The offseason came early for the Los Angeles Rams this year after finishing at 9-7 and missing the postseason. While there is no doubt that nearly everyone would like to still be competing, many players have taken the time to rest up and heal their bodies after a long, tough season.
One such player is Rams veteran offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth was healthy all year, appearing in every game and 99% of offensive snaps.
Despite that, it appears that the left tackle might have had some foot issues this past season. Rich Hammond of The Athletic tweeted photos from Whitworth’s Instagram depicting what appears to be a successful right ankle surgery:
Andrew Whitworth’s Instagram today: pic.twitter.com/7eQJLRiy6Q
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) January 8, 2020
So far, there seems to be no word on what kind of surgery it was and when he suffered an ankle injury. Whitworth did end his Instagram story by stating that he plans on getting back on the field as soon as possible though.
The question now is for what team Whitworth will be playing for in 2020. Although the 38-year-old stated he hoped to rejoin the Rams this free agency period, there has been no indication that L.A. will bring him back. Although there is no reason the Rams would want the most consistent part of their offensive line to leave, this surgery does indicate his age.
The Rams offensive line was the team’s most scrutinized and inconsistent factor in 2019. Todd Gurley and Jared Goff had poor years and while that does not solely rest on the shoulders of the line, they certainly carry some blame. Whitworth was the only offensive lineman to start in all 16 games, with David Edwards being the only other lineman to even appear in all 16.
Although Whitworth is one of the oldest players in the league, it would be a very big loss for the Rams should he find another team. With Whitworth wanting to return to Los Angeles, hopefully the two sides can come to an agreement to bring him back for at least one more year.
