Considering how short-handed the team was, the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 11 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football was one of their most impressive wins of the season.
The Rams offense was without three starters on the offensive line in addition to wide receiver Brandin Cooks missing the game with a concussion. Then, just before the start of the contest, it was revealed that fellow wideout Robert Woods was also inactive for the game and away from the team due to a personal issue.
Woods has been a key part of the Rams offense all year, so being without him in addition to the others that missed the game was no easy task. While Los Angeles may have been able to beat Chicago without him, that may not be the case when they face more formidable opponents in the coming weeks.
After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay provided an update on Woods, although considering it is a personal issue, he did not disclose much, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
“It was a personal matter — that’s all we are going to say about that,” McVay said. “We love him, respect him, we are with him and his family all the way and that’s really where we will leave that at.”
McVay added that he is not yet sure when Woods will be returning to the team:
“I don’t want to give a finite answer on that,” McVay said. “I most importantly want to be able to talk to him…. I talked to him before the game, but want to be able to check with him and out of respect for his family, that’s why we’re just kind of leaving it at what it is.”
First and foremost, hopefully everything is OK with Woods and his family as that always comes before football. The Rams have an extra day to prepare for their Week 12 Monday Night matchup with the Baltimore Ravens though, which could give Woods the time needed to get his situation figured out and back on the field.
In addition to the offensive line keeping Jared Goff upright against the Bears, wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds stepped up in a big way to replace Woods and Cooks. The Rams have had that “next man up” mentality all season long, and that will be the case once again next week if Woods and Cooks are forced to miss more time.
