The Los Angeles Rams are still trying to figure out their special teams. They will continue to keep trying. It’s a work in progress.
Rams’ special teams unit gets more bad news with long snapper doubtful (ramswire)
“Cardona did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. If McQuaide does play, he will be the sixth specialist to take a snap for Los Angeles this season, joining Cardona, Ethan Evans, Harrison Mevis, Blake Grupe, and Brandon McManus.
McQuaide was the Rams’ long-snapper to end the 2025 season, replacing Alex Ward. He was excellent, helping the team reach the NFC Championship
Game. He also played for the Rams from 2011 to 2020, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016 and 2017.
McQuaide also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers, either as a member of the active roster or the practice squad.“
Joshua Karty and Jake McQuaide add former Rams experience to current Rams special teams (rams.com)
“McVay was asked on Wednesday if Karty would be utilized on kickoffs, to which McVay said he would “work through those things and kind of just see how the week goes.” On Friday, McVay said Karty being activated to the 48-man gameday roster would be contingent on some of the other injuries throughout the roster that have occurred throughout the week. McVay also said he thinks Karty’s ability to potentially impact kickoffs would impact that decision.
The Rams decided to replace Karty with Mevis after Week 9 of last season. Karty’s production dropped from 85.3% on field goals his rookie season to 66.7% in his second season through eight games. Karty said on Wednesday that during training camp last year he was “dealing with a little hip thing” and “probably should have just rested for a bit in fall camp.”
Experts overwhelmingly favor Rams over winless Chargers in Week 8 (sports.yahoo)
“Of the 52 picks across USA Today, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic and NFL.com, 47 have the Rams winning. The only five picking the Chargers are all from Bleacher Report.
The Rams are coming off a 35-21 win over the Raiders in Week 7, which snapped a two-game losing streak after back-to-back defeats to the Bills and Cardinals. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 7, and Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes.
A win Sunday would give Los Angeles back-to-back victories for the first time this season and set them up nicely for the second half of the year.“
Rams are ‘fixing’ special teams like a bad mechanic repairs a car (ramblinfan)
“If you take an automobile for repairs to a bad mechanic, the telltale sign is the incessant swapping of parts that merely runs up the tab without fixing the problem. A dependable mechanic determines the problem and effects the necessary repairs. The difference is felt in the time at the shop and a much less expensive repair bill.
Nobody is pointing the finger at general manager Les Snead – he’s doing what he can with a defective motor – but right now LA is merely swapping parts without a clue.
Rams still grasping at straws to fix woeful special teams
The entire ‘let’s see who can play?’ facade is something fans expected to be settled during training camp or, at worst, preseason. The issue is still at a tipping point approaching midseason. That’s not a good situation for a team that has struggled to stay at .500, while clinging to playoff aspirations.“
Hypothetical Rams trade sends mid-round picks for WR (ramswire)
“In a hypothetical trade proposal, Nguyen has Los Angeles sending a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Jacksonville for Thomas. He argues the Rams made a mistake in the draft by not upgrading the offense that this deal could fix.
The Rams tried to play it too cute in the draft and live in two timelines, taking quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick when the best option this season would have been a receiver. Davante Adams is 33 and had hamstring issues last season — it wasn’t hard to predict he would miss games this season. Puka Nacua has had injury and off-field issues. How would KC Concepcion — whom I rated higher than Makai Lemon — look in their offense? They could rectify that mistake by trading for Thomas Jr. The Jaguars should be much more willing to trade Thomas Jr. to the NFC, rather than an AFC contender. Thomas Jr. would infuse much-needed speed to the offense, while his vertical route tree would complement Nacua, who makes his living in the middle of the field.“
Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 8 (fantasylife)
“No way I was the only one circling this game on the schedule before the season even kicked off, thinking we’d be previewing a potential Super Bowl matchup. Can’t even tell you how many Justin Herbert MVP tickets I saw posted on socials this summer. Well, that ain’t happening — we’re seven weeks in, and these two LA teams combined for one total win in the entire month of October. Oof.“
Matthew Stafford Gets Concerning Update Before Rams Game (heavy.com)
“Whittington is not a significant part of the Rams’ passing game.
He has just two receptions for 12 yards on the season, and a 42-476-0 line for his career so far, which began as a sixth-round pick (213th overall) of the 2024 draft. However, while not one of Stafford’s top targets, he is a strong blocker on the perimeter.
The Rams are already without Davante Adams (hamstring, IR) and Puka Nacua admitted this week that he is still managing the calf injury that popped up in practice last week.“
Rams Hit With Concerning Injury News Before Facing Chargers (sports.yahoo)
“At this point in time, no one knows exactly when Garrett will return. There was hope that the Rams could open up his practice window this week, but that didn’t end up being the case. The current hope is that Adams could return in the shorter window of the original 6-to-8 week estimate.
Going up against the Chargers should give L.A. a good chance to pick up another win. Jim Harbaugh and his team are 0-6 and not many positive signs of improvement have been seen.
Hopefully, some of these updates receive good news before Sunday afternoon’s game.
Kickoff this week against the Chargers is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. Fans will be able to tune in and watch the game on Fox.“
Rams face injury concerns ahead of Chargers game as McVay praises defense, Aaron Donald (sportingtribune)
“”Dylan McMahon has done a great job this week,” McVay said. “He’s had a lot of work. Ryan Wendell is always really good about getting a good rotation of guys, especially at that center position. Dylan’s had a lot of work this week because of the approach we’ve taken with Coleman. I think he’s handled it really well.”
Whittington’s status could also affect the Rams’ special teams plans, including whether kicker Joshua Karty is elevated for the game. McVay said the staff has to consider how losing Whittington would affect the 48-player game-day roster and the team’s ability to handle injuries during the game.
The Rams are already without two offensive playmakers: wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Terrance Ferguson.“
PODCAST: Chargers Football Therapy: Can Justin Herbert Spark a Reset Against the Rams? (sports.yahoo)
“At the Playbook Restaurant, the discussion turns to simplifying responsibilities without becoming predictable. Can the Chargers build a smaller, more dependable collection of concepts that allows players to operate confidently?
There is room to laugh, too. Reasonable Request or Chargers Fan Delusion separates realistic expectations from emotional wish lists, while the Chargers Emotional Support Draft asks which improvement would matter most: protection, rushing production, red-zone finishing or cleaner execution.
Plus, get a Rams matchup framework, an appreciation for overlooked contributions and a schedule look ahead featuring Houston, Baltimore, the Jets and New England.
Expect relatable frustration, original humor and practical explanations that help Chargers fans recognize improvement, evaluate the next performance and keep enjoying the conversation through adversity.“
