The Los Angeles Rams got off to a poor start this season due to injuries, but have played much better football as of late with key players returning to the lineup.
After starting 1-4, the Rams have won three of their last four games to climb back into the playoff picture. L.A. dropped a frustrating game to the Miami Dolphins in Week 10, but they were arguably at their healthiest point since the regular season opener.
Former All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth noted that it will take some time for the Rams to gel and expressed excitement for the team’s future, via Ryan Morik of Fox News:
“If you look at it, that was game one for that group,” Andrew Whitworth told Fox News Digital in a recent interview, citing the team’s injuries early on and finally being healthy for the first time this past Monday. “It’s interesting, it really shows you how much being cohesive and being together matters… I look at this young defense and think they’re growing and getting better. Since the bye, they’ve turned things around. There’s still offseason holes where they have to get better, but to see the steps this group has taken up front, you have to feel really good about what the future of this could be.”
Whitworth added that the Rams roster could look different next year depending on how the 2024 season shakes out, but hopes Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp remain with the team:
“We’ve gotta assess who we are next year,” Whitworth said – although, he did add he didn’t think moving on from Matthew Stafford or Cooper Kupp is the “answer.”
“But now…let’s see if we can make a playoff run of some kind, sneak into that seventh seed, and see if you can make some magic happen.”
Stafford and Kupp were both involved in trade rumors earlier this season as the Rams deliberated whether to buy or sell at the deadline.
The team went on a three-game winning streak and decided to stand pat, outside of trading Tre’Davious White to the Baltimore Ravens.
Stafford will be entering his 17th NFL season next year if he decides to return, so it’s fair to say his playing career is winding down. Kupp is heading into his age-32 season and has been slowed by injuries in recent years, but remains an elite player when healthy.
Regardless of what the Rams decide to do with those two players, they have plenty of building blocks to be excited about, including Puka Nacua at wide receiver and Jared Verse and Braden Fiske on defense.
Rams’ Jared Verse not satisfied after stellar performance against Dolphins
Jared Verse recorded a sack, forced fumble and two tackles for loss in the Rams’ loss to the Dolphins, but said he was not satisfied after his performance.
