No matter how much or little experience a player has, Sean McVay is willing to keep any and all key contributors out of preseason action if he feels it’s best for the team. He’s gotten even more cautious in recent years, holding rookies Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Blake Corum out of action in Sunday’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Sixth-round rookie Jordan Whittington could be the next player to get the veteran treatment this preseason. Whittington has been a breakout star in practice and shined in the Rams’ win over the Cowboys when he caught six passes for 74 yards, most of which came in the first half alone.
McVay said after the game that Whittington is “going to be a factor” for the Rams, so it’s possible the coach will want to keep his talented young receiver out of harm’s way this preseason.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was asked Wednesday if the Rams will consider limiting Whittington’s snaps in the next two exhibition games and he wouldn’t rule it out.
“That’s still conversations we’re going to have because as valuable as the preseason is in those games when it’s real and coaches are off the field, these practices are equally as important to us because we’re trying some things,” LaFleur said. “There’s more movement and stuff like that that’s more like our offense. All those discussions will always be fluid. It can change day to day. It can change based on who’s available, who’s not available. We’ll keep it going from there.”
Highest Graded Rookie WR from Preseason Week 1:
🔵 Jordan Whittington, LAR: 84.8@TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/UpOfegBRxe
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 12, 2024
Whittington is a physical player, similar to the way Puka Nacua is. And while he’s not expected to have the significant role that Nacua had as a rookie last year, Whittington is essentially a lock to make the team.
LaFleur noted that Whittington still has “a long way to go,” but he loves what he’s seen from the rookie receiver so far.
“Jordan Whittington is a guy that from high school being a wildcat quarterback having just a million yards in a state championship game to what he did in college with a really loaded roster, then to what we’ve seen since he’s been here, we felt pretty confident that when the pads got on and it was real football, he was going to be an even bigger problem,” LaFleur said. “I think that showed. He has a long way to go. He’s a kid that’s really confident and his teammates are pretty confident in him as well.”
The Rams visit the Chargers on Saturday night and the Texans the following week to wrap up the preseason, so we’ll soon know whether Whittington’s snaps will be limited before the final roster is set.
