Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle was unable to finish his debut with the team after taking a blow to the head from Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey in the 2019 NFL season opener.
Weddle came up to make a tackle on McCaffrey when the latter’s knee struck the side of his helmet during the second quarter. The veteran was seen bleeding from his head and had to be carted off the field.
There is no question that the injury initially appeared to be quite severe. Fortunately, that does not seem to be the case.
According to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com, head coach Sean McVay reported that Weddle is still going through the league’s concussion protocol but he is expecting him to play in Week 2 versus the New Orleans Saints:
“You’ve got to go through everything as far as passing everything we need (for concussion protocol), but I anticipate him being ready to go,” McVay said.
This is certainly an encouraging update for the Rams as Weddle continues to get healthier each day. Although he has not been in town very long, he has already emerged as a crucial piece of this defense.
The 34-year-old had registered six tackles while also serving as the defensive play-caller before suffering the head injury. Although his absence left a notable void in the secondary, Los Angeles still managed to find a way to secure the late 30-27 victory against Carolina. McVay’s comments indicate that he will be able to resume his usual role in Week 2.
Weddle’s status is good news for the Rams as they get set to host the Saints this week. It is safe to say that there is no love lost between these two teams after what transpired in last year’s NFC Championship Game. As a result, both teams are now focused on making a statement in this star-studded showdown.
New Orleans is coming off a clutch win against the Houston Texans in the season opener. Their victory proved that it would not be wise for Los Angeles to find themselves in another nailbiter like they were against Carolina. The defense had its hands full trying to contain McCaffrey all afternoon and things will not get any easier as they prepare for another elite running back in Alvin Kamara.
Kamara will not be the only one Weddle’s radar this week with wide receiver Michael Thomas looking to make his presence felt in his hometown. Both players managed to top 100 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 and will need to keep it going if they hope to trade points with the high-powered Rams’ offense.
