When Eric Weddle retired after the 2019 season, he said he knew he would have been the odd man out in the Rams’ safety corps of the future and wasn’t interested in being a backup.
Being an emergency replacement is more appealing.
Weddle agreed Wednesday to make a comeback with the Rams for the upcoming playoffs, his agent David Canter announced on Twitter and a team source confirmed.
The move came two days after the Rams lost one and maybe both of their starting safeties, with Jordan Fuller declared out for the season with an ankle injury and Taylor Rapp entering the NFL’s concussion protocol.
It remains to be seen what Weddle, who turned 37 on Jan. 4 and last played Dec. 29, 2019, will contribute when the Rams (12-5) open the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals (11-6) on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
But it’s not hard to imagine the famously intense athlete from Alta Loma High (Rancho Cucamonga) and the University of Utah having stayed in playing shape the past two years.
The Rams didn’t schedule media access to coaches, players or activity at their training facility Wednesday.
In a conference call with Rams beat writers, though, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury reacted to Weddle’s return in a tone of surprise.
“He must be living a lot healthier lifestyle than I would if I retired after a career like that,” Kingsbury said. “He was a fantastic player a couple years ago. All-Pro, Pro Bowl, one of the smartest defensive players that anybody ever speaks about.
“If anybody can do it, there’s no doubt he can.”
In nine seasons with the Chargers and three with the Baltimore Ravens, Weddle was named first-team All-Pro twice and a Pro Bowler six times, and led the NFL in interceptions with seven in 2011.
Weddle signed a two-year contract with the Rams as a free agent in 2019, hoping to help the team repeat as NFC champions and get to his first Super Bowl, while playing close to his San Bernardino County roots and his family’s San Diego home.
He made an impact as an irrepressible veteran voice in a young secondary, steadying the unit through injuries and the mid-season arrival of Jalen Ramsey and departures of Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, and helped to groom the rookie Rapp to be his replacement.
But those intangibles were his biggest assets. Although his 108 tackles were second on the Rams, Weddle finished the season without an interception or a role in any fumbles. The Rams missed the playoffs for the only time in coach Sean McVay’s five seasons.
After Weddle retired Feb. 6, 2020, with a year to go on his contract, Rapp and John Johnson led the safeties in 2020. Then Johnson left as a free agent before this season, and Fuller stepped in to his position and role as a captain and defensive signal-caller.
“They lost a Pro Bowl safety (Johnson) to free agency last year, and I thought he stepped in and really filled the void for them,” Kingsbury said of Fuller. “I’ve been really impressed with his development.”
The Cardinals’ offense recorded its second- and third-highest yardage of the season against the Rams, 465 yards in Arizona’s 37-20 victory at SoFi Stadium in Week 4 and 447 in L.A.’s 30-23 victory at State Farm Stadium in Week 14. The Cardinals haven’t been the same since wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tore an MCL in the second meeting with the Rams. Hopkins won’t play Monday, Kingsbury said.
But the Rams’ defense has wider injury problems.
In addition to Fuller and Rapp, cornerback Darious Williams came out of Sunday’s 27-14 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a shoulder injury that McVay said was being evaluated.
Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess were next on the safeties depth chart.
Until Wednesday.
Ramsey reacted to Weddle’s return to action with a Twitter message showing the two in uniform in 2019 and reading: “My brother forreal! let’s get it Edub.”
My brother forreal let’s get it EDub pic.twitter.com/Y1CSwxRTbg
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) January 12, 2022