The Los Angeles Rams' injured reserve list is piling up by the second. Even after activating Myles Garrett and Ronnie Rivers, they still have 10 players currently on IR, with Puka Nacua likely to join them soon.
NFL rules limit teams to only eight return designations per season, with an extra two being granted if you make the playoffs. Los Angeles has already activated three players from IR, meaning there are only five spots remaining in the regular season.
With the way things are shaping up, the Rams will struggle to bring back everyone they'd like to activate from IR. Here's a breakdown of where the Rams' injured reserve situation stands with eight games left in the season.
Already returned from IR (3)
- OL Keagen Trost
- OLB Myles Garrett
- RB Ronnie Rivers
The Rams activated Trost in Week 6 after he was placed on IR before the
season began, making him the first player to return from the list this year.
In Week 9, they designated Garrett, Ferguson and Rivers to return, but only Garrett and Rivers were activated. That brought the total up to three IR activations. Garrett was an obvious one to bring back, and the Rams needed another running back after losing Dean Connors to a broken hand.
On injured reserve and likely to return (3)
- WR Davante Adams
- DT Kobie Turner
- TE Terrance Ferguson
Here's where things get really tricky. The Rams expect both Adams and Turner to return sometime after the bye, which will be big lifts for the offense and defense, respectively. Ferguson was slated to return last week but he pulled his hamstring in the final practice and now has just over two weeks left to be activated.
McVay said the Rams hope to avoid keeping him on IR all season, but he couldn't rule it out. Ferguson is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with that hamstring strain and will presumably be back when healthy.
On injured reserve but may not return (2)
- OL Justin Dedich
- RB Dean Connors
Dedich should be healthy enough to play, but the Rams haven't designated him to return, and at this point, it seems unlikely that they will bring him back unless they're desperate. The same goes for Connors, especially now that Rivers is back.
Could go on injured reserve (3)
- WR Puka Nacua
- OL Steve Avila
- WR Jordan Whittington
On Monday, McVay said the Rams would likely put Nacua on injured reserve, and he also added that Whittington is a candidate to go on IR with his back issue.
Obviously, if Nacua goes on IR, the Rams will activate him once ready, but the same can't be said for Whittington.
When it comes to Avila, he's expected to miss some time, but McVay said the Rams may not be able to put him on IR because they won't have enough return spots left to be able to activate him once he's ready. But it sounds like if they didn't have so many injuries piling up, he would've been a candidate for IR.
Out for the year (3)
- NT Poona Ford
- CB Jaylen Watson
- K Blake Grupe
These players are currently on IR with season-ending injuries. Ford tore his triceps, Watson underwent shoulder surgery and Grupe tore his ACL.
None of them will be back this season.
Recap
As you can see, the Rams are already right up against the eight-player limit when it comes to return designations. They've already used three and have four players who will unquestionably be activated when healthy. They could put Avila on IR to make it eight, but then if someone else gets hurt, they won't be able to bring them back. The same goes for Whittington, who may not return if he's placed on IR simply due to the number of players who will need to be activated.
Here are the seven players who have either already returned or are guaranteed to be activated if healthy.
- OL Keagen Trost
- OLB Myles Garrett
- RB Ronnie Rivers
- WR Davante Adams
- DT Kobie Turner
- TE Terrance Ferguson
- WR Puka Nacua
That leaves Avila and Whittington in limbo, and it could rule Dedich and Connors out for the year, too. It's a tricky situation to navigate, and it's clear as to why McVay would prefer not to put Avila on injured reserve. That would essentially handcuff the Rams for the rest of the year and prevent anyone else from returning.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Breaking down Rams' IR predicament: LA running out of return spots
