It’s only Week 2, but the Los Angeles Rams already have been bitten by the injury bug this season. On Wednesday, the Rams placed three players on injured reserve. Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom’s positions have been replaced by linemen Dylan McMahon and Geron Christian. But the Rams didn’t make a corresponding move to try to make up for Nacua’s absence.
While Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson helped step up in Week 1 when Nacua was ruled out, now Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington will get their chances too. Xavier Smith, Drake Stoops, and Sam Wiglusz are all on the practice squad, but none can be counted on as reliable or consistent targets.
If the Rams want another veteran with experience over the next few weeks, they could turn back to the free agency pool, and there’s one player they’ve been linked to.
Recently, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon highlighted five free agent signings teams need to make before Week 2. Included in that list was the Los Angeles Rams signing receiver Chase Claypool.
“There’s some decent depth beyond Nacua and Cooper Kupp, but the Rams would probably prefer not to rely much on Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and/or Jordan Whittington. Chase Claypool hasn’t cut it in multiple stops since shining in Pittsburgh, but the talent is there and he’s still only 26. Maybe this could be the right environment for him to rediscover something. Michael Thomas is another veteran option, but L.A. should bring someone in for a tough stretch.”
Claypool is a 6-foot-4, 238-pound receiver who’s still just 26 years old. The former Steelers second-round pick has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Miami, and couldn’t crack Buffalo’s final 53-man roster this summer.
Yet, he’s also a player who had two seasons with 860 or more receiving yards during his first two years in the league. Sure, that was back in 2020 and 2021, but if there’s anyone who can get the most out of a receiver with upside, it’s Sean McVay.
