Rams lose two key role players to season-ending injuries vs Giants

The Los Angeles Rams were already looking thin and tight end and running back, but those depth charts both lost key players in Week 6. Number two tight end Johnny Mundt, who has played 100 offensive snaps (27%) this season, tore his ACL against the New York Giants on Sunday and will be placed on injured reserve. So too will running back and kickoff returner Jake Funk, who tore his hamstring and is also out for the year.

Funk had been in on over 50% of the special teams snaps prior to Week 6 and he has been the number three running back.

The Rams took a chance by letting tight end Gerald Everett leave in the offseason because as it turns out, Brycen Hopkins had not moved ahead of Mundt on the depth chart as many had expected. The former fourth round pick out of Purdue has been a healthy scratch in every game this season and he only appeared in five games as a rookie in 2020. Hopkins should now be elevated to number two tight end, as rookie Jacob Harris has practically no experience at the position and has only appeared on special teams as of yet.

Harris would not be a logical double for a blocking tight end like Mundt.

Kickoff duties were handled by Tutu Atwell at the end of Sunday’s game. The next man up at running back could be Buddy Howell, a practice squad player with a reputation for special teams. Tight end Kendall Blanton, who many expected to make the team, is also on the practice squad. Funk was considered an injury risk because of tearing his ACL twice in college at Maryland, and now it is a hamstring that ends his 2021 season. An ACL injury can lead to injuries elsewhere as the body attempts to compensate for the previous knee injury.

Would Blanton get snaps ahead of Hopkins?

Mundt will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and this would be an unfortunate way for his Rams career to end. Hopefully Funk and Mundt are able to resume their careers next season with LA.