Ronnie Rivers News

The 23-year-old rookie was signed from the practice squad ahead of the Rams' Week 13 loss to Kansas City, slotting in as the third-string running back behind Cam Akers and Kyren Williams. However, Rivers exclusively played on special teams over the last two games, and he'll likely be replaced by practice-squad elevation Malcolm Brown during Thursday's game. Rivers' next opportunity to suit up will come against the Packers on Monday, Dec. 19.

Rivers has gone back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster this season, and he's suited up in three games with the Rams, tallying nine carries for 21 yards and five catches for 29 yards. His signing to the active roster comes four days after Los Angeles waived former lead back Darrell Henderson. Rivers will likely work as the Rams' No. 3 ball carrier behind Cam Akers and Kyren Williams on Sunday against Kansas City.

Rivers was elevated from the practice squad for the third game in a row ahead of Sunday's 16-13 loss to Tampa Bay. However, the rookie running back did not record a rush for the first time during this span, as played just four special-teams snaps Week 9. Rivers has totaled nine rushes for 21 yards and five receptions (on five targets) for 29 yards in 2022, and he'll now require a full spot on the active roster in order to suit up for the Rams' moving forward this season.

Perhaps more crucially rookie running back Kyren Williams (ankle) was not activated off injured reserve meaning Rivers and Darrell Henderson are expected to operate as the top options out of the backfield come Sunday. Head coach Sean McVay didn't rule out the possibility of Cam Akers making his return after a two-game absence due to personal reasons, but even were Akers to be active, it seems entirely possible the combo of Rivers and Henderson will continue to operate at the top of the depth chart given the former's public spats with the team. Rivers carried the ball eight times for 21 yards and operated as the top pass catcher (4-15) in last week's loss to the 49ers.

With Cam Akers (personal) out and Darrell Henderson dealing with an illness, Rivers was elevated to the active roster and played a sizable role against the 49ers. Rivers was barley outsnapped by Henderson 24-21, but the former led the team in rushing attempts (eight) and rushing yards (21) while securing all four of his targets for 15 yards. Given the Rams opted to use the undrafted rookie out of Fresno State ahead of Malcolm Brown in Week 8, it seems likely that Rivers will get another elevation in Week 9, regardless of Henderson and Akers' statuses.

Rivers, fresh off a practice squad promotion Saturday, handled more carries than Malcolm Brown or Darrell Henderson, who had been limited in practice due to an illness, while Cam Akers (personal) was again inactive. Though the undrafted rookie out of Fresno State wasn't efficient in the second appearance of his NFL career, he's worth a speculative add in most fantasy formats due to the unsettled nature of Los Angeles' backfield. Rivers is set to shift back to the practice squad Monday, and he is now eligible for just one more elevation before the Rams would have to sign him to the 53-man roster to play.