As he did in 2017 and 2023, Sean McVay has decided to play it safe in the season finale. With the NFC West clinched and no chance to earn a first-round bye, McVay is going to rest some of his starters in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
He announced on Wednesday that Matthew Stafford won’t play this week and that Jimmy Garoppolo will start, but he added to the list of resting starters during Friday’s media session. He told reporters that Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Kevin Dotson and Alaric Jackson will also sit out the season finale.
Joe Noteboom is going to start at left tackle and Jonah Jackson will start at right guard. It could be Warren McClendon Jr. at right tackle with Rob Havenstein out due to a shoulder injury.
Sean McVay said Rob Havenstein (shoulder) will be out for Sunday’s game vs. Seahawks.
Rams will sit Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, Kevin Dotson and Alaric Jackson. (McVay already said Matthew Stafford is resting).
Noteboom starting at LT, Jonah Jackson RG
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 3, 2025
Blake Corum will get a bigger workload as the starting running back, and Jordan Whittington will presumably get more opportunities as one of the starting receivers.
McVay didn’t reveal the plan on defense, but it’s likely that at least a handful of starters will need to play out of necessity because of the limited roster size.
