Derion Kendrick is heading back to Los Angeles. After the Seahawks waived the cornerback Tuesday, the Rams made a successful claim to reacquire him.
Additionally, the NFC West-leading team has two players in the IR-return window. The Rams, who have not used any of their eight allotted injury activations this season, designated wideout Tutu Atwell and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon for return Wednesday. In a corresponding move, however, corner Roger McCreary is now on IR. Los Angeles also signed tight end Nick Vannett from its practice squad.
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The Seahawks hoped to circle back to Kendrick via a practice squad spot, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, but this waiver claim will scuttle that. Kendrick played in 10 games as a Seattle reserve this season, intercepting two passes. But the team reduced his playing time and cut the fourth-year player following a mistake on the Titans’ punt-return touchdown in Week 12.
Kendrick has now been cut and claimed twice apiece by NFC West teams this year. The Rams waived him upon setting their initial 53-man roster in August, leading to a Seahawks claim. He now returns to L.A., which has seen cornerback present some health concerns this season.
McCreary heads to IR a month after being acquired from the Titans via trade. The fourth-year cover man must miss at least four games. Witherspoon has missed the past nine Rams contests, dealing with a broken clavicle. Sean McVay, however, expressed optimism Witherspoon and Atwell would return to practice this week.
A sixth-round Rams draftee in 2022, Kendrick started 18 games for the team from 2022-23. He played 76% of the Rams’ 2023 defensive snaps, helping the team back to the playoffs, but suffered an ACL tear before the 2024 season. Kendrick logged a mere 18% snap rate with Seattle this season. The Rams did not make a notable CB move this offseason, seeing a much-rumored Jalen Ramsey return not come to fruition. They did obtain McCreary at the deadline but will now need to make some adjustments after the ex-Titan slot cog suffered a hip injury Sunday.
McCreary has not made an impact as a Ram, seeing all of one defensive snap in four games. The Rams have used Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant as their primary CBs this season, with Darious Williams and Josh Wallace mixing in. Witherspoon started in the two games he played this season, and the 30-year-old defender made 22 starts from 2023-24 with L.A. Witherspoon represents an experienced piece the Rams could redeploy soon, as they make a push for their first No. 1 seed since the Kurt Warner-led 2001 squad went 14-2 en route to Super Bowl XXXVI.
The Rams re-signed Atwell on a one-year, $10MM contract this offseason; he went down with a hamstring injury in October. Atwell has not played since Week 6.
The diminutive wideout has an eye-popping stat line this season, catching four passes but totaling 164 yards on those plays. An 88-yard TD keyed this explosive start. After a 562-yard 2024, Atwell stands to contribute again as a tertiary target alongside Puka Nacua and Davante Adams down the stretch. Atwell still sits third among Rams WRs in yardage, and with Tyler Higbee on IR, the team could use auxiliary help in a hotly contested NFC West race.