Tag: Whitworth

Feb 11, 2022; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth during press conference at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rams notebook: Andrew Whitworth calls on peers to aid in community

Posted on | by Field Level Media

If playing left tackle in the Super Bowl at age 40 weren’t impressive enough, Andrew Whitworth just raised the stakes even higher.

The Los Angeles Rams veteran was selected as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year on Thursday night, the top off-field honor an NFL player can receive.

One day later, Whitworth said he figured out he was the winning recipient prior to the announcement. He said multiple NFL personnel members approached him to see if his speech was ready.

Regardless, he was honored to win the prestigious award, which recognizes “outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on it.” Whitworth is dedicated to numerous causes in Southern California and his native Louisiana related to housing insecurity and financial inequities.

“Our game is driven by the fans and the communities that pay attention and watch and buy jerseys and come to games,” Whitworth said Friday. “In the ways I give back to my communities, it shows my respect for the communities. … I believe in paying forward. To me, community service is important.”

Whitworth has spent the past five seasons with the Rams after playing his first 11 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals — Los Angeles’ opponent in Super Bowl LVI.

Rams coach Sean McVay said he is just in awe of Whitworth’s accomplishments.

“I can’t say enough about what he has meant to me personally as a coach and a person,” McVay said. “I’m so grateful for him. He’s been an instrumental part in everything that is right about the Rams the last five years.”

During his acceptance speech on Thursday night, Whitworth called on his peers to step up their level of community service.

“It’s called an investment,” Whitworth said. “You can apply these three things to any charity or cause you have a passion for. You can invest your time, you can invest your finances or you can invest your voice. Doesn’t matter which, we just have to keep investing in each other. Let your heart lead you all the way.”

Whitworth doesn’t yet know if he will play a 17th NFL season. He said he would talk to him family after the Super Bowl.

“I’ve cried wolf so many times, they may not want to listen,” Whitworth said per past retirement conservations. “At some point, it will actually happen.”

–The Rams placed tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and offensive tackle Joe Noteboom (chest) on injured reserve Friday, ending their seasons.

Higbee was injured against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, and his chances of playing didn’t sound good after McVay said Monday that he wouldn’t practice all week. Noteboom was injured one week earlier in the divisional round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Los Angeles activated running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (knee) and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day (pectoral) from IR.

–With Henderson set to play Sunday for the first time since being injured in Week 16, the Rams suddenly have what McVay termed the “full arsenal” in backfield options.

Cam Akers returned from a July Achilles injury during the final week of the regular season and has carried the ball 54 times for 151 yards in the playoffs. Sony Michel led the Rams in the regular season with 845 rushing yards and Henderson had 688.

McVay believes it is a good dilemma and said the Rams would go with the “hot hand.”

McVay has seen Michel stand out on the Super Bowl stage but from the opposite side. As a rookie, Michel carried 18 times for 94 yards and one score when the New England Patriots notched a 13-3 victory over Rams in the Super Bowl after the 2018 season.

Akers is just happy to be a part of this game after a surprisingly fast rehab period.

“I knew the chance was real of going to the Super Bowl,” Akers said of his commitment to return this season. “I knew we had a good chance of going. I knew we had a good chance of making that run, and I wanted to be a part of it. I’m blessed to be able to.”

–Rams safety Eric Weddle is playing in his final NFL game after a return to the club following two seasons of retirement.

Earlier this week, Weddle detailed how he was doing nothing but sitting on the couch last month prior to getting the call from Los Angeles to see if he was fit enough to play.

However, people familiar with Weddle knew his lap wasn’t empty when he was sitting on the couch. After all, this is the same NFL star who has fessed up to eating a gallon of ice cream after victories.

Thus, it’s no surprise what Weddle’s post-Super Bowl routine will be like.

“I’m going to do nothing but ice cream celebrations for a week to make up for these last five weeks,” Weddle said Friday in reference to his time with the Rams. “I will make up for it when it is all said and done. The celebrations will happen.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) defends against Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) during the second half of an NFC Wild Card playoff football game at SoFi Stadium. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 34-11. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rams could get back OT Andrew Whitworth, S Taylor Rapp vs. Niners

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth and safety Taylor Rapp likely will be back in action for the Los Angeles Rams when they host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, coach Sean McVay said Monday.

Whitworth sat out the Rams’ 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional-playoff round after sustaining a knee injury in Los Angeles’ wild-card victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

His replacement against the Buccaneers, Joe Noteboom, sustained a pectoral strain on the final drive, leaving his status for this week uncertain, according to McVay.

Rapp didn’t appear in either of the teams’ playoff games because of a concussion.

Linebacker Ernest Jones, who was designated to return from injured reserve last week but wasn’t activated, could play a role this week. Jones missed the final two regular-season games and the first two playoff games with an ankle injury.

“He’s definitely the guy who could potentially factor into the plans this week,” McVay said.

The Rams will be looking to shake off two regular-season losses to the 49ers, 31-10 on Nov. 15 in Santa Clara, Calif., and 27-24 in overtime on Jan. 9 in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) holds up a finger as he is carted off the field during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

McVay: Whitworth’s injury likely not season-ending

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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

Nov 15, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) holds up a finger as he is carted off the field during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

NFL injury roundup: Saints QB Brees (ribs) to undergo MRI

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will undergo an MRI exam and an X-ray on his injured ribs after he was unable to finish Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Sean Payton said.

Brees, 41, did not play in the second half after he absorbed a big hit before halftime from San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kentavius Street. Jameis Winston replaced Brees at quarterback to start the second half, and the Saints pulled away for a 27-13 win.

“I was not going to be able to be effective (in the second half),” Brees said after the game. “It had nothing to do with pain. It was definitely just what my body was going to be able to do or not be able to do.”

Street drew a penalty for roughing the passer on the hit that injured Brees. The Saints sent in Taysom Hill at quarterback with Brees lining up wide on the next play, and Hill stayed in for the next play as Brees headed to the sideline.

Brees wasn’t the only injury to watch for the Saints.

Receiver Tre’Quan Smith left the game with a possible concussion after taking a hard hit to his head late in the second quarter. Tight end Josh Hill also left the game with a concussion.

Defensively, the Saints lost two players in the third quarter. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore left with an oblique injury and defensive tackle Malcom Brown hurt his calf. Both were questionable to return but neither did.

Already crippled by injuries to their backfield, the 49ers lost rookie running back JaMycal Hasty to a broken collarbone after a tackle on a swing pass in the fourth quarter, while fellow back Jerick McKinnon suffered a stinger late in the game.

Niners safeties Johnathan Cyprien (hamstring) and Jared Mayden (quadriceps) were also forced out of the game.

–Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater departed their 46-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a right knee injury, but the severity wasn’t immediately known.

Bridgewater was hurt when he was sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul in the fourth quarter. He limped to the sideline with 5:10 remaining and soon headed to the locker room with team trainers.

“He got up and walked off,” Carolina coach Matt Rhule said after the 46-23 setback. “When it comes to knees and stuff like that, I don’t know. I haven’t had a chance to see him. I have no idea (of the severity).”

Bridgewater didn’t meet with reporters after the game. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and one interception before exiting.

–Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth suffered a torn MCL during their 23-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks and is headed to Injured Reserve, according to NFL.com.

Whitworth, who was carted off because of the left knee injury, also reportedly sustained damage to his PCL, although his ACL is intact.

The 38-year-old is in his 15th NFL season, the first 11 of which he spent with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Rams in 2017. The LSU alum has been selected to four Pro Bowls and is a two-time All-Pro. He has started 220 of 224 career games.

The Rams’ injury woes continued later in the game as kicker Kai Forbath was listed as questionable to return because of an ankle injury. The announcement came after Forbath missed an extra-point attempt with 6:22 left in the third quarter.

Rams safety Taylor Rapp also may have suffered an MCL sprain. He will have an MRI.

–Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said cornerback Neiko Thorpe re-injured his groin. He had missed the past six games due to a sports hernia.

Seahawks running back Travis Homer hurt his hand during the loss to the Rams.

–Quarterback Matthew Stafford will undergo X-rays on his thumb after injuring it during the Detroit Lions’ 30-27 win over the Washington Football Team.

Stafford had his thumb taped early in the game but still completed 24 of 33 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns.

Washington offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas and safety Deshazor Everett both exited the loss to the Lions with ankle injuries.

–Green Bay Packers running back Tyler Ervin hurt his ribs in the second quarter of the team’s 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was injured at the end of a 3-yard catch in the second quarter. The 27-year-old was ruled out to start the second half.

–Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson suffered a shoulder injury during their loss to the Packers, while running back Chris Thompson left to be evaluated for a concussion.

–Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard hurt his chest in the first half of the team’s 37-12 victory over the Denver Broncos. Postgame X-rays were negative.

–Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters went down with a knee injury and was carted off in the first half of the team’s 32-30 last-second win over the Buffalo Bills.

Cardinals tight end Darrell Daniels suffered an ankle injury and was carted to the locker room. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell also left the game after injuring his calf in the third quarter.

–Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Brandon Williams departed their 23-17 loss to the New England Patriots due to an ankle injury in the second quarter. He did not return.

Also, Baltimore cornerback Terrell Bonds sustained a knee injury early in the third quarter and was carted off the field. Tight end Nick Boyle was also carted off with a left knee injury with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

–Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander suffered a concussion in the team’s 36-10 loss to the Steelers. He will enter the league’s five-step concussion protocol.

–Field Level Media