The Los Angeles Rams announced a pair of practice squad trades, releasing running back Darrell Henderson and replacing him with long snapper Alex Matheson. Henderson leaves the Rams following another brief stint due to injuries to the team’s leading running back core.
Henderson was the first player to be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster when both Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers were injured against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. Henderson was one of several replacement choices, including Royce Freeman and Myles Gaskin. During Williams’ four-game absence, Henderson and Freeman took the lead.
Henderson carried for 112 yards and two touchdowns during that period. He also had 10 catches for 103 yards before being demoted to the practice squad when Williams returned to the field. Now that Rivers is expected to return, Henderson has been released from the practice squad, making him a free agent.
Henderson is in his fifth NFL season, and despite being in and out of the Rams organization, he has yet to play for another team.
Meanwhile, Matheson was signed to the Rams’ practice squad. Matheson is a rookie long snapper from Thousand Oaks’ California Lutheran University. The Rams’ kicking crew has had some troubles this season, so they’ve brought in an extra long snapper just in case.
Lucas Havrisik, the team’s new kicker, has 15-for-20 on field goals in the last eight games, but only 4-for-9 from 40 yards or beyond. He has made 17 of 18 extra-point attempts.
Sean McVay is not bringing in a new kicker.
Sean McVay, head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, detailed why he does not intend to bring in another kicker to compete with Havrisik.
“That’s not something that we’re interested in right now,” McVay said in a statement. “When you look at the entire operation, it’s snap, hold, and kick, and not having Alex Ward makes a big difference.” He did an excellent job. As a result, all of those things are intertwined. I know the kicker is the one that everyone wants to blame. Oh, it’s a missed kick because he’s the one who gets stabbed. But there are many aspects to it.
“We want to look at it and figure out what the best way is to get our entire operation tighter, and those are the things we’ll look for.” But, in terms of Lucas, that’s not something we’re thinking about right now, other than continuing to work with him and giving him the best chance of success with everything that that process and protocol requires.”
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