BREAKING: Rams Get Boost as Tutu Atwell and Ahkello Witherspoon Designated to Return from Injured Reserve
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (Nov 27, 2025) — The Los Angeles Rams are set to receive a significant boost as wide receiver Tutu Atwell and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon have been designated to return from Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 13 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The Rams’ roster just got a bit stronger this week, as head coach Sean McVay confirmed that both Atwell and Witherspoon have been activated to begin practicing again, opening up a 21-day window for them to rejoin the team’s active roster. After extended periods on the sidelines due to injuries, both players are expected to make their return in Sunday’s crucial game in Charlotte.
Atwell and Witherspoon on Track to Play Against Panthers
McVay was optimistic about both players’ status for Sunday’s game. While acknowledging the unpredictability of their returns, McVay expressed confidence that both would be ready to play.
“I think (Witherspoon) will be able to play this week,” McVay stated. “He got some scans. The goal and the anticipation is to be able to do that. But with both he and Tutu, we’ll get through the week, and we’ll see where they’re both at. But it’ll be good to get them back on the practice field.”
Atwell, who had been sidelined since Week 7 after re-aggravating a hamstring injury, has shown promise when healthy. Before going down with the injury, the speedy receiver had posted impressive numbers, racking up four receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown in just a handful of games. Three of his four catches resulted in first downs, showing that he was emerging as a reliable target in the Rams' high-octane offense. With his return, McVay and the Rams' offense are hoping to regain a dynamic deep-threat presence, something they have sorely missed during Atwell’s absence.
Meanwhile, Witherspoon, who sustained a broken scapula in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, will also be making his return to bolster the Rams' secondary. Prior to his injury, the veteran cornerback had recorded three tackles and one pass defensed, contributing solidly in the early weeks of the season. Witherspoon’s return should help strengthen a Rams defense that has shown flashes of brilliance but has also struggled with consistency at times. His experience and ability to cover top receivers will be a welcomed addition, especially in a competitive NFC West.
The Rams Face Setbacks with McCreary Injury
While McVay received good news about Atwell and Witherspoon, the Rams also suffered a setback when cornerback Roger McCreary was placed on IR following a groin injury sustained in Sunday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCreary had been performing admirably in the Rams’ secondary and was a key piece to the defensive rotation. His absence will be felt as the Rams attempt to shore up their pass defense down the stretch.
The timing of McCreary’s injury is particularly frustrating given that the Rams’ defensive backfield will now need to find a way to compensate for his loss while reintegrating Witherspoon into the fold. Fortunately, the return of Witherspoon should ease some of the strain and provide some stability in the secondary.
Rams’ Playoff Hopes Depend on Health
At 6-5, the Rams find themselves in a tightly contested NFC playoff race. With a stretch of important games ahead, every player’s availability is crucial for the team’s playoff aspirations. The return of Atwell and Witherspoon could be a game-changer for the Rams, particularly as they take on the Panthers this Sunday in a must-win game.
The offense will look to Atwell to provide the deep-ball threat that has been missing, while the defense will lean on Witherspoon to strengthen their coverage against the Panthers' receiving corps, which includes the ever-dangerous Adam Thielen.
With their 21-day practice windows now open, the next few days will be critical in determining whether Atwell and Witherspoon can get back to full health and make a meaningful impact on the field. If McVay’s predictions hold true, the Rams will be in much better shape to face their remaining opponents and make a push for the playoffs.
If Swayman keeps this up, the Bruins won’t just be playoff-bound - they’ll be Cup favorites
Closing out a four-game road trip that began in California a week ago, the Boston Bruins were looking to finish the trip with a split. After dropping two out of three out West in games where they deserved points, finishing on Long Island against the New York Islanders was going to be a difficult task.
Boston looked like a team that was at the end of a long road trip after going across the country twice. In the first period, and fell behind early. However, as they have done this year, they started to play their game and rode the goaltending of Jeremy Swayman to finish the trip with a much-needed victory.
Bruins beat Islanders behind two Alex Steeves goals
The recipe for success this season has been depth scoring, and that's what they got against the Islanders. They got it from an unlikely source offensively. Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Steeves scored two goals, including a backbreaker in the third period, shorthanded for the first Boston shorthanded goal of the season.
He tied the game in the first period when he banged home a rebound in front. Tanner Jeannot gave the Bruins a 2-1 second-period lead in the first minute of the period. From that point on, the Bruins killed three Islanders' power plays until Steeves gave them some breathing room with his shorthanded goal. It was the first multi-goal game of his career.
The biggest story, other than the offense from the bottom-six, was the play of Jeremy Swayman. He was playing a third straight game because he forced Marco Sturm's hand with how well he had been playing. Boston was outshot 43-14, and Swayman made 42 saves. Those shot numbers are correct, and Swayman was huge.
The Bruins will enter Thanksgiving in an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a pair of conference home games against the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Game recap:
Alex Steeves scored two goals Wednesday night for the visiting Boston Bruins, who completed a season sweep of the New York Islanders with a 3-1 win in Elmont, N.Y.
Tanner Jeannot scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of the second period for the Bruins, who won despite being outshot 45-14.
The 14 shots were the second-fewest in a victory in franchise history. Boston had 13 shots in a 2-0 win over the Dallas Stars on Oct. 15, 2003.
Steeves tied the score in the first and iced the win with a short-handed goal in the third as the Bruins won for the third time in seven games (3-4-0) following a seven-game winning streak.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman made 44 saves, including 13 after the Islanders pulled Ilya Sorokin with 4:34 left.
The Bruins finished 3-0-0 against the Islanders, outscoring them 12-6.
Mathew Barzal scored in the first for the Islanders, who are 1-2-0 on a seven-game homestand following a 6-1-0 road trip. Sorokin recorded 11 saves.
Barzal gave the Islanders a short-lived lead in impressive fashion 4:41 into the first. The center, playing on his bobblehead night at UBS Arena, was stationed in the left faceoff circle when he took a pass from Tony D'Angelo. In one motion, Barzal maneuvered the puck around Pavel Zacha and tucked a shot into the left corner of the net past a sprawling Swayman.
Steeves tied the score just 1:42 later, when he put back the rebound of a Sean Kuraly shot over Sorokin.
Jeannot collected the game-winner to cap a chaotic sequence 43 seconds into the middle period. Nikita Zadorov's shot glanced off Sorokin and bounced off several players in the crease before Jeannot fired a shot over Sorokin's glove.
A turnover by promising Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer led to Steeves' second goal. Steeves picked off a pass by Schaefer to begin a 2-on-1 that ended when Fraser Minten dragged himself around a sprawling Schaefer and dished to Steeves, who beat Sorokin from point-blank range with 9:39 left.
