2 min read • August 12, 2021
Posted in
Los Angeles Rams
Offense
QB Matt Stafford -
Stafford, the newly acquired Rams quarterback, injured his throwing thumb as he knocked said thumb on a teammate's helmet. This is the same thumb which underwent offseason surgery after injuring it last season. Reports are just swelling without any structural damage, fracture or ligament issues. Given how early it is preseason, we would expect Stafford/Rams to be cautious and hold him out for a short period of time. This should not bother him going forward. An injury like this is an occupational hazard for quarterbacks on follow through throws. Stafford injured his thumb the way Drew Brees famously did in 2019 with Brees having surgery in-season causing him to miss five weeks. In any case, expect this to not be a major issue regardless if it's the same thumb as his offseason surgery.
RB Cam Akers -
Akers, the LA Rams’ No. 1 running back, tore his Achilles right as training camp was about to start. He has had surgery, ending his season before it ever got started. He has no chance to return this year, even if his team makes the Super Bowl. Other players around the league should take note. Achilles is now the other dreaded “A” injury, besides an ACL tear. Both can happen early on and are the top two season enders. Acclimation injuries are real. Just ask the four Saskatchewan Roughriders who recently tore their Achilles in the same practice after returning from a CFL hiatus due to COVID-19. Akers and his Rams teammates did not boycott OTAs and they participated fully. Their risk of injury was lower than teams or players that stayed away, but training in non-football activities cannot always mimic the change of direction strains (eccentric loads) that cause Achilles tears. Though players have gotten bigger, faster and stronger, the Achilles has remained the same size. It is like building a race car or off-road vehicle on a regular suspension, thus the increase in foot and ankle injuries. Given the timing, the Akers injury undoubtedly happened away from the Rams training facility, as NFL teams are all still on hiatus until next week. This could technically be considered a non-football injury (NFI), which would mean he would not get paid and his surgery would not be covered. However, this will not happen like it did for Ja’Wuan James with the Broncos. It is routine for players working away from the facility to get covered out of good faith, even though they don’t have to be, per the CBA. Akers will return full go for 2022, but others around the NFL should be aware of acclimation injuries during the ramp up period.
WR Desean Jackson -
The new free agent signee had an injury-filled 2020 campaign with Philadelphia and will be looking for a fresh start. Last year, Jackson missed a combined 11 games dealing with a high ankle sprain with an associated fracture. He missed a stretch of seven games and returned Week 16 to catch a long touchdown, but was ruled out the following week with a hamstring injury. In 2019, Jackson's return to the Eagles was derailed by a groin injury that ultimately needed core muscle surgery. He had a fantastic start to 2019, with eight receptions, 154 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. However, he did not play the rest of the year. We had our doubts that conservative care and rest would work, which indeed turned out to be the case as Jackson indeed ended up choosing surgery. In retrospect, deciding to have the procedure earlier would have "cut their losses" and had Jackson back for the latter part of the season. We don't believe in injury proneness, but we do believe that ultimately Father Time is undefeated and Jackson is now 34.
Offensive Line
OL Andrew Whitworth -
Whitworth, the Rams veteran left tackle, suffered a knee injury in Week 10 last year. He tore his MCL with damage to his PCL and missed the final seven games of the regular season, but was activated for the Rams' playoff run. Whitworth is four years older than his head coach and still playing well at the age of 39. Age and cumulative injury over the years are the worry here as Whitworth is on the decline.
Defense
DT A'Shawn Robinson -
The former Detroit Lions defensive tackle started the 2020 season on the NFI list due to a heart ailment, but returned to play well and is expected to play alongside superstar Aaron Donald this season. His heart issue should not be a recurring problem. Robinson finished last year with 12 combined tackles in eight games.
S Taylor Rapp -
The up-and-coming safety had a stellar 2019, but was demoted for rookie safety Jordan Fuller. He regained his spot in Week 6 before injuring his knee in a Week 10 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Rapp was subsequently placed on IR, missing the rest of the season. He starts this year healthy and competing for a starting job. Rapp had 44 combined tackles and one interception in nine games last season.
S Jordan Fuller -
The stellar rookie safety played well to start his inaugural NFL season before picking up a shoulder injury, causing him to miss Week 4. Fuller returned in Week 5 but injured the same shoulder in the final defensive series and was subsequently placed on IR. He returned in Week 10 and played well to close out his first season, finishing with 60 combined tackles and three interceptions in 12 games. The shoulder ailment should not be a factor heading into the 2021 season.
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