Rams Place Puka Nacua, Steve Avila & Joe Noteboom On IR; Sign Ahkello Witherspoon & Others

The Los Angeles Rams officially placed wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee), offensive lineman Steve Avila (knee) and offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (ankle) on injured reserve.

The trio will miss a minimum of four games as a result, including matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

In addition to those three roster moves, the Rams signed offensive linemen Geron Christian and Dylan McMahon to the active roster. Offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon were signed to the practice squad as well.

To make room for Nsekhe and Witherspoon on the practice squad, the Rams also released safety Jason Taylor II and offensive lineman Blake Larson.

LA Rams Roster Moves:
• Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad OL Blake Larson, S Jason Taylor II
• Signed Practice Squad Veteran OL Ty Nsekhe pic.twitter.com/oPF14GN24P

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 10, 2024

LA Rams Roster Moves:
• Reserve/Injured OL Steve Avila, WR Puka Nacua, OL Joe Noteboom
• Free Agent Signing OL Geron Christian, OL Dylan McMahon
• Signed Practice Squad Veteran DB Ahkello Witherspoon pic.twitter.com/ddrNvfNHB2

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 11, 2024

The Rams signed McMahon off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad and are now required to keep him on their active roster for a minimum of three weeks.

McMahon was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and gives the team some depth at center. Beaux Limmer will be stepping in for Avila as the starter at the position.

Christian most recently was with the Tennessee Titans and last played in a game for the Cleveland Browns last season. Nsekhe also played on the Browns last year, which followed a brief stint with the Rams in 2022.

Nsekhe and Christian provide depth on the offensive with Alaric Jackson still serving a two-game suspension and Rob Havenstein battling a knee injury. Either of the two could step in for the injured Noteboom on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Witherspoon is back with the Rams after leading the team with three interceptions last season. He gives the team some depth at cornerback with Cobie Durant nursing a toe injury and Darious Williams on injured reserve.

Rams release Jason Taylor II & Blake Larson

Taylor was a seventh-round pick in 2023 but spent the majority of the season on injured reserve and never played in a game with the Rams. Larson was signed as an undrafted rookie during the offseason and did not make the team’s 53-man roster.