The Los Angeles Rams offense has sputtered with their top two receivers sidelined with injuries. That won’t change for their game for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Cooper Kupp was listed as questionable and is unlikely to play. Puka Nacua is still weeks away from making his return.
But the pass-catching cupboards won’t be completely barren for Matthew Stafford this week. It was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that rookie standout, Jordan Whittington was likely to play despite spending the week on the injury report with a shoulder injury.
Rams Jordan Whittington Likely To Play
The Rams season has already been defined by injuries, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The offense was planned to be the engine that drives another playoff run. But injuries to Kupp, Nacua, to starting guard Steve Avila, and center Jonah Jackson have derailed this effort. Sitting at 1-4, this game against the Raiders has become a must-win.
While having Whittington in the lineup won’t provide as much of a spark as a returning Kupp, he has emerged as Stafford’s most trusted wide receiver in his stead. His snap share has steadily increased since making his debut in Week 2. By Weeks 4 and 5 he was fully integrated into the starting lineup, effectively supplanting Tyler Johnson.
In those two games, the former sixth-round draft pick has 13 catches on 18 targets for 151 yards. Despite starting only two games, he has the team’s second-most catches (18) and yards (201) and has converted 10 first downs, also second on the team. He is second among all pass catchers in success rate at 73.9 behind just Cole Kmet.
Whittington was injured after catching a five-yard pass during the Rams’ final drive in their losing effort against the Green Bay Packers.
