Days ahead of their matchup with the Philadelphia Eagle in the NFC Divisional playoff game the Los Angeles Rams announced that they intend to bring Troy Reeder back into the lineup after spending the last 12 weeks on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Reeder moved into the starting role after the team unexpectedly decided to trade four-year starter Ernest Jones.
Troy Reeder Returns To Los Angeles Rams Lineup
After Reeder’s injury, the team filled the role with undrafted rookie Omar Speights. Speights quickly became a fan favorite due to his ability to rush the passer, plus defense against the run, and quality tackling. Despite flashing high-end potential, Speights’s overall performance has been inconsistent and he has consistently struggled in coverage.
Reeder and Speights seem to be polar opposites. While the latter has a high upside, Reeder lends a higher floor, that is to say; while he doesn’t make eye-popping plays he is more consistent in most linebacking duties.
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Where Speights is more consistent is in his tackling. Reeder has a career missed tackle percentage of 14.1. He had been better this season, missing on 11.5 percent. But even that is a far cry from Speights’ 5.4 percent. That mark is by far the best on the Rams defense
All that said, with Reeder coming back, the big question remains: Who will get the start at middle linebacker against the Eagles?
The Rams have been slow-rolling Reeder’s return from IR due to limitations on how many players can return. They were allotted more return designations after making the playoffs.
The team picked up Reeder as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and he spent three seasons as a backup and situational role player on the defense. He spent 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year deal and returned the next season.