It looks like the Los Angeles Rams are playing a bit of a chess game with their roster, especially when it comes to undrafted rookie Willie Lampkin. After suffering a knee and ankle injury during the second preseason game, the team decided to waive him with an injury designation. Now, this might sound like bad news for the young offensive lineman, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Lampkin, who really shined in the preseason opener, got sidelined for a few weeks due to this injury. The Rams, instead of putting him on the 53-man roster right away, used this ‘waived/injured’ tag. What does that even mean? Well, if no other team claims him off waivers, he can then revert to the Rams’ injured reserve list. This keeps him in Los Angeles, which is a pretty good sign they still see a future for him.
There’s also the possibility of an injury settlement. If that happens, Lampkin gets compensated for the time he’s expected to miss, and then he becomes a free agent. He could sign with any team, but honestly, given how well he played and the Rams’ apparent interest, staying put seems like the smarter move. It’s not like his injury is career-ending; it’s just a ‘few weeks’ kind of thing, according to coach Sean McVay.
This whole situation hints that the Rams have plans for Lampkin. They need young talent on the offensive line, especially with some of their starters getting a bit older. Lampkin, at just 23, has a lot of potential and has already caught the eye of analysts like Brian Baldinger. So, while it seems like a setback, it could just be a strategic move by the Rams to keep a promising player in their system. It’s a bit of a gamble, but hey, that’s football, right? For more details on the waiver process, you can check out this article on The Rams Wire. You can also find more information on his injury status at FantasyPros and insights into McVay’s comments on Ramblin’ Fan.