The Los Angeles Rams have elevated one player, which may point to a major issue on the defense for their Monday Night Football matchup.
The Los Angeles Rams have elevated a single player for their Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants.
That player is inside linebacker Elias Neal. While bringing in more depth is always a good move, this could point to a bigger issue for the Los Angeles defense.
There are multiple players who have not yet given the green light to play, two of whom are in the linebacker room. Both Omar Speights and Nate Landman are dealing with injuries, but both do not have any injury status for the game.
Speights was limited to two practice days due to a hip injury, but was elevated in the third and final injury report that was revealed on Saturday. It could be that he may have experienced a setback and is not available against the Giants.
A bigger concern is with Landman, who was limited all week in practice due to a shoulder injury. He was also given no injury status for the game, but that does not mean he has not run into trouble.
The Rams have yet to release their inactive list, which will tell the full story. Should Speights or Landman have been injured or cannot make the game, that would mean that Neal would come in as depth.
Currently, Shaun Dolac and Grant Stuard are the two backup options for Speights and Landman, and both would presumably step in if the starters cannot play. That would then make Neal their direct backup.
Los Angeles may have some strong linebackers, but their depth remains a big concern. Should anything happen to Landman or Speights, and then to Stuard or Dolac, the defense would be in some big trouble.
That said, everything does appear to be fine for now, and the Rams will determine which players cannot make it on the field with their inactive list.
Additional Rams in Danger of Missing Week 2
One of the other major key players who still needs to receive the go-ahead to take the field is wide receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua is dealing with a hip injury that has been connected to the psoas injury that he dealt with prior to Week 1.
Nacua missed the final two days of practice and is questionable to play against the Giants.
Should the Rams not be able to utilize Nacua, it would be a major hit to the offense.
Fellow receiver Jordan Whittingon is also doubtful due to a quad injury.
Losing both would put a huge damper on the receiving room.
