The Los Angeles Rams’ wide receiver room is thin, and Sean McVay has noticed that one of his assistant coaches still looks the part.
McVay told reporters Wednesday he has talked to assistant wide receivers coach Robert Woods about coming out of retirement, but knows it wouldn't be possible for the former receiver to suit up for the Rams again.
“I’ve looked at him and the way that he looks out there, I’ve definitely been tempted [to see if he can play],” McVay said. “I think that’d be a violation of the CBA, or I don’t know what he’d have to do, but he looks damn good. He still is smooth out there, so very tempting.”
The Rams need the help. Puka Nacua is expected to miss significant time, while Davante Adams and Jordan Whittington are on injured
reserve. Los Angeles will lean on Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, Xavier Smith and sixth-round rookie CJ Daniels.
Woods, 33, retired in February after signing a one-day contract with the team, then joined the staff as a coach. He spent 2017-21 with the Rams, catching 367 passes for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns in 68 games. He went on to play for the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans after he left Los Angeles.
McVay’s assumption about violating the NFL's CBA is warranted. In 2020, the Broncos wanted offensive quality control coach Rob Calabrese to start at quarterback after their quarterbacks were sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the league denied the request, per ESPN. Sources said the NFL doesn’t want coaching staffs to become storage areas for potential players.
Coincidentally, Calabrese is now McVay’s wide receivers coach.
So, with the dream of Woods returning to the lineup effectively over, the Rams will have to make do with their current crop of receivers until their starters get healthy.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay 'tempted' to ask WR Robert Woods to unretire for Rams
