The Los Angeles Rams are set to make some significant changes to their roster following a disappointing finish to the 2019 NFL season.
Safety Eric Weddle has wasted no time in acknowledging his uncertain future with the team following a 9-7 finish. Although he signed a two-year contract with the Rams last offseason, he is well-aware that the emergence of their new safety pairing of John Johnson III and Taylor Rapp could make him an outlier moving forward.
As a result, Weddle has addressed the prospect of his looming retirement after 13 seasons. Regardless, it seems he will not be rushing into a decision.
Weddle says he must first get his body in order before coming up with a decision as he will undergo offseason knee and shoulder surgeries, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
“When I’m out there, I’m 100%,” said Weddle, 34. “But I’ve got some things I need to get fixed before I even remotely think about playing.… We’ll see what happens, but 13 years is a long time.
“Who would have ever thought?”
Weddle added that he will have no regrets regardless of whatever happens, recognizing that Rapp and Johnson are the team’s safeties of the future:
Weddle said last week that he would not be surprised if the Rams go with Taylor Rapp and John Johnson as starting safeties and move on without him. He reiterated that Sunday.
Weddle said he had not yet made a decision about his future.
“Nothing is set in stone but it’s been a great run,” he said. “No regrets, baby.”
Weddle arrived as one of the more notable offseason additions and made his presence felt immediately by being voted a team captain. Although the veteran provided some stability for the depleted secondary this season by finishing as the team’s second-leading tackler, it has become evident that the Rams are ready to usher in their new talented, young duo over the top.
While Rapp certainly endured his fair share of growing pains as a rookie, the former second-rounder has shown plenty of promise after taking on an integral role in the defense. Meanwhile, Johnson had already established himself as a Pro Bowl-caliber player before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Weddle has made it clear that he is not looking to serve as a backup at this point in his career which means he will likely either look to be cut by the Rams or ponder the decision to retire. Given the team’s position going into the offseason, he should have his answer soon enough.
