The Los Angeles Rams have announced the list of players they plan on resting in Sunday’s Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks. The list includes quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, running back Kyren Williams, left tackle Alaric Jackson and right guard Kevin Dotson, as well as right tackle Rob Havenstein, who has a shoulder injury.
Los Angeles Rams Announce Starters For Week 18
In addition to announcing who won’t play, they also gave a glimpse as to who will get to start in their place.
Jimmy Garoppolo will get his first start since October of 2023. Garoppolo was benched after six starts with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
Blake Corum will get the nod in the backfield. The rookie third-rounder has played in a limited capacity on offense, playing just over 10 percent of the total snaps. Corum has shown flashes of high production but has put up a mediocre 197 on 56 attempts.
These two will operate behind a rebuilt offensive line. The team announced Joe Noteboom would start at left tackle and Jonah Jackson will fill in for Dotson at right guard. Jackson was the Rams’ biggest offseason free-agent addition, yet he was benched in favor of rookie sixth-rounder Beaux Limmer at center. Adding Jackson with a three-year $51 million deal this spring has vaulted the Rams third most expensive offensive line in the NFL.
The Rams attempted to move Jackson to center after sophomore lineman Steve Avila was moved back to left guard, where he spent his rookie season. They spent the majority of training camp with Avila at center and made the switch shortly before Week 1.
They didn’t specify the four receivers that would get the bulk of the playing time. But given his recent pitch count after making his return from injury, Tyler Higbee will likely play a limited role, if he sees the field at all. Wide receivers Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington are both on the injury report, Atwell on a personal day and Whittington limited with an ankle injury. While there is the chance that both will be available for the game, head coach Sean McVay may err on the side of caution.
However, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue expects Whittington and Xavier Smith to see time in the backfield.
Whittington, a sixth-round rookie, played well in the preseason as well as while filling in due to injuries has seen only a small amount of playing time on offense, getting only one target in his last nine games.