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By: Steve Rebeiro | 3 hours ago
It comes as no surprise that the Rams don’t plan on playing their starters this preseason. It does come as a mild surprise that WR Josh Reynolds seems to be included in this group.
The third-year wideout was called upon when the Rams lost Cooper Kupp for the season midway through the 2018 season. Reynolds quickly became a reliable target for Jared Goff and made some big plays for the team down the stretch. With Kupp back in action and Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks firmly ahead of Reynolds on the depth chart, it seemed likely that Reynolds would have reverted back into a reserve role.
The Rams, however, do not seem to share this sentiment.
“I think he’s really taken a huge step from April to now, just with the way he’s been playing and the standard he holds himself to,” Goff said about the improvements he’s seen from Reynolds since last season. “When you’re in the room with those three guys that are starters, with Robert, Brandin and Cooper, you have to be at that standard and I think Josh understands that. Josh easily fills in does everything that they can do and he knows that. I have just as much faith and trust in him as I do the other three, so he’s a fourth starter for us. I know we’ve mentioned that. Truly a fourth starter and a guy that we can put in there at any position and anytime, and does a great job. Just seeing him progress over the last year has been awesome. like I said, I have so much faith in him now.”
“Fourth starter” is not a term often used to describe an NFL wide receiver, but it certainly feels apt here. Reynolds has yet to play a snap in this preseason. When the Rams hold guys out of the preseason, it’s usually players that will both have a big role and have proved they don’t need the work. Even expected starter Micah Kiser and veteran quarterback Blake Bortles were forced to suit up this preseason.
“I thought Josh Reynolds has been outstanding,” Sean McVay said after a joint-practice with the Chargers earlier this month. When he got a chance to step in last year, he became a big-time starting receiver for us. That’s kind of how we look at it. He seamlessly can play both outside positions as he continues to gain ownership of the offense.”
Based on what Goff and McVay have said about Reynolds, it sounds like there are plans to use him in this offense. The bigger question is how much will they use him? The Rams were not much for spelling starters on offense last season. Woods, Cooks, Kupp, and Todd Gurley did not come off the field much. After Kupp went down, the same was true for Reynolds. Tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee split time, but the Rams almost always ran a three wide receiver, one running back and one tight end set with mostly the same players – 11 personnel, as it’s called.
It seems like this will change heading in 2019. The Rams offense stagnated after the bye week last year. Teams were finally able to figure out the offense a little bit. The addition of C.J. Anderson reignited the offense for the playoff run, but they were once again shut down in the Super Bowl. Expect the Rams to mix it up given the emergence of Reynolds and the injury history of Gurley and Kupp.
Reynolds is, and will likely remain, the WR4 in Los Angeles. That doesn’t mean he won’t be playing. He’s going to get his chances to shine, and if last season was any indication, he’s going to take the ball and run with it. Goff said it best: he’s the fourth starter.
Jared Goff: Josh Reynolds is 'truly a fourth starter' at WR
Josh Reynolds hasn’t appeared in a preseason game this season despite being the team’s fourth wide receiver.
theramswire.usatoday.com
While a big fan of Reynolds, I can't help from feeling he is the Rams best example of trade bait. He's likely to have many fewer snaps this season with a healthy Cooper Kupp returning, and with what appears like quality potential back-ups in Thomas, Hodge, Webster & Lloyd waiting in the wings, no telling what Snead might get back in trade ... jmo.
