Andrew Whitworth Plans To Return In 2021

Rams LT Andrew Whitworth tells Greg Bishop he plans to return and play in 2021. 

Whitworth said he had been mulling retirement this offseason until tearing his MCL and PCL several weeks ago. The longtime veteran has worked ferociously to make it back for Los Angeles’ playoff game against the Seahawks this weekend and says that reignited his passion to keep playing. 

“I’m pretty jacked up to come back, that’s for sure,” Whitworth said. “…I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t [return] next season.”

This is huge news for the Rams, as Whitworth is one of the best tackles in the game still despite being in his 15th season. It’s one less position they have to worry about for the 2021 season. 

Whitworth, 39, is a former second-round pick of the Bengals back in 2006. He spent 11 years in Cincinnati before signing a three-year, $33.75 million contract that included $15 million guaranteed with the Rams in 2017.

Whitworth made a base salary of $10.25 million for the 2019 season. The Rams brought him back on a three-year extension this past March. 

In 2020, Whitworth has appeared in nine games for the Rams and started all of them at left tackle. Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 4 tackle out of 83 qualifying players.