Heading into the Week 18 regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams are in a good spot. While the team can’t win the NFC West, they have already locked a playoff spot and will be either a 5 or 6-seed in the NFC. As such, the most important thing for the Rams now is health and a few players many are keeping an eye on are Davante Adams, Quentin Lake, Kevin Dotson and Alaric Jackson.
Adams leads the entire NFL in receiving touchdowns, but has missed the last two games while dealing with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Lake was placed on injured reserve with an elbow issue, but is working his way back to a return as an important piece of the secondary.
It looks as if neither will be on the field on Sunday, however, as while they are listed as questionable, head coach Sean McVay said the goal is for both to be ready to go for the Wild Card round next week, via Wyatt Miller of theRams.com:
Meanwhile, the Rams will open the 21-day practice window for safety Quentin Lake (elbow) tomorrow, but he and wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) are not expected to play Sunday. Lake hasn’t played since Week 11, and Adams since Week 14.
McVay declined to rule either out definitively for Sunday, but said the “goal” is for both to play in the Wild Card round of the playoffs the following week.
With the Rams, just opening the return window for Lake, it makes sense to hold him out and ensure he is as good as possible for the playoffs, and the same goes for Adams as this week’s game is largely inconsequential. The Rams will be hitting the road for the playoffs regardless of the outcome Sunday, so health has to be the top priority.
On the positive side of the injury front, lJackson, who missed Monday night’s contest against the Atlanta Falcons, is expected to return to the field Sunday:
Meanwhile, offensive lineman Alaric Jackson (knee) missed last week’s game, but McVay said he’s expected to play on Sunday.
The same cannot be said for Dotson, however, as he is ruled out with an ankle injury, again with hopes of being ready for the playoffs, via Adam Grosbard of the Southern California News Group:
Asked by @sarahbarshop if Rams RG Kevin Dotson (ankle) will be ready for the playoffs, Sean McVay said, "There's a possibility but just taking that a week at a time."
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) January 2, 2026
The NFC is wide open and the Rams have a real chance to make a run back to the Super Bowl this season. Getting their players healthy and ready to go will give this team the best chance at taking down the field and emerging as the last team standing in this conference.
Rams sign Quentin Lake to three-year contract extension
Getting back on the practice field isn’t the only good news for Lake this week as the Rams announced they have signed the safety to a new three-year contract extension, preventing him from hitting the free agency market this offseason.
