Barring a significant injury to one of the Rams’ wide receivers, Josh Reynolds will once again begin the season as a backup. Despite being a starting-caliber player, Reynolds is fourth on the depth chart.
The reason? Los Angeles has a better receiving corps than just about every other team in the NFL; it’s likely the best in football.
Reynolds would probably be a starter for half the teams in the league, but he’s simply blocked by a great trio of Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. And with the Rams’ reliance on 11 personnel, Reynolds doesn’t have many opportunities to get on the field.
That hasn’t stopped him from standing out in training camp. Sean McVay has been very impressed with the third-year receiver so far.
“I thought Josh Reynolds has been outstanding,” McVay said after Thursday’s practice with the Chargers. “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.”
Reynolds caught a touchdown pass against the Chargers during their joint practice, continuing what’s been a strong offseason for him. He got more playing time Thursday because the Rams held Kupp back a bit, taking advantage of the opportunity.
Earlier in the week, he got behind the defense with a perfectly run double-move, breaking wide open down the middle.
Unless the Rams start to utilize more four-receiver sets, or someone suffers an injury, Reynolds will remain a backup with limited playing time. It’s disappointing for a player as talented as he is, but it’s the reality of the Rams’ receiver unit.
