The Los Angeles Rams have been bitten by the injury bug in recent weeks, losing many notable contributors on the offensive side of the ball.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks has most notably been sidelined since suffering a concussion in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams’ offensive line is also banged up, which has left the unit depleted ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Brian Allen will miss the remainder of the 2019 season after suffering an MCL injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Rob Havenstein is additionally sidelined with a knee injury.
The Rams will additionally be without wide receiver Robert Woods for their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Bears, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
Robert Woods inactive for Rams
— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) November 17, 2019
Woods’ inclusion on the inactive list comes as a surprise, as he wasn’t mentioned on the final injury report leading up to Sunday.
According to Klein, Woods’ unexpected absence is not injury-related and he will be unable to suit up against the Bears due to a personal matter:
Robert Woods not active because of a personal issue, per team spokesperson.
— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) November 18, 2019
In nine games this season, Woods has hauled in 45 receptions for 566 yards. He has not caught a touchdown to this point, but his impact on the Rams’ offense goes beyond the box score.
With Woods inactive, Cooper Kupp figures to benefit with more looks from Jared Goff. He is looking to bounce back after failing to record a catch in last Sunday’s loss against the Steelers.
Josh Reynolds may also benefit without Woods in the mix, who recently entered the Rams’ starting lineup with Cooks still making his way back from a concussion. L.A. additionally promoted Nsimba Webster from the practice squad last week and is slated to make his NFL debut against the Bears.