Here are the Los Angeles Rams’ inactive players for their wildcard playoff game against the Carolina Panthers: TE Terrance Ferguson, OL Kevin Dotson, CB Josh Wallace, CB Derion Kendrick, CB Darious Williams and WR Jordan Whittington, with Stetson Bennett as the emergency quarterback.
The big news is Ferguson’s absence. The team’s top draft pick this spring tweaked a hamstring in the final practice before last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. He tried to push through it late this week and into pre-game warmups but was not able to go. The Rams did get veteran Tyler Higbee back from injured reserve a week ago, so they should still run plenty of three-tight end sets with Higbee, Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson.
Wallace was another player who was pushing to play this week. He was the fill-in nickel cornerback in Quentin Lake’s absence, but Lake will be back for the first time since his Week 10 elbow injury. The Rams also will have the NFL’s leader in receiving touchdowns, Davante Adams, available for the first time since he suffered knee and hamstring injuries and missed three games.
Los Angeles will have fourth-round rookie running back Jarquez Hunter active for just the sixth time this season. That’s likely due to the special teams absences of Ferguson, Wallace, Whittington and linebacker Shaun Dolac, who went on injured reserve with a PCL injury this week. Hunter is one of four running backs active along with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers.
Dotson was ruled out on Thursday with the ankle injury he suffered against the Seattle Seahawks. Justin Dedich will start again in his place at right guard and will face a challenge against Pro Bowl defensive tackle Derrick Brown.