With the Rams off to a 9-2 start, they’ll get back a notable defender as they vie for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Rams activated cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon from IR on Saturday, per a team announcement.

Owners of the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense, the Rams’ excellence has come despite limited contributions from Witherspoon. The 30-year-old broke his scapula in Week 2 and wound up missing two and a half months.

The Rams opened Witherspoon’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday. He’ll make a quick return to play Sunday against the playoff-contending Panthers.

A former 49er, Seahawk, and Steeler, Witherspoon entered the season on his third straight one-year deal with the Rams. He was a 17-game starter in 2023 who came off the bench in eight of 13 appearances in 2024. Witherspoon worked as a starter this year before going on IR.

After losing Witherspoon, the Rams turned to Emmanuel Forbes, Cobie Durant, and Darious Williams as their top corners. Josh Wallace and Derion Kendrick are around as healthy depth. The Rams claimed Kendrick off waivers from the Seahawks after they placed in-season trade addition Roger McCreary on IR on Wednesday. The former Titan logged just one defensive snap in his first four games with L.A., though, and Witherspoon’s comeback will more than make up for his absence.

Witherspoon’s activation from IR is the first the Rams have used this year, leaving them with seven more. The team opened wide receiver Tutu Atwell‘s practice window on Wednesday, and his activation appears imminent. McCreary, safety Quentin Lake, right tackle Rob Havenstein, and tight end Tyler Higbee are candidates to return later this season.

4:40pm: Head coach Sean McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) surgery is not expected to be needed in this case. Witherspoon is nevertheless facing a recovery timeline of roughly 12 weeks, so he is in store to miss a large portion of the campaign.

1:34pm: The Rams’ secondary will be shorthanded for a notable period. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.

Witherspoon is dealing with a broken clavicle. Today’s move ensures he will miss at least the next four games. A return could take place as early as Week 7, although that contest will be followed by the Rams’ bye week. It would come as no surprise if Witherspoon were to only be back in the fold after that point.

Losing the 30-year-old for any period will deal a blow to Los Angeles’ defense. Witherspoon has proven to be a key presence at the cornerback spot during his Rams tenure. After being released by the Steelers in 2023, the former third-rounder signed with the Rams. That move saw him serve as a full-time starter during his debut Los Angeles campaign.

A pair of one-year deals have followed, allowing Witherspoon to remain in place. His snap share fell to 58% in 2024, a season in which he was limited to 13 games. Missed time will again be in store this season. Witherspoon has started each of the Rams’ first two contests in 2025, but a new setup will now be needed at the CB position moving forward.

Emmanuel Forbes has been a key presence early in the campaign. The former Commanders first-rounder has handled a 77% snap share to date, and that figure could increase with Witherspoon not in the picture for the time being. Cobie Durant and Darious Williams are also candidates to take on a larger workload after seeing part-time usage so far. Los Angeles will look to remain undefeated beginning with a Week 3 game against the Eagles.

That effort will not include Witherspoon, though. The Colorado product is a pending free agent, so missing a significant stretch will hinder his market value next spring in addition to leaving the Rams shorthanded in the secondary.

The Rams are set to add a veteran presence to their secondary. Los Angeles is signing Ahkello Witherspoon, as first reported by Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter link). The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue adds (via Twitter) that it is a one-year deal.

The 28-year-old began his career in San Francisco, starting 33 of 47 contests there. His performance with the 49ers eventually led him to Pittsburgh in 2021, where he was a key member of the team’s secondary. Expectations were high heading into the following campaign, but things did not go according to plan.

Witherspoon was limited to just four games played in 2022 due to hamstring injuries. Despite having recently signed a two-year extension in Pittsburgh, he was released last month. That left the former third-rounder in search of a new home, and the Rams could represent an intriguing opportunity for him to rebuild his value.

In an offseason filled with cost-shedding moves, Los Angeles has seen a number of corners depart in one form or another. The Jalen Ramsey trade created a signficant vacancy on the backend, and David Long signed with the Raiders as part of the latter team’s efforts to re-tool their secondary. 2022 Rams contributors Troy Hill and Grant Haley remain unsigned, while special teamer Shaun Jolly was re-upped.

Witherspoon started all four of his Steelers appearances last season, recording one interception and a pair of pass deflections. His coverage statistics in terms of completion percentage and passer rating allowed were the worst of his career, however, which helped inform Pittsburgh’s decision to move on and contributed to the Colorado alum’s wait on the open market. In Los Angeles, he should compete for signficant playing time.

The Rams lack experience at the CB spot heading into 2023, a season in which plenty of expectations will be placed on recent draftees Robert Rochell and Cobie Durant. The team’s only investment at the position in this year’s sizeable draft class was sixth-rounder Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. At 6-2, Witherspoon will provide not only a veteran presence but also length among the Rams’ cornerbacks contingent.

L.A. ranked top-10 in interceptions last season, but the team struggled as a whole against the pass in their underwhelming Super Bowl defense. Witherspoon will aim to assist their new-look secondary in taking a needed step forward, while remaining healthy and boosting his free agent stock along with way.