The Rams didn’t make a splash at the trade deadline, but they did make a roster move right after it passed, putting Jordan Whittington on injured reserve and bringing back wide receiver Xavier Smith in a corresponding move.
Whittington had been dealing with soreness in his back, Sean McVay said on Tuesday. With the move to injured reserve, his season is likely done because the Rams won’t have enough return designations to activate him again. He finishes with two catches for 12 yards and 26.3 yards per kickoff return.
Losing Whittington adds another blow to a receiver room that has already taken serious damage. Davante Adams is on injured reserve, and Puka Nacua is out as well. Whittington wasn’t a major part of the passing attack, but he did bring value as a blocker and on special teams, where he had become one of the team’s most useful pieces.
That leaves the Rams leaning even harder on what’s left of their depth over the next month. Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell and CJ Daniels are the names most likely to see expanded roles with Nacua and Adams sidelined, and Whittington’s absence only tightens the squeeze.
Smith’s return is a notable one. He already knows the offense, but his size puts clear limits on what he can do as a receiver. The Rams had cut him earlier this season while trying to upgrade the punt return job.
Now, though, the Rams need help at both receiver and returner, and Smith may have been the most practical option available. After cutting Alex Bachman, they even had Kyren Williams returning punts against the Washington Commanders.
Smith is expected to handle Whittington’s role on kick returns and could also go back to punts, even though that job had been a struggle for him before. There’s also a chance he gets snaps on offense, which would cut into opportunities for Tutu Atwell and CJ Daniels.
The Rams passed on adding a receiver at the deadline and instead turned to Smith, a move that gives them familiarity but not much else. With injuries piling up and outside help not arriving, they’ll have to piece together the position group with what’s already in house.
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Rams Suddenly Have A WR Problem That Could Force A Big Trade
Puka Nacuas knee injury has put the Rams in an uncomfortable spot at exactly the wrong time, with the team now waiting on MRI results to learn how serious it is. Nacua has been central to Los Angeles passing game, so even a short-term absence would force the offense to adjust quickly and lean on a receiver room that suddenly looks a lot thinner than it did a week ago.
That uncertainty is why trade chatter is already starting to bubble up, even if nothing concrete is in motion. One hypothetical idea floating around would send future draft picks to Houston for Nico Collins, a move that would give the Rams another proven target if they decide they need to act aggressively while they wait for clarity on Nacuas status. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Receiver Problem Just Got Bigger At The Worst Time
The Rams offense is already trying to find its footing, and the timing could hardly be worse. With Davante Adams and Puka Nacua dealing with injuries, the passing game has lost some of the balance it needs, while veteran Tutu Atwell has not given the group the kind of lift Los Angeles was hoping for. Add in the fact that the rest of the receiver room has offered only limited help, and the problem is no longer just about depth - it is about whether the unit can keep defenses honest at all.
Los Angeles has also invested in younger receivers, but those players have yet to see meaningful snaps, leaving the Rams stuck waiting for answers they cannot afford to delay much longer. For a team trying to stay in the postseason mix, the pressure is on those developing pass-catchers to start contributing soon. Otherwise, the offense may continue leaning too heavily on a thin and banged-up group at exactly the wrong point in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Face A Receiver Decision They Cant Ignore
The Rams have spent the early part of the season trying to keep their passing game on track while dealing with injuries to key receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, and that has naturally pushed the front office conversation into more urgent territory. One proposed solution gaining attention is a trade with the Washington Commanders for Stefon Diggs, with the idea being that Los Angeles could add a proven veteran without paying a premium beyond a 2027 fourth-round pick.
It is the kind of move that makes sense on paper because Diggs would give the offense another established target and help stabilize a group that has been stretched thin. But the fit is not simple, and any deal would have to account for his contract status as well as how he would be used once he arrived, which is why this remains a speculative idea rather than a completed transaction. [Read more 🡒]