Although it’s only Week 2, it appearsthe Los Angeles Rams are already juggling the roster because of injury woes. Earlier in the week star edge Myles Garrett was placed on the Injured Reserve List and ruled out for a minimum of four weeks. This disappointing news was compounded by the Rams final injury report before their Monday Night Football tilt with the New York Football Giants.
L.A.’s WR#1, Puka Nacua is a game time decisionwith an ailing hip, safety Kamren Kinchens has been ruled out, and Jordan
Whittington, the Rams WR#3 and primary kick off returner, is designated as doubtful. Injuries in the NFL can unquestionably affect how a team performs, both offense and defense can feel the pain of individual players missing time, particularly when extended. How a team rallies around the replacements can make or break a season. The effect and rally extends to special teams as well.
If Kinchens and Whittington can’t go, that leaves big holes in the Rams return and coverage units. Kinchens was used on coverage units in Week 1, while Whittington did gunner duty on both punts and kick offs to go with his return work. If you factor in L.A.s three other nicked up starters, Kamren Curl, Nate Landman and Omar Speights who were limited all week in practice, the Rams could be missing 42 special teams reps that were there in Week 1.
Here’s last week’s special teams coverage/return snap counts and which unit they were accrued. I omitted the players with a single rep and did not list the field goal/extra point plays.
Shaun Dolac – 17 – KO RET, P COV, KO COV
Jaylen McCollough – 15 – KO RET, P COV, KO COV
Grant Stuard – 14 – KO RET, P COV, P RET, KO COV
Jordan Whittington – 13 – KO RET, P COV, P RET, KO COV
Xavier Smith – 11 – KO RET, P COV, P RET
Quentin Lake – 10 – P RET, KO COV
Tyler Higbee – 10 – KO RET, P COV
Omar Speights – 9 – KO RET, P COV
Davis Allen – 9 – KO RET
Josh Wallace – 8 – P COV
Poona Ford – 8 – P RET
Desjuan Johnson – 8 – P RET, KO COV
Tanner Ingle – 8 – KO RET, KO COV
Nate Landman – 7 – P COV, P RET
Braden Fiske – 7 – P RET
Terrance Ferguson – 6 – KO RET
Trent McDuffie – 6
Myles Garrett – 6
Kamren Kinchens – 6 – P COV, KO COV
Konata Mumpfield – 6 – KO RET
Ty Hamilton – 5
Tyler Davis – 3 – P RET
Emmanuel Forbes – 2 – P RET
Josiah Stewart – 2 – KO COV
Wesley Bailey – 2 – KO COV
Why special teams are important
Last season the Rams special teams unit was arguably one of the worst in the NFL. It’s not good policy to lay losses on play in a game, but a good argument could be made that special teams play had a big hand in at least three losses. As such, the L.A. braintrust fired coordinator Chase Blackburn late in the season and assistant Ben Kotwica at season’s end. Bubba Ventrone was hired to fill the void and he brought along his assistant from the Cleveland Browns, Kyle Hoke.
Week 1 of 2026 was not exactly a Rams special teams renaissance. The specialists, Ethan Evans, Harrison Meevis, and Joe Cardona all did well and there was a glimpse of hope in the punt return game when L.A. double- teamed one of the opposing gunners, but overall, coverage and kickoff returns left fans wanting. Allowing an acceptable 17 yards on two returns was marred by 13 coming on one of them, but 37 yards per kickoff long term is a recipe for disaster. Although Xavier Smith got a bit of room and returned his only punt for 11 yards, the kickoff returns, and there were a few, only went for an average of 23,8 yards.
The Rams have had a penchant for giving their special teams the short shrift under the Sean McVay regime. It seems he prefers a conservative approach and has little taste for returns, either for or against. He often seems content for a fair catch and to get right into the offense. Until the NFL changed the rules, Rams kickoffs could invariably be expected to traverse through the end zone without a return.
Changing the coaching guard is only part of improving overall play. Teaching lane/angle discipline is important, but players with the proper skillsets must be added. The simplest path? Identify players who are athletic and are adept at tackling in space or running in the open field. In today’s NFL, explosive plays are key and can lead to points, flipping the field, and creating emotion/momentum.
Not just on offense and defense, special teams as well.
