Jalen Ramsey To Miss Week 17
- Cornerback Jalen Ramsey will miss the Rams game against the Cardinals on Sunday. Coach Sean McVay told reporters that Ramsey is dealing with a strained lateral collateral ligament that was suffered during the team’s loss to the 49ers. The Rams sent a pair of first-rounders (along with a fourth-rounder) to the Jaguars for Ramsey, and the 25-year-old ended up chipping in 33 tackles, four passes defended, an interception, and one forced fumble in nine games (eight starts) for Los Angeles.
Wade Phillips Might Not Be Back With Rams In 2020
The Rams have obviously been having a disappointing season, as they enter the final two weeks of the season with their playoff chances hanging by a thread the year after making a Super Bowl run. Anytime a team fails to meet expectations there’s the possibility for major changes, and it sounds like that could be the case in Los Angeles. Wade Phillips might be nearing the end of his time with the team, as Alex Marvez of Sirius XM NFL Radio tweets that he’s “hearing there’s a chance” Phillips doesn’t return for the 2020 season. Phillips, 72, has been the Rams’ defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, and was part of head coach Sean McVay’s inaugural staff.
The former Cowboys head coach has been coaching in the league since all the way back in 1976. Before joining forces with McVay he was the defensive coordinator in Denver, overseeing their vaunted ‘No Fly Zone’ secondary which won a Super Bowl in 2015. Marvez adds that Phillips is in the final year of his contract, and that if he were to depart then linebackers coach Joe Barry would be a “strong replacement candidate.” The Rams’ defense has had some notable meltdowns this season, like when they gave up 44 points to the Cowboys last week or 45 to the Ravens a month back, but they’ve also played quite well at times. The secondary has been better since trading for Jalen Ramsey, and they’ve given up 17 or fewer points in six of their last eight games. If Phillips does get the boot or chooses to leave on his own, he’d likely draw some interest from teams in search of a veteran assistant, perhaps to be paired with a young offensive-minded head coach.
Rams Work Out K Brett Maher
With Greg Zuerlein dealing with a quad injury, the Rams worked out former Cowboys kicker Brett Maher, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This Maher audition comes after he traveled to Tennessee for a workout with the Titans, who ended up signing Greg Joseph off the Panthers’ practice squad. Zuerlein has not missed a game this season but missed five in 2018. Sean McVay said earlier this week the Rams would explore kicking options.
Maher had been Dallas’ kicker from the start of last season to earlier this month, but his 10-for-20 connect rate — which included two 60-plus-yarders — prompted the Cowboys to move on. Maher, who also made a 62-yard field goal as a rookie in 2018, made 29 of 36 field goals last season. He was 36-for-36 on PATs in 13 Cowboy games this year.
Last season, the Rams used Cairo Santos and Sam Ficken in Zuerlein’s five-game absence. The All-Pro specialist returned late in the season and made both the game-tying and game-winning field goals to send Los Angeles to the Super Bowl.
This season marks the final year of the 32-year-old kicker’s second NFL contract, with Zuerlein joining Dante Fowler, Michael Brockers, Cory Littleton and Austin Blythe among Rams impending free agents.
2020 NFL Draft Order As Of Week 15
With 14 full weeks of the NFL season in the books, the 2020 draft order is beginning to take shape. Here’s the rundown of where things would stand if the 2019 season ended today:
1. Bengals: 1-12
2. Giants: 2-11
3. Redskins: 3-10
4. Dolphins: 3-10
5. Lions: 3-9-1
6. Cardinals: 3-9-1
7. Jaguars: 4-9
8. Falcons: 4-9
9. Jets: 5-8
10. Chargers: 5-8
11. Broncos 5-8
12. Panthers 5-8
13. Eagles 6-7
14. Raiders 6-7
15. Colts 6-7
16. Buccaneers 6-7
17. Browns 6-7
18. Raiders (via Bears) 6-7
19. Titans 8-5
20. Jaguars (via Rams) 8-5
21. Cowboys 6-7
22. Dolphins (via Steelers) 8-5
23. Dolphins (via Texans) 8-5
24. Vikings 9-4
25. Bills 9-4
26. Chiefs 9-4
27. Packers 10-3
28. Seahawks 10-3
29. Patriots 10-3
30. Saints 10-3
31. Ravens 11-2
32. 49ers 11-2
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor NFL moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Pete Robertson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Justin Zimmer
- Released: DE Chris Smith
Denver Broncos
- Claimed: C Patrick Morris (from Steelers)
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Jason Cabinda
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: CB Parry Nickerson
- Released: CB Breon Borders
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: WR Gehrig Dieter
Los Angeles Rams
- Promote TE Kendall Blanton
- Placed on IR: WR JoJo Natson
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: WR Trevor Davis (from Raiders), RB Zach Zenner (from Cardinals)
- Placed on IR: RB Kalen Ballage
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: G Sua Opeta
- Released: WR Mack Hollins
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: K Chase McLaughlin
Cooks, Woods Expected To Play Sunday
Rams wideout Brandin Cooks is set to return from the fifth known concussion of his six-year career. While the veteran has continually been sidelined by the dangerous head injury, he told reporters that his latest concussion didn’t make him consider retirement.
Cooks won’t be the only Rams receiver returning to the lineup. Thiry writes that Robert Woods returned to practice this week after missing last week’s contest due to “personal issues.” The 6-4 Rams will take on the Ravens on Monday night.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/21/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DE Dewayne Hendrix
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S A.J. Howard
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB John Kelly
New England Patriots
- Signed: DE Tashawn Bower
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Ryan Crozier
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C J.C. Hassenauer
- Released: TE Kevin Rader
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Chris Odom, DL Jojo Wicker
Robert Woods Back With Rams
- The Rams look set to have their top three receivers back in action Monday. After Sean McVay expressed optimism Brandin Cooks will play against the Ravens, Robert Woods returned to the team on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Woods missed the Rams’ Week 11 game due to a personal matter, leaving Cooper Kupp as Los Angeles’ only starting wideout to play in what became a run-oriented game.
Brandin Cooks Expected To Play Week 12
The Rams will be getting a jolt to their playoff push this week, as head coach Sean McVay said wide receiver Brandin Cooks is expected to play against the Ravens next Monday (via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com on Twitter). Cooks has been sidelined since suffering a concussion during LA’s Week 8 victory over Cincinnati.
The concussion was especially troubling given that it was Cooks’ second of the season and his fourth in less than two years. The Rams visited the Steelers in Week 10, and in advance of that matchup, Cooks traveled to Pittsburgh multiple times to meet with doctors. It’s clearly a situation to monitor moving forward, but Cooks recently indicated that he is not considering stepping away from the game.
Cooks is in his second season with the Rams, and he signed a five-year, $80MM contract with the club in July 2018. Los Angeles could not feasibly get out from under the contract until after the 2020 season at the earliest, but assuming Cooks can stay healthy, there is no reason for the team to cut ties. Cooks has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past four years, and his career 14.3 yards-per-catch mark is emblematic of his big-play ability. And while correlation does not equal causation, and while quarterback Jared Goff has been mediocre most of the season, Goff has looked especially bad with Cooks out of the lineup over the last two games.
The status of Cooks’ fellow starting wideout, Robert Woods, remains uncertain. Woods missed Sunday’s win over the Bears due to undisclosed personal reasons, and McVay indicated that Woods is still dealing with that personal matter. So while Cooks will be a major help against Baltimore’s tough secondary, Goff may not have his full arsenal at his disposal.
Rams Promote WR Nsimba Webster
Nsimba Webster could make his NFL debut tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Rams have elevated the wideout to their active roster.
Part of the reason for Webster’s promotion is due to the Rams’ diminished receiver depth. Brandin Cooks remains sidelined with a concussion, while three of the team’s tight ends (Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt) were also listed on the injury report with various ailments. Jared Goff will need every healthy target against the Bears, necessitating today’s move.
However, Rapoport notes that Webster was also promoted because a rival team tried to sign him off the practice squad. The Rams clearly believe in the receiver’s potential, leading to his placement on the roster.
There’s plenty of reasons to be intrigued by the undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington. Webster had a very productive senior campaign, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,379 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had a standout preseason, leading the Rams in receptions (15) and receiving yards (150). This led to him making the initial 53-man roster.
Webster was inactive for the Rams’ first five games of the season, and he was waived by the team in mid-October. He subsequently landed with the organization’s practice squad.