Ram Have Health Issue With LT Andrew Whitworth
January 19th, 2022
Wounded Rams LT Andrew Whitworth.
The Bucs are terribly banged up on the offensive line with potentially 2/3 of their three Pro Bowlers potentially not playing Sunday against the Rams. This has Joe scared to death, given the pass rushers the Rams have.
But it’s not like the Rams are healthy up front on their offense either.
In Monday night’s wild card game against the Cardinals, former All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth was injured and couldn’t take the field in the second half. The blowout was already on, so it wasn’t like Whitworth was terribly missed.
It seems Whitworth suffered an ankle and a knee injury, and Rams coach Sean McVay in his day-after presser said Whitworth is day-to-day, types Rams in-house reporter Stu Jackson (Stu Jackson? Didn’t he coach hoops at Ohio State?).
Whitworth sustained his ankle injury on the Rams’ first offensive snap. While he was initially replaced by Joe Noteboom at left tackle on that drive, he returned for the second offensive series and played the remainder of the first half before ultimately being shut down coming out of halftime.
On Tuesday, McVay said Whitworth got both his ankle and his knee “rolled up on,” and that they were still awaiting the results of a scan Whitworth was getting today.
If Whitworth cannot play, Joe hopes Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, in-between head coaching interviews this week, can find the time to devise a scheme or blitzes to expose a backup left tackle.
The last time the Bucs played such an important game when their opponent started a backup offensive lineman things turned out OK, right Gracie Hunt?
January 19th, 2022 at 5:23 am
The Bucs backup OL players did well last year when called upon. I hope they are not needed, but let’s look at the mitigation of that. Yes, the choking Aaron Donald and Von Miller are coming, and Brady is not very mobile. However, he’s got a quick release with deadly accuracy, and there is also Bernard and hopefully, Fornette to help with blocking and checkdowns. Donald has played Wirfs twice, but he doesn’t know the serviceable backups. The Bucs have an outstanding offense going against an outstanding defense, so let the battle begin!
January 19th, 2022 at 5:53 am
Has any other team sustained more injuries to key players this season than the Bucs?? The whole season seems to have been about injuries. That’s been the constant focus/worry every week. Kind of takes the joy out of the game. I’m shocked with all the modern technology we have that powers that be can’t make protective gear for these players that prevent most of these injuries.
January 19th, 2022 at 5:55 am
Jensen will gut it out and play most likely IMO. Wires may be back for the Super Bowl with a high ankle sprain.
No I’m not a doctor and don’t have access to their medical records. Just basing this off of experience of other players returning with similar injuries.
January 19th, 2022 at 6:01 am
We can beat the Rams…PERIOD. There really are no caveats, IMO.
There are ways to diminish the Rams DL. It requires game-planning and coaching. Screens, traps, and quick passing can de-fang their pass rush. What will get us in trouble is a reliance on downfield passing.
The Rams are not 100% either. Consider they signed Weddle off the streets mere days before playing the Cards. They have weaknesses too.
Coaching, coaching, coaching! We WILL beat these guys at home!
January 19th, 2022 at 6:05 am
This team is built to overcome injuries and still play at a high level. I remember
many games that past Bucs teams failed to overcome the loss of one key player.
But if O line is missing both our starting O lineman, that will be a huge challenge.
Rams have also made late improvements to their roster with Von Miller and OBJ
added.
January 19th, 2022 at 6:10 am
damn he looks like thanos
January 19th, 2022 at 6:59 am
I’m not big on Bowles going on job interviews all over the country the week of the biggest game of the year.
Just seems wrong to me.
January 19th, 2022 at 7:20 am
I’m not some p#zzy azz KC fan that will be crying about a loss due to injuries. Think of how injured we have been and we got 13-4, 8-1 home, two seed. Whoever plays the best game wins and we know this is the GOAT crunch time in January.
January 19th, 2022 at 7:38 am
We need to Execute! 1st game we played them ball hit Dean couldn’t intercept, ball hit gronk on a big 3rd down couldn’t squeeze it , there was a fumble we didn’t recover all in the 1st quarter. We NEed to execute! Win the line of scrimmage gG see y’all Sunday
January 19th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Yep… and the owner’s are within reach of 18 regular season games, and just expanded the playoff season. Just when the fans and players get to meaningful games
January 19th, 2022 at 8:14 am
Pretty sure the OC and DC are not traveling for interviews. Zoom!
January 19th, 2022 at 8:54 am
Playing at home, in the day favors the Bucs. The noise advantage favors the Bucs. The fans have to be loud to disrupt the Rams plays. I think if the Bucs limit chunk plays they have the personel to defend the Rams.
Offensively, the Bucs have not matched up well vs the Rams, only scored 24 points vs their defense the past 2 times they met. That has to change Sunday. They need to play ball control and take their shots off play action. Brady loves the shotgun but if the right side of the Bucs offensive line can’t control the pass rush they are going to have to run the ball to that side.
I noticed vs the Eagles they were running the ball to the left side. If the Rams are breaking down Wirfs side, they have to run the ball there an screen to that area. They cannot let Brady get sacked like they did vs the Eagles. I don’t want him touched, no matter how much it takes away the big plays they like to try and hit.
January 19th, 2022 at 9:57 am
I am not scared to death by our line problems. We have a great gob of good O-line coaches. They will shuffle the deck a few time, and hopefully screw with the Rams D-line.
Rams don’t have as much O-line depth, and Vita and Suh probably give them worse nightmares than Donald does us.
January 19th, 2022 at 10:22 am
Injuries like kc had fed to bucs strengths same potential for this game . Bowles needs to come up huge too bad hes interviewing . at least bucs played rams earlier that may help with preparation. If they were smart they wouldve started preparing for rams on sunday night
January 19th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Only 3 games left of an extended season. This game has always been about attrition. This roster was stacked, and injuries at most positions were likely to result in speculation that there is not enough talent to carry the team to the championship. This isnt the Lost Decade Bucs. They play hard, and 14 times this season they didnt beat themselves. It is not hubris to expect this team to win on Sunday, because we know and understand what losing football looks like, and this team doesnt play it.
January 19th, 2022 at 11:29 am
Saw Whitworth play when I lived in Cincy. A great LT even at his age still going strong. Rams would really miss him if he can’t go. IMHO he is going to the hall of fame.
January 19th, 2022 at 11:31 am
Whitworth was out last time we played and I didn’t make a difference.
January 19th, 2022 at 11:31 am
*it didn’t make a difference
January 19th, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Joe, maybe you should just try asking Gracie out already…. 😂
January 19th, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Bowles is travelling to 2 interviews this week? Thats a lot of time guys. Excited about his future. But not about taking time away from the Defense. This will be a game where our Defense needs to play its very best game of the year for us to win.
January 20th, 2022 at 3:02 am
Is NFL doing anything about Aaron Donald? Im scared we will have one less player for the next game if he plays. He is violent and dangerous.
January 20th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Well the Rams D coordinator is also interviewing for HC jobs this week smh i hate it as well! And u guys had extra time to prepare and rest as the Rams had to play on Monday night! So Rams are on a short week and i think that is some BS in the playoffs!! Thanks NFL!
But my Rams have owned brady and the bucs so I’m pretty confident about this game! But we are very banged up as well with injuries! Go Rams!!!