THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. –
On the identical day the Los Angeles Rams added a playmaking receiver, they misplaced a cornerstone of their NFL-best passing offence.
They usually’ve solely obtained two days to determine find out how to overcome this upheaval of their subsequent recreation.
Receiver Robert Woods is out for the season after tearing a knee ligament in follow, coach Sean McVay confirmed Saturday.
“You are sick for Robert,” McVay mentioned. “He is epitomized every thing that is been proper about this place. Such a fantastic competitor. Such a tricky competitor. It is so unlucky.”
McVay mentioned Woods’ noncontact damage occurred when he “put his foot within the floor sort of bizarre” Friday. Woods felt nicely sufficient to complete follow, however a scan revealed a torn ACL — the primary vital damage of Woods’ nine-year NFL profession.
Earlier Friday, Odell Beckham Jr. reported to the Rams’ coaching advanced and signed his contract after Los Angeles landed him as a free agent.
Beckham joined follow Saturday on his first full day with the Rams (7-2), and the previous Giants and Browns star might play Monday evening at San Francisco, McVay confirmed.
“There’s an opportunity,” McVay mentioned. “You’ll be able to see he is a extremely sharp man. Just like the look in his eye, and we’ll see how he is feeling, and we’ll see what that appears like so far as how we’re in a position to make the most of him if he is in a position to go.”
Los Angeles leads the league in passing offence with new quarterback Matthew Stafford, and Woods is a crucial element of that success alongside NFL receiving chief Cooper Kupp and fellow starter Van Jefferson. Contributing as a receiver, a blocker and an occasional jet-sweep runner, Woods is second on the roster with 45 catches for 556 yards and 4 touchdowns whereas additionally speeding eight occasions for 46 yards and one other TD.
A crew captain, Woods additionally has been a mannequin of sturdiness in his NFL profession, by no means lacking greater than three video games in a season as a consequence of damage.
McVay joined the Rams in the identical offseason as Woods and left sort out Andrew Whitworth, and the 2 gamers have been foundational contributors to the offensive-minded coach’s success.
“I believe these are in all probability the worst moments that you just undergo,” McVay mentioned. “If you see any individual that you just love and care about a lot undergo some adversity on one thing that is simply such a freak accident.”
The Rams pursued and signed Beckham earlier this week as a result of they had been already skinny at receiver. DeSean Jackson demanded to go away Los Angeles final month after being disenchanted in his lack of taking part in time, and rookies Tutu Atwell and Jacob Harris are out for the season with knee accidents.
With Woods additionally unavailable to an offence that has run three-receiver units virtually solely, the Rams’ depth chart at receiver now consists of Kupp, Jefferson, Beckham — adopted by rookie Ben Skowronek, who has taken almost all of his 37 offensive snaps in rubbish time this season, or J.J. Koski, who was promoted from the follow squad final week.
Which means the Rams will face the 49ers with a 3rd receiver on the sphere who has little or no recreation expertise with this offence.
If the prospect worries McVay, he is not saying so.
“You all the time have to have the ability to pivot,” McVay mentioned. “You have to have agility and suppleness primarily based on unsure situations. That is actually one that you just did not count on, and it occurs a bit bit later within the week of preparation. Makes it a problem, however no matter I say goes to be an excuse.”
Woods performed 4 seasons in Buffalo earlier than the Southern California product returned to his hometown with the Rams in 2017. Early final season, Woods agreed to a four-year, US$65 million contract extension that begins in 2022.
In 4 1/2 seasons with the Rams, Woods has 367 catches for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns whereas additionally speeding for 485 yards and 5 scores.
