Rapoport: Whitworth expected to return

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
LT Andrew Whitworth reportedly expected to re-sign with the Rams. Doing so would make sense for the Rams. GM Les Snead said Joe Noteboom was slated to eventually replace Whitworth, but Noteboom’s ACL injury complicated that plan. Rookie Bobby Evans also projects as a LT, so bringing Whit back would afford them time to continue evaluating both.

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from https://www.therams.com/news/one-of-the-rams-top-offseason-priorities-addressing-the-left-tackle-position

When asked to define the ideal left tackle – or a left tackle in their prime – Snead described a scenario in which a team has drafted that player, and that player has gained experience and learned from “hiccups” along the way in order to become more consistent and trustworthy. They are young enough that they can hold their own against some of the league’s most skilled pass-rushers, but also have gained enough knowledge to lean on from losing some of those one-on-one battles.

The ideal left tackle, then, could already be on the Rams’ roster in the form of Noteboom or Evans. However, given his and Evans’ small sample size for evaluation, even with with some of their preseason cross-training along the offensive line, Los Angeles could need Whitworth again to allow for another year of grooming to meet the criteria outlined by Snead.

Rams’ Andrew Whitworth reportedly will put off retirement for another NFL season

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rams-andrew-whitworth-reportedly-will-put-off-retirement-for-another-nfl-season/

Andrew Whitworth is not going to retire just yet. On Tuesday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the veteran offensive lineman is “putting off retirement another year” and is expected to return for the 2020 season, his 15th in the NFL. The 38-year-old lineman is reportedly “feeling great” after having offseason surgery to clean out his left ankle.

Rapoport added there is confidence Whitworth and the Rams will be able to come to terms on a new contract. Whitworth is slated to become a free agent on March 18 after he completed his three-year, $33,750,000 deal with the Rams this past season.

A second round pick out of LSU in the 2006 draft, Whitworth was an immediate starter in Cincinnati, helping create running lanes for Rudy Johnson while also helping Carson Palmer earn Pro Bowl honors during his rookie season. Whitworth’s steady play helped the Bengals advance to the postseason six times during a seven-year span that include AFC North division titles in 2009, 2013 and in 2015.

After earning one Pro Bowl selection during his first nine seasons, Whitworth earned consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2015 and a third career Pro Bowl nod in 2016, his final season with the Bengals. Whitworth signed with the Rams that ensuing offseason, and was named an All Pro in 2017 while helping the Rams capture the NFC West division title. In 2018, Whitworth helped the Rams boast the league’s second ranked scoring offense while also helping Los Angeles defeat the Cowboys and Saints en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII.

Along with providing clear throwing lanes for Palmer, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Rams quarterback Jared Goff, Whitworth has blocked for several 1,000-yard backs, including Johnson, Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Jeremy Hill, and Todd Gurley.

Whitworth has also been an iron man of sorts, playing in all 16 games in a season 10 times that includes each of the past two seasons. In all, Whitworth has appeared in 215 regular season games with 211 career starts.