Stephon Gilmore
Getty
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
Cornerback Akhello Witherspoon has been placed on injured reserve after he fractured his clavicle in the Week 2 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Witherspoon’s injury thins out the CB room even more for the Los Angeles Rams.
Head coach Sean McVay believes the cornerback won’t require surgery, with a timeline of around 12 weeks. If the Rams were to make the playoffs, Witherspoon can likely make his return to the field.
McVay said that he believes in the players on the roster and practice squad, but mentioned that the team has a plan about bringing someone in.
Rams Wire Tyler Greenawalt created a shortlist of cornerbacks that Los Angeles to consider acquiring, including former 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore.
“Gilmore is about to turn 35 and was last on the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. The former 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler said in the offseason he wanted to sign with a team he felt would be the ‘right’ situation for him. Would the Rams qualify? Likely only if he’d be considered a starter on this defense. Which is a big maybe at this point,” Greenawalt wrote.
“Gilmore is the most established cornerback in free agency with 32 interceptions, 149 defended passes and 617 combined tackles in 180 games over 13 seasons. He was OK in 2024… but showed signs of his age as well. Gilmore would also be the oldest cornerback on the Rams if he joined L.A.”
What Stephon Gilmore Brings To LA
Stephon Gilmore
GettyFree agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore
While Stephon Gilmore isn’t the player he once was, he would bring valuable experience to the cornerback room.
Gilmore played in 15 games for the Vikings last season, starting in all of them. In those games, the former DPOY recorded 9 pass deflections and 1 interception. He recorded 56 tackles for the Vikings in the 24-25 season.
The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback would enter his 14th year in the NFL if he were to sign with the Los Angeles Rams. Gilmore would be the only Pro Bowl player in the secondary if he were to join the team.
Just two seasons ago, Gilmore logged 13 pass deflections for the Dallas Cowboys alongside 68 tackles, the highest in his career.
Gilmore has shown that he could still hang in the league despite being an older player. If the Rams were to give him an opportunity, he could show that age is just a number in the NFL.
McVay Has Confidence In Roster
Cobie Durant, Los Angeles Rams
GettyCobie Durant #14 of the Los Angeles Rams
With Ahkello Witherspoon going down, Sean McVay said that the defense will have a main rotation of three cornerbacks.
The Rams head coach said Darious Williams, Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes will be a benefit to the team after Ahkello’s injury.
The defense was able to hold Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward under 200 yards in the Week 2 matchup after Witherspoon was injured in the second quarter.
If Stephon Gilmore were to sign with Los Angeles, he could help develop the young players on the roster for the future. His presence on the field can deter some quarterbacks away if he were to play as his DPOY season.
The season is only entering its third game, but the Rams need someone who will be available for the duration of the season.