The Los Angeles Rams started their gameweek preparations yesterday for the wild card round of the playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons.
Normally, the practice week would begin on Wednesday. With the playoff game moved up to Saturday, the practice schedule moved forward a day as well. As such, we got the initial injury report yesterday and with it, four Rams players to keep an eye on this week as we move through the practice schedule:
2017 LA Rams Wild Card Round Injury Report
Name | POS | Injury | Tue. Status | Wed. Status | Thu. Status | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | POS | Injury | Tue. Status | Wed. Status | Thu. Status | Game Status |
Mark Barron | LB | Achilles | Limited | Limited | Full | |
Blake Countess | DB | Concussion | DNP | Limited | Full | |
Pharoh Cooper | WR | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | Full | |
Michael Thomas | WR | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
So the good news is that LB Mark Barron was active. Of course, it’s worth remembering that Barron was a full participant on Friday prior to Week 16 when he was suddenly made inactive against the Tennessee Titans. Barron was listed as Doubtful for Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers and ultimately listed among the inactives again. So to have him as a limited participant, albeit as an estimation of an actual practice, is a positive.
The bigger worry heading into today is WR Michael Thomas, DB Blake Countess and Pro Bowl returner Pharoh Cooper.
As I mentioned on Turf Show Radio last night, the Rams can deal with Thomas and Countess with other depth. Their auditions in Week 17 matter more for offseason roster strategy than anything. But Cooper is a Pro Bowler for a reason. Should he be unavailable, that could change things for Special Teams Coordinator John Fassel.
As for the Falcons, here’s their side:
2017 Atlanta Falcons Wild Card Round Injury Report
Name | POS | Injury | Tue. Status | Wed. Status | Thu. Status | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | POS | Injury | Tue. Status | Wed. Status | Thu. Status | Game Status |
Adrian Clayborn | DE | Calf | Limited | Limited | Full | |
Taylor Gabriel | WR | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Full | |
Alex Mack | C | Calf | Limited | Limited | Limited | |
Levine Tiololo | TE | Knee | Limited | Limited | Limited | |
Devonta Freeman | RB | Knee | DNP | Limited | Limited | |
Julio Jones | WR | Ankle/Ribs | DNP | Limited | Limited | |
Andre Roberts | WR | Knee/Ankle | DNP | DNP | Limited |
WR Julio Jones? RB Devonta Freeman?
Yeah, I think this is going to be a major talking point...
Stay tuned.