The Los Angeles Rams will begin their Super Bowl defense on Thursday when they kick off the 2022 season with a Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.
While the Rams find themselves relatively healthy entering the highly anticipated opener, they will be without Van Jefferson, who is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Jefferson did not practice all week despite Rams head coach Sean McVay saying he was making good headway in his recovery.
With Jefferson unavailable for Week 1, Ben Skowronek is expected to be the team’s third wide receiver against the Bills, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network:
Rams officially ruled out Van Jefferson as he's still recovering from knee surgery. Ben Skowronek will fill in as the third wide receiver, per a league source.
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 7, 2022
Skowronek appeared in 14 games as a rookie last season, recording 11 receptions and 133 yards. He added two catches and 12 yards in four playoff games.
In addition to Skowronek taking on a bigger role, Jefferson’s absence could create more opportunities for Tutu Atwell.
No timetable was given on when Jefferson may return as the Rams are taking a cautious approach with the third-year wide receiver.
