McVay: Whitworth’s injury likely not season-ending
While Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth won’t be playing anytime soon because of a knee injury, coach Sean McVay is finding some relief that the 15-year veteran could return later this season.
Whitworth, who was injured in the second quarter of Los Angeles’ Sunday win and needed to be carted off the field, was diagnosed with a grade 3 MCL and PCL tear in his left knee, McVay said Monday. His ACL was said to be intact, however.
“We were all worried it was for sure going to be season-ending,” McVay said, “and that’s not going to be the case.”
McVay added Whitworth would be out “for a handful of time” and that the tackle was going on injured reserve with no certainty whether he would be out for six or eight weeks.
Whitworth was hurt in the Rams’ 23-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks when he banged into Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright and ended up on the ground. Rams quarterback Jared Goff was sacked on the play.
Whitworth spent his first 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Rams prior to the 2017 season. The two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection has played all 16 games in a season 11 times and started 220 of his 224 games overall.
Whitworth’s spot on the line falls to Joe Noteboom, who is in his third season out of TCU. He has played in 25 games, including three this season. Noteboom started twice this year, and he filled in for Whitworth after the injury on Sunday.
The Rams are tied with the Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals at 6-3 atop the NFC West. Los Angeles plays at Tampa Bay next Monday night.
–Field Level Media
