Things just took a SURPRISING turn... MAJOR Injury updates | LA Rams News

Things just took a surprising turn, major Rams injury updates, and a deep dive into as to why the Rams did not trade for a wide receiver. All that and more on today's episode of Rams Digest. Welcome back to another episode of Rams Digest. I'm your host, Joshua Finers. And before we get into today's video, make sure to leave a like right now on this video for the Rams to get healthy and to go on a four-game win streak before the bye. Wrapping that up this coming Sunday. against the Cardinals. I at least for sure will be live. I'm 90% sure Josh is going to be there. He will confirm that in his own video this time so that there's no miscommunication there. But if you want him to be back, I heard liking the video does help this Sunday. It should be live around 1 p.m. Pacific time, 4 p.m. Eastern time, so stay tuned for that. But before we get into today's video, our question for the comments, can Adams return stabilize the offense? A, Yes, with the current supporting cast or B. Only when Puka returns too. Leave your thoughts down below in the comments. I will be responding as always. And stay tuned to the end of today's video for my response to this question. But. It's tough to pick things in sports, you know, everyone has differing opinions on what you should be doing, but today's video's sponsor, Otis Edge Analytics, helps make this process a little bit easier. November is a huge month for sports, and everyone has an opinion on who you should bet on, but are you tired of the fake picks, paid tipsters, and the money you keep losing? Stop guessing. Try Otis Edge for free. Six analysts, one subscription, one price that's less than a dinner out. Download the free Otis Edge app and you get the free pick of the day every single day plus a full library of free content, no card required. Become a subscriber and you will unlock six different analyst perspectives on every game, daily expert picks, and Otis Edge University where you'll learn discipline and betting strategies and bankroll management. Follow one analyst or follow all six. It's included. Right now, we use code digest.checkout Check out for 50% off. For life, yes, for life, you heard that correctly. As long as your membership remains continuous, download the free app today using the links in the description. It's time to set yourself up for success because that's the Otis Edge. Thank you once again to Otis Edge for sponsoring today's video. Now let's get into today's news. Well, as I've said, the Rams did not trade for a wide receiver, but there was a receiver that they were linked to right before the deadline, and it's a name that I don't think any of us really had on our radar. And the report linked the Rams to Ladd McConkey. Yes, you heard that right. Ladd McConkey, the Chargers' number one wide receiver. The Rams apparently were linked to him. It's been kind of thrown back and forth whether they actually made a serious offer or not, but we do believe that the Rams did at least call about Ladd McConkey, and this is from Underdog NFL, and Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says the Chargers declined at least one Ladd McConkey trade offer. And the team spoken to believe the Rams were the ones who made that call, meaning that the Rams were the team that at least made the most serious offer for Ladd McConkey. And going into this trade deadline, I expected Josh Downs to be a Ram. We heard some Keenan Allen rumors here and there, BTJ, if they wanted to go big name hunting a guy like George Pickens. But the Chargers had kind of publicly said they're not trading anybody, which again, we can go on and on about the Chargers dysfunction. For this season and over their franchise history, but for this season, it doesn't make a lot of sense, and they already publicly said they weren't trading anybody, and knowing how the Chargers do things, I wasn't surprised that they didn't trade anybody, so I don't know exactly what the Rams could have offered. Again, we can go into more of speculations that maybe they offered a third for Ladd McConkey. But at the end of the day, Ladd McConkey would have been an upgrade over anyone that you have. He's been a little injury prone the last two years and he's kind of declined since his rookie year. Again, I think part of that's the coaching and also part of that is the play of Justin Herbert. But I do think Ladd McConkey would have really helped the Rams, but it certainly wasn't a name that I had on my radar at all as the trade deadline came and went. And then Cam De Silva backs this up from Jeremy Fowler. The teams he spoke with believed that it was the Rams. They called the Chargers about Ladd McConkey. And then this is what Ladd McConkey does as a player. This is who the Rams did miss out on at the trade deadline. And as you can see, over the middle and to the right of 20-plus yards, pretty good. Again, 10 to 19 yards, pretty good, except on the right side. Zero to nine, decent, especially on the right. And then behind the line of scrimmage. Again, left side of the field was not used too much. Again, these stats are going to be a little bit skewed because he does have Justin Herbert, who unfortunately has not been great, and Mike McDaniel as his quarterback and offensive coordinator combo. So he doesn't have a lot to work with there. I think his numbers would have gotten better. As a Ram, but at the end of the day, the Rams needed a reliable receiver at the deadline, especially a guy who could stay healthy. And Lad McConkey hasn't really proved that he can be that guy. And then something else that's important to note here too, is that from Cam De Silva, Jeremy Fowler also says the Rams didn't seriously consider trading for a wide receiver because they expect Puka and Devontae back this season. Well, that is true. They didn't need to trade for a big money or a big name wide receiver. Josh Downs went for a fourth and a fifth to the Chiefs. Again, the Chiefs also needed wide receiver help. They got the guy that I wanted the Rams to get. Good move on the Chiefs. The Chiefs even got a seventh round pick back. Again, it's only a seventh round pick, but still, it doesn't hurt you to get draft capital back in a trade. So I don't know why the Rams couldn't make that move. I think Josh Downs would have helped stabilize things for this Rams offense. Again, I know it would have only been for half a season. Basically, because he is a free agent upcoming, but still, I just think for the Rams who are right now, they've played themselves back into contention, especially if they win this week six and four at the bye, kind of right the ship, you're going to start the second half of the season all fresh, and you have a real chance to get in the playoffs, and as long as you get into the playoffs, especially with this Rams team and their playoff experience, anything can happen. All they got to do is get in there. And I still think without them trading for a wide receiver, regardless, this is uphill climb because of how they started this season record-wise and tiebreaker-wise. But overall now, it's gonna be even tougher with no real wide receiver one option for at least the next few games. But if we do look at Ladd McConkey's contract here as well, that... It is, it isn't really that bad of a contract. You're getting a great salary here, 2.7 million this year, 3.2 million next year. You would have had that McConkey on the books for a whole nother year again. I get the Chargers not, not trading him just because he's a good young player and the Chargers have decided not to trade anybody at least during the regular season this year. So Chargers weren't going to do it, but for the Rams, with that contract, I could have been a wide receiver too next to Puka for at least another year, so I like the forward-thinking move of that trade as well, but the Rams ultimately decided not to do it, which I get, but at the same time, Josh Downs was a guy who only went for a fourth and a fifth. That trade doesn't set your franchise back. That's not a franchise-altering trade in terms of draft capital that you gave up, especially because the Colts gave a pick. I know, again, it's only a seventh, but it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt. I think the Rams, it was a bit of an, I don't want to say unserious, but it kind of just felt a little bit like. Alright, we have these guys. We're going to get Puka and Devontae back. I mean, their defense better play well over the next few weeks. Kyron and Corum better stay healthy and keep running the way they have been. You're going to have to keep evolving those tight ends. And somebody in this receiver room is going to have to step up. Demarcus Mumpfield, right now, is probably the number one guy with two wideouts. CJ Daniels is their starting lineup. You reassign Xavier Smith. That's how down bad you are for wide receiver. But yeah, it's just not a good look currently for the Rams right now. However, we did get a very positive update on Devontae Adams, and it said Devontae Adams targets his return after week 12, and this is something that none of us thought was possible. Me, Josh, probably even the Rams, and a lot of you in the comments as well. It just really makes... The trade deadline move makes some more sense that Devontae is coming back sooner rather than later. And if we do look at a tweet from Sarah Barshop earlier today, Sean McVay said the expectation is that Devontae Adams' return will be sooner rather than later. McVay said the Rams are targeting after the Packers game. I mean, this... For this to happen, now I understand the move a little more not to trade for a wide receiver. I still think they should have. I still think even going into the playoffs, the guys that you have behind Devontae and Puka aren't really good enough to step up in a playoff game if needed. For Devontae to have that hamstring surgery in late October and come back in early December, I was hopeful Devontae could be back for the first Seahawks matchup on Christmas Day. That's the return date I kind of had to set in my mind, just based on when he had the surgery and the type of injury that he had. But we're getting this positive news, and I mean, this really does change the Rams season. If we do look at how Devontae has been used throughout this season so far from before Before he went down 30 catches, 15 and a half yards. A target in 480 total yards and four touchdowns. Again, left side of the field in the 28-plus yard passes. Not great. Rams are still going to have to figure out the deep ball situation even once Hebo and Puka get healthy. Middle of the field, deep balls, 0 for 2. And then the right side, 2 for 3. That's pretty decent. Again, 10 to 19. That's where Devontae really shines in those intermediate passes. Again, 0 to 9 will always be great. Again, right side of the field, only 1 for 6. Interesting that he struggles a lot. on the right side of the field, but the Rams are certainly missing Devontae Adams' production throughout this season. And then, too, if we do look at what Sean McVay had to say sooner rather than later, which is a big deal to us, I mean, that just really should boost the morale of this entire team. Especially because I still think they can beat Arizona without both of these players. Again, Arizona with no Michael Wilson for the rest of the season, unfortunately. We got word today, Carson Beck starting that game. That defense is going to eat. I mean, Aaron Donald and Miles Garrett might each have three sacks. Byron Young may contribute a couple more. Like, I'm telling you, that defensive line is going to eat against the Cardinals. And that just might be enough to where the Rams could probably score 16 points again. And I still think they can win this time because of that healthy defense. The defensive line, and it just completely changes the outcome of this Rams season. The Devontae looks to be playing in that Chiefs Thursday night game in early December. Like, that's, I mean, that is awesome for this Rams team that he's able to be back so quickly again. I don't know if after the Packers game just literally means any game after the Packers, but. It seems like they're really saying that Week 13 is a legitimate possibility. Again, we're going to have to wait and see how he practices, especially as the Packers game comes up. We'll probably get some updates on where he is physically. But just to even hear that news and hear that he has a shot to play, it's just a great thing. Again, 80 yards per game and 16 yards per catch when he was healthy. And he was a legitimate number one for that game without Puka, for those two games that Puka missed. With that knee injury, he was more than enough of a number one, and I think him coming back would just solidify this offense so much more, because I do think a team like the Packers once The Rams go into that game. The Cardinals defense isn't really good enough to do this, but the Packers could just stack the box run game wise. Like it's something they can do, especially with their secondary as well. Xavier McKinney playing really, really well. Evan Williams as well, just coming off a great game there too up in Foxborough. So there's definitely a lot of things to worry about for the Packers game, but for this upcoming week against the Cardinals, I certainly think that... The Rams will be just fine without both of these players, and if we look at a comment here about this too from Floyd again, shout out Floyd again, keep commenting so you can appear in our videos. So by the time Devontae Adams is ready to come back, what do you think the Rams record will be? That has everything to do with whether or not they'll even bring him back. Odds are Devontae has done for the year, in my opinion. Well, shout out to Floyd for the comment. Thank you once again, but He is coming back this season, and he's coming back sooner rather than later. Again, I've kept saying Week 16 was my goal for Devontae to be back, but the Rams' record, I certainly think they're going to win this week against the Cardinals. The Packers game, I think, is a toss-up. The Rams at least have a bye coming into it. Maybe Terrence Ferguson can play in that game, which would be really nice. I want to say positively that they're going to be 7-4. 7-4 when Devontae comes back, and we're going to get into the Puka update pretty shortly here as well. And some okay news about Puka, but it doesn't really change. His outlook, Puka Nakua avoids the IR, but he still does face. An extended absence, and what's important to note here about this move is that it's really only for semantics on the roster, and from Nate Atkins, the Rams are not placing wide receiver Puka Nakua on IR because of roster mechanics, but he will be out for some time. So basically, there's a limited amount of IR spots that a team can use to bring guys back during the season. Obviously, Miles Garrett was already one. I believe Ronnie Rivers was already two. Keegan Trost, three. And again, Devontae and Terrence Ferguson are going to be four and five. So, and Kobe Turner as well is going to be six. So, you definitely want those last two spots available. Jordan Winnington just went on IR today as well. So, the Rams are running out of spots for guys to come back off of IR this season. There's rumors they may even activate Ferguson off of IR before he's even ready to come back based on his practice setback just so they don't have to use another spot. Or just to get him activated off of IR in case someone else has to go on there. Like, they just have a lot of things to worry about. Because at a certain point, they're not going to be able to bring guys back this season. And I think for Puka and I think for the Rams that this is the smart move for them. And then Sean McVay has still said he's going to be out for an extended period of time, obviously. And that there really isn't no further timetable just yet on Puka from Barshop. The Rams are not going to put Puka on IR due to the roster semantics, but he is expected to miss an extended period of time, as McVay has already kind of said. And then if you look at the wide receiver room today, this is what we're going to have against the Cardinals. You're going to be having Kanata Melford, Tutu Watwell as your starters, CJ Daniels, Xavier Smith, and I had to beat a Breen and Presley, which, cool, I guess, but looking at this wide receiver room, Melford's going to really have to step up. I honestly think CJ Daniels will start over Tutu Watwell. I know I might be crazy, but you draft him, he's a rookie, you might as well see what he has at this point. Like, I think it just makes sense. With only three of your... Wide receiver is active from the beginning of the season. I guess Xavier Smith counts, so now it's four. But with only those four, you need someone to step up. But you may as well give it to a rookie who's got some fresh legs and is playing for everything right now as well. We got another comment here to go over. And this is from Alan. Shout out, Alan. Yes, absolutely, the Rams do need a new wide receiver because Puka can't do it all himself. This is a video I made talking about Georgia Pickens. I certainly do think that the Rams, they still may sign someone cheaply, who knows, like Odell Beckham's being thrown around, which honestly, if Odell wants to catch some passes, this is the team to come to. He's on the Vikings practice squad currently. Another name was Brandon Ayuk, but oof, with all that going on with the Niners, I mean, who knows if he's ever going to play in the NFL again, if an NFL team gives him a chance. Tyree Kill, I know his agent was talking about that he's pretty much ready. To play, but I don't really want that this year. Again, if we both, if we had Puka and Devonta healthy, sure, we will add Tyreek, but you don't right now. There really isn't a name out there in free agency that really, like, gets the juice going for me in terms of this guy fixes this problem for the Rams. No, I don't, I don't think that's out there. I think at this point, you have to go with what you have in this wide receiver room. And what the Rams really need to do for these next few games is they just have to bridge the wide receiver absence, and obviously the two recovery tracks are very important to look at here. Adams placed on IR on October 20th, Puka stays off of IR, that's the big news today, and now Davante Adams. And McVay has called it a realistic timeline with no confirmed return that, again, the Chiefs game is the earliest. I wouldn't be surprised if they really try to get him back for that Chiefs game, but if they don't, I wouldn't blame them or Davante whatsoever. And then again, they got to keep bridging the gap to return. You have the Cardinals game, you have a bye, and then you have the Packers game, and then you have the Chiefs coming up after that. So overall for the Rams, this could have been a lot worse. This could have been Davante done for the season. But the fact that he's not, and he's probably going to play before Puka does at this point, which is crazy to say. I would never have thought I was going to be saying that. It just makes the trade deadline decision make some more sense. But at the end of the day, that Packers game definitely does scare me All of these wide receivers. And then for the Rams too, it's gonna be important to have different receiving jobs for both of these guys, obviously when they're healthy. Puka with 102 yards per game, 0.1 yards, I guess, and Davante Adams with 80, and then yards per reception, 16 for Adams, 10 for Nakua. Again, Puka Nacua is kind of more your after-catch guy, whereas Davante is your, a little bit of a deeper route guy, but it's also going to be important, too, to get some guys blocking out there, because you're going to be missing Puka's blocking in the run game, too. Winnington's a good blocker, too, on IR, because Adam Huntful's going to have to step up in that regard. All your tight ends, I wouldn't be surprised if we see some Max Clair action, too. On Sunday to help with some blocking and maybe even in the wide receiver game as well. And these are things to look at what happens next for the Rams. Healthy receivers earn reliable targets. Eh, I guess they are. Adams progresses towards practice clearance and Puka's recovery sets his return time. And we'll probably know a little more about that heading in to the Packers game. Reliable targets. I don't know if any of them are gonna get reliable targets. They'll get targets, but are they gonna be reliable options? Who knows? But they're gonna have to get some targets here. And we have one more final comment to go over as well. This one from Floyd again, from my video talking about what the Rams can do at the trade deadline. Pay a fair price. Don't break the bank. Grab a slot guy like Downs for a mid-round pick. So things stay there until Puka's back. Then lean on Corum and Kyron. No need to mortgage the future for a long-term receiver when Adams and Ferguson are coming back. Yeah, I agree with that. But the Rams, unfortunately, did not now. To today's question for the comments, as I get that loaded up here for you right now. Can Adams return to stabilize the offense? A, yes, with the current supporting cast. B, only when Puka returns, too. Leave your thoughts in the comments down below. I'll be responding as always. To me, I think he can. We've seen it before. We saw it last season. I think he can. I just hope that they're not rushing him back in Week 13 if he does decide to play. But again, leave your thoughts in the comments down below. I'll be responding as always. And for your chance to appear in a Rams Digest video. And that is all for today's episode of Rams Digest. Remember, leave a like on this video right now for the Rams to get healthy, get some good receiver play out of their current targets, and for the Rams to go on a four-game win streak entering the bye this Sunday against the Cardinals. Hit that subscribe button as well. We're on the road to 7K. 7,000 subscribers just hit 6K not too long ago. Make sure to hit that sub button. Click that notification bell as well. Click all. So you get notified and never miss whenever we post our daily new Rams Digest video content pieces covering all things Rams. Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments on today's video down below. I will be responding as always and share today's video with a friend because it helps out the channel a ton. I've been your host, Joshua Finers, as always. Thank you very much for watching another episode of Rams Digest. Hope you enjoyed it. I'll see you soon for another one and have a great rest of your day.