After wild week, Rams get some players and normality back

The Rams came home from a triumphant trip to Arizona on Monday night knowing five players were sidelined by COVID-19 but not realizing how much crazier their world was about to get.

Defensive lineman Greg Gaines found out when he showed up at the Rams’ training facility in Thousand Oaks Tuesday morning to get treatment on an injured hand.

“Somebody stopped me at the gate and was like, ‘What are you doing here?’ ” Gaines said Saturday. “I was like, ‘Getting treatment. What do you mean?’ ‘The whole building’s shut down.’ Like the Apocalypse was happening or something.”

In the next three days, the Rams’ COVID-19 reserve list would grow to 29 players and their game against the Seattle Seahawks scheduled for Sunday was postponed to Tuesday night at 4 p.m. at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s crazy,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said, summing up the week.

Saturday brought signs of normality for the Rams, one of several NFL teams hit hard by the coronavirus as the Omicron variant brings world-wide surges in cases.

The Rams returned to their facility and went through a jog-through practice, their first time on the field since before their 30-23 victory over the Cardinals. They held meetings on Zoom for the fourth day in a row. A full practice Sunday and jog-through Monday are expected.

The team was able to bring six players off the COVID-19 reserve list, among them wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and running back Darrell Henderson, but had to add offensive lineman Joe Noteboom and defensive back Robert Rochell to the list.

Those moves shortened the Rams’ COVID-19 reserve list from 29 players to 25.

But with six regular starters still on the list, making their availability for Tuesday night uncertain, practicing and writing a game plan weren’t easy.

Coach Sean McVay refused to say if he or any members of his staff have tested positive for COVID-19, and the Rams said the status of coaches would be announced Monday.

“It’s a fluid situation,” Stafford said Saturday, the first time in four days that players or McVay spoke with reporters. “It might change — for the positive or the negative.”

McVay said he’s making a plan that includes the players he thinks he knows he’ll have, while monitoring the chances of others returning.

He praised players’ response to the situation, and said he didn’t think the outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests was the result of any “reckless” behavior.

“I couldn’t be more pleased and proud of how these guys have handled a very uncertain last couple of days,” McVay said.

Part of that uncertainty was players’ worry that they might be next to test positive.

“We’ve all, I’m sure, been stressing about it. Every day we go into the tent (for testing), I’m like, ‘Oh, man, please don’t be me,’ ” Gaines said. “Because if I get it now, I’m going to miss a game, maybe two games.”

Activated from the list Saturday, after they submitted the required negative tests, were Beckham, Henderson, tight end Brycen Hopkins, tackle Alaric Jackson, linebacker Justin Hollins and cornerback Dont’e Deayon.

The six regular starters remaining on the COVID-19 reserve list were tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein, linebackers Von Miller and Troy Reeder, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safety Jordan Fuller.

Fifteen members of the 53-man roster were on the list and remained in jeopardy of missing Tuesday night’s game.

For reinforcements, the Rams activated practice-squad wide receiver Brandon Powell — who had been up temporarily and returning kickoffs — and linebacker Anthony Hines.

They shored up the practice squad by acquiring eight players, including insurance on special teams in kicker Ryan Santoso and long snapper Carson Tinker.

As of Saturday, the Rams were missing the most players from the defensive secondary and the offensive line.

If Havenstein, Noteboom and Bobby Evans remained on the COVID-19 list, the Rams would be without an experienced right tackle, and would have to use rookie Alaric Jackson at that position or move over one of their guards.

Stafford said he wasn’t worried about the quality of his blocking.

“As long as I don’t have to play (tackle),” he said, “I think we’ll be good.”

NOTES

Sean McVay said defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who banged a knee in the Cardinals game, is “feeling good.” The Rams’ injury report listed Donald as limited in practice Saturday. … Greg Gaines said his hand injury isn’t serious. Gaines and center Brian Allen (knee) were listed as full participants in practice. … Others signed to the Rams practice squad Saturday were tight end Kyle Markway — who was on the roster in training camp — tackle Adrian Ealy, centers Drake Jackson and Austin Reiter, and defensive backs Damarious Randal and Delrick Abrams.