The Rams waived Hall (Achilles) from injured reserve Tuesday.
The undrafted running back out of SMU signed with the Rams in 2020 and operated solely on special teams, but he missed the entire 2021 season after tearing his Achilles late in the preseason. Jones was set to miss another campaign after reverting to IR at the end of July, but he'll now be free to join a new team once healthy.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Lands back on IR
Rotowire
Jones (Achilles) reverted to the Rams' injured reserve list Saturday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Jones was waived with an injury designation by the Rams on Friday after missing the entirety of the 2021 campaign due to a torn Achilles suffered late in the preseason. The undrafted free agent out of SMU's career has gotten off to a rather rough start after he exclusively played on special teams over 13 games in 2020. Barring any injury settlement with the team, Jones figures to once again miss this coming regular season while on Los Angeles' injured reserve list.
... See More... See Less
Xavier Jones: Let go by Rams
Rotowire
Jones (Achilles) has been waived/injured by the Rams, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
Jones joined the Rams as an undrafted rookie last season, but he spent the year on injured reserve after undergoing Achilles surgery. Assuming he passes through waivers unclaimed, he'll revert to IR again, likely ending his season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Needs surgery on Achilles
Rotowire
Jones suffered an Achilles injury that will require surgery, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Initially, the undrafted rookie was believed to be dealing with a left ankle issue in the wake of his late exit from the Rams' exhibition finale Saturday. The Rams opted to waive him with an injury designation Tuesday, and he reverted to injured reserve on Wednesday. Considering the nature of the injury, it's a good bet Jones won't play this season, which would mean the Rams are down three running backs heading into Week 1. Currently, Darrell Henderson (thumb), Sony Michel and Jake Funk are the only RBs on Los Angeles' active roster.
... See More... See Less
Xavier Jones: Cut with injury designation
Rotowire
Jones (ankle) was waived/injured by the Rams on Tuesday, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
The Rams backfield has been beset by injuries this summer, with Cam Akers (Achilles) and Raymond Calais (foot) already on IR and Jones set to join them, assuming he clears waivers. If he does, Jones will have a chance to return at some point this season once his left ankle is healthy. For the time being, however, Los Angeles will rely on Darrell Henderson (thumb), Sony Michel and Jake Funk at running back.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Facing new challenge
Rotowire
Jones has more competition for playing time after the Rams traded for Sony Michel on Wednesday, Kevin Modesti of The Orange County Register reports.
The Rams waited more than a month to add a new body to the backfield after Cam Akers suffered an Achilles tear in August. Previously, Jones and Jake Funk seemed to be competing for the No. 2 spot behind Darrell Henderson, whose injury history was acknowledged by head coach Sean McVay as a major concern. Michel's medical record is actually worse, and his performance in New England fell far short of expectations for a first-round pick. All that's to say that Jones still could see snaps and touches at some point this season, even if he drops to third or fourth on the depth chart before Week 1. It's also possible Jones and/or Funk manage to stay ahead of Michel if he's slow to pick up the Rams offense or doesn't look good on the practice field.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Nine touches in preseason opener
Rotowire
Jones rushed seven times for 21 yards and brought in two of three targets for six yards in the Rams' 13-6 preseason loss to the Chargers on Saturday night.
The SMU product has been impressing in camp, and he was rewarded by logging a co-team-high amount of carries and also enjoying a modest role in the passing game. Jones did not log a touch from scrimmage over 13 games last season, but with Cam Akers (Achilles) potentially out for the season, the 23-year-old has a legitimate chance at the No. 2 job behind Darrell Henderson.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Making case for role
Rotowire
Head coach Sean McVay said Jones and rookie Jake Funk have "done a really nice job" and are on track to be "part of our plans in the running back room," Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
With Cam Akers (Achilles) out for the season, Jones and Funk are listed as co-No. 2s on the Rams' initial preseason depth chart, behind only Darrell Henderson. McVay also mentioned Raymond Calais earlier this week, but Calais and undrafted rookie Otis Anderson are the type of undersized backs who may be pigeonholed as pass-catching/return specialists. At 208 pounds, Jones is closer to the NFL standard for running backs, if still a bit on the light side. After catching on with the Rams last year as an undrafted rookie who strictly played special teams (178 snaps), Jones can now earn a role on offense in 2021 while Akers is out of the picture.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Receiving praise from McVay
Rotowire
Jones has impressed head coach Sean McVay early in training camp, Stu Jackson of TheRams.com reports.
While it's certainly encouraging that McVay is talking up Jones, the praise is probably best taken with a grain of salt. After all, the sophomore running back didn't play a single offensive snap as a rookie. The Los Angeles backfield is in a slight state of chaos following the injury to projected No. 1 back Cam Akers (knee), and it wouldn't be surprising if the Rams added a veteran presence to the position group ahead of the season or at some point thereafter. There's a boost in upside attached to Jones at the moment, but a lot will still probably have to go his way for him to provide consistent fantasy production.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Could help replace Akers
Rotowire
Jones may be part of the Rams' plan to replace Cam Akers (Achilles), Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Earlier this offseason, Rodrigue projected Jones as the team's No. 3 running back behind Akers and Darrell Henderson (undisclosed). Jones strictly played special teams (178 snaps) in 13 games last season, but the 2020 UDFA will have a shot to earn snaps on offense after Akers suffered a season-ending injury before training camp. Jones had a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons at SMU, including 244 carries for 1,276 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2019. Apart from Henderson and Jones, the Rams' backfield options are limited to 2021 seventh-round pick Jake Funk, 2020 seventh-rounder Raymond Calais and rookie UDFA Otis Anderson. Even if the team adds help in the coming weeks, Jones will still have a chance to earn the second or third spot on the depth chart.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Still third on depth chart
Rotowire
Jones is probably still third on the depth chart at running back following the 2021 NFL Draft, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
The Rams selected running back Jake Funk in the seventh round of the draft, but he profiles more as a special-teams candidate to start the year. Jones is definitely behind Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson on the depth chart, but it is encouraging for Jones' fantasy stock that Los Angeles didn't prioritize the position during the draft. Still, the sophomore out of SMU isn't on the fantasy radar in most settings at this point.
... See More... See Less
Rams' Xavier Jones: Earns roster spot
Rotowire
Jones was included on the Rams' 53-man roster, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
The undrafted free agent out of SMU impressed during training camp and took advantage of the extra opportunities he received with Darrell Henderson (hamstring) sidelined with an injury. Still, Henderson is trending toward being ready for Week 1, and the Rams also have reliable veteran Malcolm Brown and rookie second-round pick Cam Akers ahead of Jones on the depth chart. As a result, Jones probably has a steep climb to fantasy relevance in the early stages of the season.
