The Los Angeles Rams are eagerly awaiting the return of cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who has been sidelined since Week 2 with a shoulder injury. Head coach Sean McVay provided an update on Witherspoon’s progress, signaling cautious optimism. “He’s doing good. He’s making progress. Reggie [Scott] is holding him back,” McVay said on The Coach McVay Show. “December is kind of what we’ve targeted, but we’ll see when we’re able to start his clock.”
Witherspoon’s return is highly anticipated, not just for depth, but for the stabilizing impact he brings to the Rams’ secondary.
Ahkello Witherspoon’s Pre-Injury Dominance
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Before the injury, Witherspoon’s early 2025 performance demonstrated why he is considered a cornerstone of the Rams’ defense. Across Weeks 1 and 2:
- Man Coverage Snaps: 20
- Pass Attempts in Man Coverage: 14
- Completions Allowed: 5 (35.7%)
- Yards Allowed: 55 (3.9 yards per target)
- Touchdowns Allowed: 0
- Average EPA Per Play: -0.329
- Defensive Success Rate: 70.0%
His ability to disrupt timing, excel in press coverage (19 snaps in just 1.5 games), and limit completions made him a key factor in the Rams’ early defensive efficiency.
Post-Injury Struggles in Man Coverage
Since Witherspoon’s injury, the Rams have leaned heavily on man coverage, but results have been less effective:
- Man Coverage Snaps: 59
- Pass Attempts in Man Coverage: 56
- Completions Allowed: 34 (60.7%)
- Yards Allowed: 372 (6.6 yards per target)
- Touchdowns Allowed: 5
- Interceptions: 2
- Average EPA Per Play: +0.068
- Defensive Success Rate: 47.5%
These numbers highlight a clear drop-off. Completion rates jumped by nearly 25 percentage points, yards per target increased by 2.7 yards, and five touchdowns were allowed in coverage, where Witherspoon previously allowed none.
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Rams Secondary Adjustments and Player Emergence
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Despite the struggles, the Rams’ defensive backs have stepped up. Cobie Durant has become the primary coverage corner, logging 38 primary coverage snaps and 67 press coverage snaps since Week 3. Safety Quentin Lake has taken on 34 primary coverage snaps, while veteran Darious Williams contributed 27 snaps despite missing time himself. Kamren Curl has provided stability from safety, recording 62 total tackles and two interceptions. Jaylen McCollough has also contributed, handling 24 primary coverage snaps and 16 total tackles.
On Sunday, Lake suffered an elbow injury, which will result in a stint on the injured reserve or season-ending surgery.
Emerging as a standout is Emmanuel Forbes, who has steadily increased his role. Through Weeks 3-11, he tallied 20 tackles, two interceptions, and 8 passes defended. His press coverage usage has grown from two snaps in Week 5 to 19 in Week 11, signaling growing confidence from the coaching staff. While heavily targeted—65 times—Forbes has shown the competitiveness and skill to contest passes even when completions occur.
The Importance of Witherspoon’s Return
Even with these efforts, the Rams’ man coverage metrics illustrate the difficulty of replacing Witherspoon’s elite play. Opponents have maintained completion rates above 60% against press coverage, a stark contrast to Witherspoon’s 35.7% completion rate in the first two weeks.
Witherspoon’s December return would not only restore depth but also bring back a man corner capable of disrupting timing, supporting press coverage, and stabilizing man coverage. His presence could significantly reduce yards per target, lower completion percentages, and help the Rams regain a key edge in defending top receivers—a critical factor as they eye a playoff push.