The Los Angeles Rams have placed wide receiver Jordan Whittington on the team’s injured reserve with a back injury. This move comes after the team opted not to make any acquisitions at the NFL trade deadline and amidst the ongoing recovery of star wide receiver Puka Nacua.
In a corresponding transaction, the Rams have re-signed Xavier Smith to bolster the receiving unit. Whittington has been dealing with a lingering back issue, which was discussed by head coach Sean McVay on “The Coach McVay Show.” He previously missed time earlier in the season with a quadriceps injury sustained in Week 2 against the New York Giants.
Whittington had appeared in seven games since his initial injury, playing minimal offensive snaps while consistently being listed as questionable due to his back ailment. His placement on injured reserve creates a roster challenge for the Rams, as the league permits only eight players to be designated for return from the IR per season. The Rams have already utilized three of these returns for offensive lineman Keagen Trost, outside linebacker Myles Garrett, and running back Ronnie Rivers.
The team is also anticipating the potential return of defensive tackle Kobie Turner, tight end Terrance Ferguson, and wide receiver Davante Adams from injured reserve, which would bring their total to six players who have been on or are expected to be on IR this season. This situation is further complicated by the expected placement of Puka Nacua on the injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained in the game against the Commanders. Nacua is projected to miss at least a month with an MCL and PCL sprain in his right knee, in addition to a turf toe injury.
With Nacua, Steve Avila, Justin Dedic, and Dean Connors potentially heading to injured reserve, the Rams may exhaust their IR return slots, potentially preventing two of these players from returning later in the season.