay said the next day that it shouldn’t affect his availability for Week 7 against the Raiders. With it seemingly being a minor injury and two weeks before the Rams’ next game, it was assumed that he’d play Sunday against Las Vegas.

Despite being listed as limited all week in practice, McVay once again said Whittington was expected to play. And sure enough, he wasn’t listed on the Rams’ inactives Sunday afternoon, indicating he would suit up and be a key contributor on offense again.

Well, Whittington was absent from the first few drives by the Rams offense, which sent bettors and fantasy managers into an all-out panic. Despite being a rookie, Whittington has been an integral part of the passing game as a receiver, as well as the running game as a blocker. But for most of the afternoon, he was nowhere to be found.

Everyone wants to know why Whittington only played a few snaps, primarily on run plays where he was a blocker. He didn’t get targeted a single time and it was hard to even find him on the field. That’s how infrequently No. 88 was out there.

McVay wasn’t asked about it after the game, nor was Matthew Stafford, so it’s anyone’s guess as to why he wasn’t a factor. Was he simply demoted and replaced by Tyler Johnson? Is his shoulder injury still an issue?

At this point, no one really knows besides the players and coaches, but there’s no question it’s a mysterious and bizarre situation. Here are some of the reactions on social media after people bet on his props and started him in fantasy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rams vs. Raiders inactives: Cooper Kupp out, Jordan Whittington active

Cooper Kupp is officially inactive today against the Raiders, but Jordan Whittington will play after being questionable

Los Angeles Rams fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Cooper Kupp back on the field. The All-Pro wide receiver is officially inactive today against the Las Vegas Raiders, which will be his fourth consecutive missed game.

Kupp practiced all week but was limited, attempting to return from a sprained ankle suffered in Week 2 against the Cardinals. The good news is Jordan Whittington, who was questionable to play, is officially active and will suit up as one of the Rams’ top receivers again.

Joe Noteboom is inactive, as expected, remaining on injured reserve for at least one more week. Those were the only three players listed with injury designations for the Rams this week, so everyone else is good to go.

Tre’Davious White is a healthy scratch once again, as are Stetson Bennett, Cody Schrader, Jonah Williams and Desjuan Johnson.

Below are the Raiders’ inactives, including Jokobi Meyers. He was doubtful to play as of Friday.

Rams should make Jordan Whittington a starter for the rest of the season

Jordan Whittington has stepped up for the Rams and he should remain a starter even after Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua return

We’ve seen enough. Jordan Whittington is a bonafide NFL talent. Having shined against the Packers, making critical catches time and time again, it’s time for the Rams to reward him with a starting job for the rest of the season.

He’s, at worst, the second-best healthy receiver on the roster at the moment and while Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua may return at some point this season, that shouldn’t take away from the amount of snaps Whittington sees per game.

Not only has Whittington played extremely well, making difficult catches look easy, his frame and footwork make him an excellent option in the short passing game, especially on slants and crossing routes.

https://twitter.com/bgrisakTST/status/1843493556154925374

Unlike Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson, whose futures with the Rams are murky, Whittington is on a prorated rookie contract for the next three seasons.

If the Rams are serious about winning now, they need to keep Whittington on the field. If they’re aiming for a Super Bowl run within the next couple of years and possibly building a potential dynasty with the core group of talented youngsters they have now, Whittington will be a crucial part of that process.

Give Whittington the playing time he needs today so he can make a franchise-defining play tomorrow.

Sean McVay shares update on Jordan Whittington’s shoulder injury

Sean McVay gave an update on the shoulder injury that Jordan Whittington suffered over the weekend.

During Sean McVay’s press conference on Monday, he detailed some of the injuries suffered by the Rams, including a shoulder injury sustained by rookie receiver Jordan Whittington.

McVay said Whittington “got his shoulder” but like the other banged-up players coming out of Sunday, this injury won’t cause him to miss any time.

As Rams fans were witnessed to on Sunday, Whittington put his body on the line time and time again, including a diving catch where he seemingly landed on his shoulder.

He was also tackled hard on a crossing route late in the game, landing on his shoulder that time, as well. He completed the catch still.

Fortunately for the Rams, he isn’t expected to miss any time and with the team having a bye this week, he should be 100 percent by their next game.

Jordan Whittington (shoulder) left Rams’ locker room in a sling

Jordan Whittington suffered a shoulder injury in the Rams’ loss on Sunday and was spotted in a sling after the game

It’s as if the Rams are incapable of catching a break when it comes to injuries. Just as Jordan Whittington has started to emerge as Matthew Stafford’s go-to target, he suffered what appears to be a shoulder injury in Sunday’s loss to the Packers.

Whittington was shaken up on a play late in the game, walking into the tunnel in the fourth quarter and missing at least part of the final drive. The severity of the injury is unclear but he was spotted wearing a sling as he left the locker room after the game.

That’s a bad sign for the Rams and their young receiver, but the good news is they’re entering the bye so he’ll have an extra week to recover before the team takes the field again in Week 7.

Sean McVay will address the media on Monday and likely provide an update on the rookie receiver’s status.

Jordan Whittington catching on quickly with Rams: ‘It’s just not too big for him’

Rams OC Mike LaFleur expects Jordan Whittington to “be in this league for a long time”

Jordan Whittington had a career game against Chicago in Week 4 as the rookie pass catcher from Texas hauled in six receptions for 62 yards. Having bigger responsibilities due to injuries in the wide receiver room, Whittington has been thrown into the fire and according to OC Mike LeFleur, he’s thriving.

“I’ve said this before, but it’s just not too big for him,” LaFleur said Thursday. “He’s played in big games. He’s getting more acclimated with the NFL, the speed of it and just playing on Sundays. Again, he put in a good day yesterday. We’re putting a little bit more on his plate every single week in terms of the run game, the pass game, formationally, and he’s handling well. He’s a pro. He’s going to be in this league for a long time.”

Impressed by Whittington’s preseason, LaFleur has seen his role become bigger week by week. Since Week 1 where Whittington had zero targets, his targets have increased by two, three, and now eight in the following weeks.

A big-game player, Whittington starred for the Texas Longhorns, who won the Big 12 championship and secured a berth in the college football playoff last season.

Rams snap counts: Jordan Whittington leads WRs, still no Blake Corum at RB

Jordan Whittington has emerged as the Rams’ WR1 with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, but there’s still no sign of Blake Corum at RB

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.