All eyes were on Cooper Kupp as he made his 2023 debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, with everyone wondering A) how much he would play and B) how his return would impact Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and the Rams’ other receivers.
Nacua’s role wasn’t impacted much, seeing as he still played every single snap on offense, but the same can’t be said about Van Jefferson. In the first four games of the season, Jefferson’s role had already shrunk but against the Eagles, he hit a new low.
Buy Rams TicketsHe played just two snaps in the loss and wasn’t targeted a single time. Even Ben Skowronek played more snaps (6) and was targeted once.
On defense, Byron Young played slightly fewer snaps than normal with Ochaun Mathis also making his NFL debut, but not much else changed on that side of the ball. Below is a ful look at the snap counts from the Rams’ 23-14 loss.
Offense
Rob Havenstein and Coleman Shelton both left the game at different times due to injuries, which is why Warren McClendon Jr. and Brian Allen got a little bit of playing time. Sean McVay said after the game that Havenstein is expected to be OK and Shelton had already returned to the field so he should be fine for Week 6.
Kupp played 53 of a possible 56 snaps on offense, a sign that there was no snap count or limited workload put in place by the coaching staff. Nacua actually played more than Kupp did, staying on the field for every snap, while Tutu Atwell played 50 of 56 snaps. As previously mentioned, Jefferson played just two snaps and his role moving forward is very much up in the air.
At running back, Kyren Williams handled the bulk of the work again, playing 47 of 56 snaps. Ronnie Rivers played the other nine snaps but had just one carry for 1 yard.
At tight end, it was much of the same. Tyler Higbee played all but six snaps and Brycen Hopkins played five snaps, so he once again didn’t get much work behind Higbee. Davis Allen played one snap, as well.
Defense
Jordan Fuller and Russ Yeast played every snap at safety again, which has often been the case this season. Quentin Lake remained the third safety, still staying ahead of John Johnson III, who didn’t play a defensive snap again.
At cornerback, Derion Kendrick was on the field for all 79 plays. Ahkello Witherspoon left the field for cramping at one point, so that’s why his snaps were down. Cobie Durant played 53 snaps as the nickel defender and Duke Shelley replaced Witherspoon for the nine snaps that he missed, coming up with a key pass breakup in the end zone.
At edge rusher, Michael Hoecht played the most snaps of anyone, followed by Young, who played 73% of the plays. Zach VanValkenburg played 17 snaps as the third edge rusher and Mathis was fourth with 10 snaps played; Nick Hampton was a healthy scratch with Mathis back.
Along the defensive line, Jonah Williams played 75% of the snaps alongside Aaron Donald, who had a 77% snap share. Bobby Brown III suffered multiple injuries and left the game twice, but he still managed to play 36 snaps. Kobie Turner was on the field for 52% of the snaps, with Larrell Murchison and Earnest Brown IV being the backups.
Ernest Jones never came off the field, playing every snap once again, with Christian Rozeboom playing 43% of the snaps as the No. 2 linebacker.
