If you’re someone on social media or if you’ve watched a Los Angeles Rams game on FOX’s broadcast on Sunday, then you know that Troy Aikman is an avid fan of Robert Woods. Aikman has repeatedly said that he believes Woods is a top-three wide receiver in the NFL, which is quite the claim.
The news of Odell Beckham Jr. signing with the Rams recently was bittersweet because as he joined Los Angeles, it was discovered that Woods had suffered a season-ending knee injury. With No. 2 not on the field for Los Angeles, Aikman believes the Rams will have a tough time replacing his production because of everything he does on offense.
“I’m definitely worried. The loss of Robert Woods was huge, and I’ve said it. In fact, I tweeted it a few years ago and, man, people were really offended by me saying Robert Woods was a top-3 receiver in the NFL, and I still stand by that. I think he’s a great player. I think he’s one of the most underrated wide receivers in football,” Aikman said on 1310 “The Ticket” Tuesday. “He does everything. Great routes, catches the ball, he blocks, he runs the reverse, he does everything, and he does it all really, really well and never complains. So, they lose him and you just put someone else in that position. There’s not many guys around the league that can do the things he did to help that offense. So, they’ve had a number of injuries as well.”
It goes without saying that Woods is one of the most vital members of the Rams. The veteran wideout is a reliable target in the passing game, but he’s also a significant contributor in the running game.
Whether it’s taking a handoff or delivering a key block, Woods was a staple in Los Angeles’ rushing attack. And when you remove him from the offense, those are big shoes to fill, especially when the Rams continue to sustain injuries at the wide receiver position.
We’ve now gotten a glimpse of what a Woods-less offense looks like for the Rams in the past two weeks as he only missed five total games in his first four seasons with the franchise. While Cooper Kupp and Beckham are supreme talents, it’s hard to replicate what Woods brings to the organization.
With six weeks remaining in the regular season, we’ll have to see if someone — or multiple players — can step up in the unfortunate absence of Woods. But as Sean McVay iterated when the injury first occurred, replacing a player of Woods’ caliber is a tall task.
