Sean McVay entered the 2026 season facing high expectations. The Los Angeles Rams had made significant moves during the offseason, including the arrivals of Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, after falling to the NFC Championship Game the previous season. McVay understood that meeting those expectations would take more than talent alone.
“There’s going to be adversity that inevitably we hit. How we handle that will be key,” he said before the season. By midseason, the Rams were dealing with a difficult run of injuries—especially at wide receiver—and the situation prompted McVay to joke that he would like to bring a familiar face back onto the field.
When a reporter jokingly asked about Robert Woods, now an assistant wide receivers coach, McVay admitted he had considered how the former receiver might look as a player. His comment was lighthearted, not a serious effort to reverse Woods’ retirement.
“I’ve looked at him and the way that he looks out there, I’ve definitely been tempted [to see if he can play],” McVay told reporters Wednesday. “I think that’d be a violation of the CBA, or I don’t know what he’d have to do, but he looks damn good. He still is smooth out there, so very tempting.”
## Rams’ receiver injuries create a difficult challenge
It is easy to understand why the thought crossed McVay’s mind. The Rams have lost several important receivers to injury. Puka Nacua is expected to miss a significant stretch while dealing with an MCL sprain, a PCL sprain and turf toe. Davante Adams, who suffered a ruptured hamstring, and Jordan Whittington, who has a back sprain, are both on injured reserve.
The team did not add a wide receiver before the trade deadline, leaving the offense to rely more heavily on Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and rookie CJ Daniels. Some of those players have meaningful experience, but Woods brings a résumé and familiarity with McVay’s offense that the current group cannot simply replace.
Woods recorded 1,219 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2018, then followed that performance with another 1,000-yard season in 2019. He was a key part of the Rams’ offense alongside quarterback Jared Goff and fellow receiver Cooper Kupp.
After 12 seasons as a receiver, Woods retired earlier in 2026. He signed a one-day contract with the Rams before announcing his retirement, then returned to the organization a week later to join the coaching staff. At 34, he still looks smooth on the field, and his experience gives him a valuable role in helping younger players. But demonstrating techniques in practice and coaching from the sideline are different from taking snaps in a game.
## Why Woods cannot simply return to the field
Woods filed his retirement paperwork in February 2026 and is on the reserve/retired list. To play again, he would first have to apply for reinstatement and go through waivers. That process would give the other 31 NFL teams an opportunity to claim him before the Rams could sign him to a standard player contract.
There is also precedent for the league refusing to let a coach fill an emergency playing role. In 2020, when the Denver Broncos’ quarterbacks were unavailable under COVID protocols, the team asked whether offensive quality control coaches Justin Rascati or Rob Calabrese could play quarterback. The NFL denied the request, and Denver instead used practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton at the position.
A similar request was turned down in 2009. Then-Eagles coach Andy Reid asked whether Matt Nagy, who was working as a coaching intern, could play quarterback in a preseason game. The league did not approve it.
McVay’s remark about Woods was a joke, but the Rams’ roster situation is serious. The team ranks seventh in the NFL in passing offense, averaging 254.4 passing yards per game. With Adams and Nacua unavailable and the Rams at 5-4, the receivers stepping into larger roles will have to help keep the offense productive. Woods’ work developing those players could be important to the team’s effort to reach the playoffs.
## McVay emphasizes player safety
Although the Rams need healthy receivers, McVay said he does not want players returning before they are ready. He stressed that the team will not put someone on the field if doing so could worsen an injury.
“The biggest thing is, are you putting them out there when they could further risk injury? And we always would say no on those,” McVay said. He added that players and staff discuss how a player feels and whether returning at less than full strength is reasonable, provided there is no increased risk of further injury.
McVay also noted that experienced players can often describe their condition more clearly because they have learned to understand their bodies and what they need to perform.
The Rams’ next test is against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale. As the team manages its injuries and adjusts its receiving group, Woods will contribute from the coaching staff rather than the playing field.
