Rams Rookie Shines In Week 5 Loss

The Los Angeles Rams pushed the Green Bay Packers to the brink, nearly erasing an 11-point 4th quarter deficit. They fell short, 19-24, but there were bright spots in the in the loss.

Former 2024 sixth-round draft pick, Jordan Whittington turned out to lead the team in receiving yards and catches. He finished the day with seven catches and 89 yards, both high water marks in his short career.

Rams Top Receiver In Week 5:

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears
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Ahead of the season, head coach Sean McVay said Whittington was “going to be a factor” and that was the case today and last week too.

Whittington has played in each of the Rams four games since Week 2 but didn’t get the starting nod until last week. In that game, he caught six passes on 8 targets for 62 yards.

In this game, Whittington quickly became Matthew Stafford’s preferred target. He not only made several big catches including a 31-yard catch and run and back-to-back 17-yard receptions. Four of his seven catches went for first downs.

NFL: Los Angeles Rams Training Camp
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It is too early to say, but the Rams are establishing a good track record of finding wide-receiving talent late in the draft. Cooper Kupp was a third-round pick in 2017 and Puka Nacua was a fifth-rounder from 2023.

In his post-game press conference, Stafford acknowledged that Whittington is doing a good job taking advantage of his opportunities, especially with the fact that he has been getting those opportunities under the duress of injuries to Kupp and Nacua. Because of those injuries, the team is highly dependent on their receiving depth to take huge steps forward in their development. Whittington has emerged as that player.

Whittington was injured on the final catch of the game. He missed the remaining three plays of the game. No update was given on his status.

The Rams enter their Week 6 bye 1-4 and now will prepare to face the 2-3 Las Vegas Raiders.

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
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