Rams Mysteriously Remove CB From Active Roster vs. Lions

When Witherspoon went down in Week 2 with a serious injury, the Rams initially struggled to replace him. Teams like the Colts, Eagles, and 49ers exploited the weakened secondary in Weeks 3-5, as Los Angeles allowed a 49.6% success rate through the air and 12th-ranked dropback EPA per play.

Since then, however, Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant have emerged as top-tier performers. Grosbard of the LA Daily News noted, “The wrinkle is that the Rams’ cornerback room is in much better shape than it was before Witherspoon’s Week 2 injury…The Rams will need to develop a plan for how to utilize all three cornerbacks.”

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Rotation Conundrum

Witherspoon’s return to action began cautiously. In Week 13 against Carolina, he played just 15 snaps after recovering from a broken scapula. Head coach Sean McVay emphasized gradual reintegration: “He didn’t play a whole lot of snaps. He did what he was capable of and just wasn’t kind of at the point of attack in a lot of different situations.”

The mystery now: with Forbes and Durant excelling outside and Darious Williams performing well as depth, where does Witherspoon fit? The Rams’ staff faces a delicate balancing act—too many snaps for Witherspoon could disrupt the rhythm that has made the cornerback room one of the NFL’s most efficient in man coverage this season.

The Statistical Edge

Metrics confirm Witherspoon’s impact. When active, the Rams allow a 51.85% completion rate (vs. 64.06% without him) in man coverage, concede just one touchdown (vs. six), and register an EPA of 0.120 per play (vs. 0.215). Second-down coverage is particularly sharp: 50% completions and 5.92 yards per attempt with him, compared to 81% and 8.95 without.

A Tactical Mystery

With playoffs looming, the Rams’ decision to keep Witherspoon inactive adds an element of intrigue. Is this a strategic move to deploy him later in a critical matchup, a precautionary step, or a way to manage rotations without upsetting Forbes and Durant’s chemistry? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Witherspoon’s presence on the field is a game-changer. The question is when and how he will be used to maximize the Rams’ defensive edge.