With Johnny Mundt and Jake Funk suffering season-ending injuries against the Giants on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams wasted no time placing them on injured reserve. The team moved both players to IR Tuesday, opening up two spots on the 53-man roster.
Rather than signing an outside free agent to fill those positions, the Rams promoted from within. They signed Dont’e Deayon and Buddy Howell to the active roster, bringing them up from the practice squad.
Deayon was temporarily elevated from the practice squad for Week 6 but this is a more permanent opportunity for him, at least until Darious Williams returns from IR. Howell had been elevated from the practice squad in Weeks 3 and 4 but hasn’t yet played an offensive snap.
LA Rams Transactions:
• Free Agent Signing, DB Donte Deayon
• Free Agent Signing, RB Buddy Howell• Reserve/Injured, RB Jake Funk
• Reserve/Injured, TE Johnny Mundt— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 19, 2021
Against the Giants, Deayon played 88% of the defensive snaps, a career-high for the young cornerback. He played well alongside Robert Rochell and Jalen Ramsey, too, allowing six catches on 12 targets for a total of 37 yards. He also made two stops and four total tackles, flying to the ball on defense.
Howell will help replace Funk as the No. 3 running back, though as long as Darrell Henderson Jr. and Sony Michel are healthy, he isn’t likely to get many opportunities on offense.
Notably, the Rams didn’t promote Kendall Blanton to the active roster as a replacement for Mundt, indicating Jacob Harris and Brycen Hopkins will get the first crack at that role.
