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Los Angeles Rams News & Rumors

Matthew Stafford To Play In Divisional Round; Rams Place CB Ahkello Witherspoon On IR

By | at January 12, 2026 11:21 am

Matthew Stafford managed to play through an injury to his throwing hand on Saturday. He will be available for the Rams during the divisional round as well.

Stafford underwent testing yesterday to determine the extent of his injury. When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Sean McVay revealed (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) he suffered a sprained index finger. Stafford will nevertheless be available for the Rams during their game against the Bears on Sunday, to no surprise.

Stafford has a well-earned reputation for playing through injuries. The 37-year-old entered the season with concerns over his back, but he managed to play all 17 games in 2025. That run of availability paved the way for one of Stafford’s best years, as he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. A first-team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career (to go along with his third Pro Bowl nod), Stafford will remain a major factor regarding the Rams’ Super Bowl chances as he prepares to manage the ailment this week.

There is other, less positive, injury news for Los Angeles. McVay said (h/t Barshop) cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon reinjured in shoulder during the Rams’ win against the Panthers. Witherspoon has been placed on injured reserve as a result. That move ensures he will not be able to play again this season.

Witherspoon was able to play in only six games due to his shoulder. The nine-year veteran returned to the lineup in late November and managed to reprise his defensive role when healthy; overall, Witherspoon logged a 48% snap share and started two games. Los Angeles will once again need to proceed without him, though. Witherspoon, 30, is a pending free agent. His market value has not doubt been dealt a blow over the course of an injury-marred campaign.

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Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, Giants Submit Chris Shula Interview Request

By | at January 11, 2026 5:01 pm

A number of defensive staffers are among the top candidates in this year’s head coach hiring cycle. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is certainly one of them.

Two interview requests had already been made in his case, but many more have since emerged. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders and Giants submitted a slip for Shula. That means six of the eight teams which currently have a HC vacancy hope to speak with him.

Both Arizona and Las Vegas had coaches known for their work on the defensive side of the ball until recently. Pete Carroll proved to be a one-and-done staffer upon returning to the NFL. Not long after his firing, Jonathan Gannon‘s three-year tenure with the Cardinals came to an end. Teams often look to coaches with a separate background than their predecessor when making a change on the sidelines, but Vegas and Arizona are casting a wide net.

The Ravens have conducted a large number of interviews already in the aftermath of moving on from John Harbaugh. Baltimore has also requested to speak with three other coaches in addition to Shula, though. Further slips would come as little surprise. The Giants represent one of the top destinations for Harbaugh, but New York has also been connected to a long list of other candidates. That includes several staffers with a defensive background.

The grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, Chris has served as the Rams’ DC for each of the past two years. His success in that role could very well lead to the 39-year-old becoming the latest member of the Sean McVay coaching tree to land an NFL HC gig. Virtual interviews with Shula can take place beginning Tuesday, and several can be expected given the nature of interest in his case.

6 comments Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Rams New York Giants

Browns Request HC Interview With Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase

By | at January 11, 2026 9:51 am

The Sean McVay coaching tree continues to bear fruit. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, the Browns have requested a head coaching interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. 

Scheelhaase, 35, made the jump to the professional ranks in 2024 after spending the entirety of his career as a collegiate staffer. That included his work as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Iowa State under highly-respected HC Matt Campbell, which clearly caught McVay’s attention.

After just one season on McVay’s staff, Scheelhaase landed two OC interviews in last year’s cycle and was even considered the favorite for the Jaguars’ gig. He ultimately opted to remain in Los Angeles with an expanded role.

In 2024, Scheelhaase helped the Rams finish as a top-10 passing offense despite injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. In 2025, with 16 games of Nacua and 14 games of Davante Adams, Los Angeles topped the league in terms of both total offense and scoring offense, which clearly appeals to a Browns team that finished near the bottom of the pack in both categories.

Obviously, Cleveland does not currently possess anywhere close to the quarterback and receiver talent that the Rams boast, and a candidate who appears to be a rising star in the coaching world may prefer to wait for a more appealing opportunity. On the other hand, a young staffer who has never served as a coordinator at the NFL level could certainly be swayed by an HC contract if one were to be offered. He is also a possible candidate (f0r the second year in a row) for the Bucs’ offensive coordinator job.

ESPN’s Peter Schrager recently suggested both Scheelhaase and Rams OC Mike LaFleur could find themselves in the HC pool this year. Thus far, no interview requests have come LaFleur’s way, though that could certainly change in the near future.

Here is an updated look at how the Browns’ search to replace Kevin Stefanski is shaping up, via our HC tracker:

4 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams

Dolphins Request HC Interview With Rams DC Chris Shula

By | at January 10, 2026 12:48 pm

While Don Shula is arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history, he’s unquestionably the best coach the Dolphins have ever had. During a legendary run with the Dolphins from 1970-1995, Shula led them to an undefeated season and two Super Bowl wins, among many other accomplishments. With 347 career victories, including 19 in the postseason, Shula remains atop the all-time list.

Three decades after he retired, Shula’s grandson has emerged as a candidate to become the Dolphins’ next head coach. The team has requested an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Shula will coach the Rams against the Panthers in a wild-card round meeting on Saturday. He’ll be eligible to discuss head coaching jobs next week.

The Miami-born Shula, 39, began his coaching career assisting with linebackers at Ball State in 2010. After working with Indiana and John Carroll for the next few years, he jumped to the NFL as the Chargers’ defensive quality control coach in 2015.

Shula left the Chargers after two years to join then-rookie head coach Sean McVay‘s Rams staff as an assistant LBs coach in 2017. He held a handful of other positions – OLBs coach, LBs coach, pass game coordinator, pass rush coordinator and defensive backs coach – before earning a promotion to D-coordinator in 2024.

The Rams ranked 17th in points and 26th in yardage in 2024, their defense’s first post-Aaron Donald campaign, but improved in those categories in 2025. They finished the regular season 10th in scoring and 17th in total defense. The unit placed a much more impressive fifth in takeaways and seventh in sacks. The Rams and Shula will hope that playmaking ability carries into the postseason.

As the Dolphins search for a replacement for the fired Mike McDaniel, they’re not prioritizing one side of the ball, a source told insider Jordan Schultz. The mix of offensive- and defensive-minded candidates who have come up in connection to the job so far is evidence of that:

3 comments Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/26

By | at January 9, 2026 8:18 pm

Here are Friday’s minor moves as we head into the first weekend of the 2025-26 postseason:

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Rams calling up practice squad elevations in anticipation of the NFL’s opening playoff games tomorrow, while the Steelers are looking to add some defensive line depth for their own attempt at a playoff run.

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Titans Submit HC Interview Requests For Jesse Minter, Chris Shula

By | at January 9, 2026 10:26 am

The Titans‘ list of interview targets regarding their head coaching vacancy has continued to grow. Two of the top defensive candidates in this year’s cycle have received a slip from Tennessee.

The team has issued an interview request with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter along with Rams DC Chris Shula, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In both cases, Tennessee loomed as one of the teams mentioned as a potential suitor during the early portion of the hiring cycle. Today’s update thus comes as little surprise.

Minter is currently preparing for the Chargers’ wild-card game against the Patriots. Likewise, the Rams will play the Panthers during the opening round of the playoffs. By rule, neither staffer is allowed to conduct an interview until next week. All first-round interviews (which will be virtual) must be completed before the start of the divisional round.

A defensive coordinator with various college programs, Minter’s first NFL opportunity came with the Ravens in 2017. After a four-year run in Baltimore, he returned to the college ranks. Minter, 42, spent a pair of years as Michigan’s defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, then jointly departed two years ago to join the Chargers. Los Angeles has posted a top-10 finish in points allowed during both of Minter’s seasons in his current role.

Shula has also spent the past two seasons handling an NFL coordinator role for the first time. Don Shula‘s grandson has been with the Rams dating back to Sean McVay‘s arrival in 2017, however. Shula has worked his way through the ranks on Los Angeles’ staff, serving as a position coach and defensive pass-game coordinator prior to taking on the DC gig. The 39-year-old is younger than most candidates in this year’s pool, but he is a name to watch as the next McVay assistant with a strong chance of landing a head coaching gig. Shula has also been linked to the Giants, but this represents his first interview request.

As the Titans continue to seek out their full-time Brian Callahan replacement, here is an updated look at their search:

3 comments Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Tennessee Titans

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Here are the candidates connected to all eight of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-12-26 (9:30pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

10 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/6/26

By | at January 6, 2026 10:48 pm

While many teams are making major decisions on head coaches, those remaining in the playoffs are still tweaking their practice squads before the wild-card round this weekend. Here are the latest updates:

Green Bay Packers

  •  Signed: WR Julian Hicks, WR Kisean Johnson, TE Messiah Swinson

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

0 comments Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Transactions

Rams Activate S Quentin Lake From IR

By | at January 6, 2026 4:03 pm

The Rams are getting one of their top defenders back ahead of a first-round playoff matchup in Carolina on Saturday. The team has activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve.

The Rams went a month and a half without Lake, who dislocated his left elbow in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks and had to undergo surgery. Los Angeles improved to 8-2 that day and looked like a strong contender for the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a 4-3 mark without Lake led to a fifth-place finish in the conference.

A sixth-round pick from UCLA in 2022, Lake became a full-time starter in 2024 and continued in that role this year before landing on IR. Lake picked up 61 tackles, a sack, a personal-best 10 passes defensed and the first interception of his career over 10 games in 2025. He was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps during that span. Lake mostly played in the slot, but he also logged 80-plus snaps in the box and at free safety, and lined up along the edge at times.

Recognizing the versatile Lake’s importance to their defense, the Rams locked him up to a multiyear deal on Jan. 1. Lake had been on track to reach free agency in March before inking a three-year, $42MM deal with $25.7MM in guarantees. Healthy again, he’ll have a chance to make an impact during the postseason.

To make room for Lake’s return, the Rams placed linebacker Shaun Dolac on IR with a knee injury, ending his season. The undrafted rookie from Buffalo appeared in all 17 regular-season games and totaled 25 tackles. Dolac played 258 of his 300 snaps on special teams.

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Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26

By | at January 5, 2026 5:49 pm

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.

The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.

2 comments Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Indianapolis Colts Los Angeles Rams Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions
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