The offseason has not been all that pleasant for the Los Angeles Rams as the team let a number of key players walk and cut former star running back Todd Gurley, setting the stage for a whole new era at SoFi Stadium in 2020.
There was a bit of good news though, and something that should not have been surprising for anyone was the return of Andrew Whitworth. The veteran left tackle recently signed a three-year deal to return to Los Angeles, bringing back one of the team’s key players on and off the field.
Whitworth has stated since the start of the offseason that he would like to return to the Rams and clearly made his vision a reality. The three-year deal helps secure Whitworth’s place in the league while also ensuring the Rams have at least one certifiable starter on their offensive line.
In his first interview after re-signing, Whitworth described how it feels to stay with the Rams, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I mean, amazing (to be back),” Whitworth said on a video conference call with local media Thursday. “That was the goal all along – if I wanted to return and play, I wanted to stay here and play. Once I decided for sure and got the OK from family and everybody else that we were going to play football again, there was no other place I wanted to be than here.”
Whitworth will be turning 39 at the end of this upcoming season but has been a great piece for the Rams the past three years despite his age. Of course, with age comes wisdom and experience, something the rest of the Rams offensive line could use.
Last year, the Rams started at eight players on the offensive line. Of those eight, Whitworth and Rob Havenstein were the only players with at least five years of NFL experience under their belt.
With Whitworth signed on to return, he can hopefully help teach some of the younger linemen. Although the entire Rams offense shifted dynamics last season due to Gurley’s injury, many believed the offensive line was problematic as well.
Things will once again be different for the Rams in 2020. While a handful of new players have joined the team, the biggest change comes from the addition of three new coordinators, including offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. McVay will still mastermind the offense, but hopefully a new pair of eyes can help the Rams overcome their problems from last year.
At least the Rams can rely on Whitworth to bring some veteran leadership to the team. Hopefully he can help guide the Rams to a fruitful 2020 season in their new stadium.
