The Los Angeles Rams announced they designated safety John Johnson III to return from injured reserve and signed running back Royce Freeman to their practice squad.
In corresponding moves, the Rams placed running back Blake Corum on the reserve/injured list and terminated safety Quidell Johnson from the practice squad.
Johnson’s designation to return is the first of three that Los Angeles is eligible to use in the playoffs. The Rams had one more leftover from the 2024 season and gained two more return designations once they qualified for the playoffs.
Johnson has been out since Week 2 after suffering a shoulder injury in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson’s absence allowed players like Kamren Kinchens to play more snaps, though now defensive coordinator Chris Shula will have both safeties available for their Wild Card matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Meanwhile, Freeman is a familiar face for Los Angeles as he previously played for the organization during the 2023 campaign. Freeman originally began that season on the practice squad, but appeared in 14 regular season games where he recorded 319 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 77 carries.
While Freeman can be called up to the active roster, he will likely serve as the Rams’ third-string running back behind starter Kyren Williams and backup Ronnie Rivers. Williams has handled the bulk of carries out of the backfield this season, while Rivers showed he can be a reliable player to spell him after his Week 18 performance against the Seattle Seahawks.
Corum will be out of the remainder of the playoffs due to a fractured forearm, a disappointing end to the rookie’s season.
Between the two veterans, Johnson is in line for more snaps given his experience and role in the secondary as one of its leaders. However, both Quentin Lake and Kinchens have become key players for the defense, as have Kamren Curl and Jaylen McCollough, and it’ll be hard for Shula to take them off the field.
Meanwhile, Williams should once again be the primary option in the backfield on most downs though Rivers and potentially Freeman can spell him for a series or two.
The most important thing is that the Rams will enter the postseason mostly healthy and that’s all the organization can ask for.
Sean McVay expects Rob Havenstein to play against Vikings
Not only has Johnson missed time, but Rob Havenstein’s also been forced to miss six games this season. Fortunately, head coach Sean McVay said Havenstein is expected to play against Minnesota.
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