Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in practice Friday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini.
Woods went down with the knee injury and then got up and finished practice, sources told ESPN. After conducting media interviews after practice, he underwent tests which confirmed the injury, sources told ESPN.
The Rams (7-2), in search of depth at the position after releasing DeSean Jackson, signed free agent Odell Beckham Jr. on Thursday following his release from the Cleveland Browns.
Beckham will make his Rams debut against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, sources told ESPN.
As a receiver, a blocker and an occasional jet-sweep runner, Woods is a vital component of the Rams’ offense alongside NFL receiving leader Cooper Kupp and fellow starter Van Jefferson. Woods is second on the roster with 45 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing eight times for 46 yards and another TD.Woods’ 70 targets this season were tied for 15th in the NFL entering Week 10.
Woods’ injury is a big blow to the NFL’s top-ranked passing offense led by new quarterback Matthew Stafford. It leaves Kupp, Beckham and Jefferson as the only accomplished, healthy wideouts on the roster.
In recent weeks, the Rams lost rookies Tutu Atwell and Jacob Harris to season-ending injuries. Earlier this week, a waiver claim to bring back released wideout Josh Reynolds fell short.
The only other receivers on the roster are Ben Skowronek and J.J. Koski, a pair of first-year wideouts who have a combined three catches for 30 yards.
A team captain, Woods has been a model of durability in his nine-year NFL career, never missing more than three games in a season due to injury.
Woods began his career in Buffalo before the Southern California product returned to his hometown with the Rams in 2017. Early last season, Woods agreed to a four-year, $65 million contract extension that begins in 2022.
In 4 1/2 seasons with the Rams, Woods has 367 catches for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns while also rushing for 485 yards and five scores.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.