Although defensive back Marcus Peters was among the notable players missing from the Los Angeles Rams’ voluntary workouts, it appears he has a legitimate reason.
Teams around the NFL officially kicked off the early portion of their offseason activities. While the Rams were happy to have Aaron Donald in the mix for the first time in two years, Peters, Dante Fowler Jr., and Cory Littleton were notably absent.
Many assumed Peters’ absence could be attributed to the fact that he is in the final year of his rookie deal. However, that does not seem to be the case.
According to ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, he is currently awaiting the birth of his child at home in Oakland:
In regards to Rams CB Marcus Peters absence from voluntary workouts, Peters is in Oakland as he awaits the birth of his child.
Peters’ absence is certainly justifiable in this case. It is safe to assume that he will be expected back in Los Angeles at some point in the near future.
The Rams made a splash last offseason when they acquired him from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round pick (124th overall) in 2018 and a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was brought in alongside Aqib Talib to help provide the team with one of the most talented cornerback duos in the league.
Unfortunately, they largely struggled to follow through on the hype during the regular season. While Talib’s struggles can be attributed to injuries, Peters also had a tough time handling top cornerback duties in the veteran’s absence.
Regardless, Los Angeles still has high expectations for the 26-year-old moving forward. He will need to get back to his Pro Bowl form if he hopes to land a lucrative contract extension.