Rams injury report: 4 starters on offense limited in practice

With LA Rams fans eyeing this Monday night’s big game with the Arizona Cardinals, business went on as usual this week for Les Snead and the front office. Injuries, both minor and major, must be reported as well as the roster moves and transaction that coincide with them. Here’s a capsule of this week’s organizational docket.

Update: Friday, 5:01 PM

Cooper Kupp and David Edwards were full participants on Friday. Darrell Henderson remained limited, while Brian Allen, Robert Rochell, Von Miller, and Terrell Lewis were held out.

Four starters on injury report

Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp (toe), running back Darrell Henderson (thigh), and guard David Edwards (foot) are all listed as being limited in practice action, but are expected to play on Monday night. Center Brian Allen is being held out of practice out with a knee sprain, he is listed as day-to-day.

Allen was injured on the first play of last Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coleman Shelton came in cold and held up well, and according to Pro Football Focus, was particularly strong in pass protection.

Edwards was also injured early vs. Jacksonville. He was able to return after a couple of drives, Bobby Evans stepped in for the eight missed plays.

Two defensive backups are nicked and one is healed

As previously reported on Turf Show Times, edge defender Justin Hollins has been designated for return from the injured reserve list and the Rams have 21 days to re-instate him to the active roster.

Reserve edge Terrell Lewis (back) and cornerback Robert Rochell (chest) were also held out of practice.

Lewis did not play versus the Jags. His snap counts have gone down for two straight weeks, hard to say if it’s because of injury or if he’s the odd-man-out from the Von Miller trade.

After struggling in coverage, Rochell has seen his defensive snaps plummet, but he’s become the special team gunner. He made an outstanding coverage play vs. Jacksonville, stretching out to save a punt from going into the end zone and tapping it back onto the field of play.

RB Buddy Howell placed on Injured Reserve list

Howell hurt his thigh and joined Cam Akers, Raymond Calais, Xavier Jones and Jake Funk as Ram running backs on the injury list.

Howell was a versatile special teamer who garnered snaps on coverage and return squads. He had two kickoff returns for 34 yards, a couple of ST tackles, and in week eight versus the Houston Texans, he totaled 11 yards on five carries.

RB Mekhi Sargent: Signed to active roster

Sargent fills the Buddy Howell void, keeping LA at three active RB’s. He is in the mold of current Ram starter, Sony Michel. A hard-nosed power runner who has college experience running behind a zone blocking scheme. In mop-up work, Sargent has gained nine yards on four carries and a handful of ST snaps.

WR JJ Koski: Waived and re-signed to the practice squad.

In his second year with the Rams, Koski has been mostly relegated to the PS. He was brought up to the active roster early in November to compete as a kick returner, gunner on special teams, and to support the decimated WR unit.

Koski saw action in two games returning four kickoffs for 76 yards and one punt for seven yards. He looked tentative on KO’s, bobbling one, losing a fumble on another and not recording any tackles as a gunner. His future with the Rams is predicated on his ability to carve out a role on ST and may have blown his big chance. He was replaced by Brandon Powell, formerly the primary returner for the Atlanta Falcons.

So, what about WR/KR Brandon Powell? No transaction?

Powell had a stellar 65 yard KO return in his first action as a Ram. His vision, quick feet and ability to cut at speed give the team a TRUE returner.

NFL rules allow teams to activate a player off the PS twice before making a permanent roster decision on the said player. Last week, Powell was on his first game day activation. The Rams can use Powell for a second game, on Monday night vs. the Arizona Cardinals, without releasing a player off the current roster.