Andrew Whitworth gets emotional discussing the impact of Robert Woods on the Rams

Robert Woods and Andrew Whitworth joined the Los Angeles Rams together ahead of the 2017 season. The two have a special bond, and Whitworth opened up on that connection ahead of this year’s Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. When asked about Woods’ impact on the team, Whitworth fought back emotions as he expressed his appreciation for everything he’s done.

Woods will not be playing in the Super Bowl after he suffered a torn ACL during a November practice. He also unexpectedly lost his father recently. But despite all of the hardships he has gone through this year, Woods has remained a key leader on this Rams team.

“Man, you’re going to make me get emotional on here,” Whitworth said when asked about Woods’ impact on the Rams. “That’s a tough one to even talk about. Robert is one of those guys who is so special. He puts his heart and soul into everything that he does. He’s somebody that all of us look up to for the passion he plays the game with, what he’s been through in the last month with his father and everything going on.

“He’s one of those guys that, really, every guy in this locker room appreciates ball, appreciates playing this game just a little bit more because of the guy he is. There’s no doubt about it, he’ll be in our hearts this week just because his leadership and who he’s been for this football team over the last five years is nothing short of excellent and unbelievable.”

"You're going to make me get emotional on here."

Andrew Whitworth had a lot of praise for @robertwoods' impact on the @RamsNFL.

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Woods had played in nine games this season before tearing his ACL. In those games, he had 45 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns, adding another score on the ground.

Whitworth on Woods: ‘We signed together’

Woods began his NFL career in 2013 after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round out of USC. After four years in Buffalo, Woods joined the Rams, where he has turned into a great weapon in the Los Angeles offense. Since joining the Rams, Woods has seen two 1,000-yard seasons, and finished just short of a third in 2020 with 936 yards.

But even with all of his success on the field, a lot of Woods’ value to the team comes off of it. For Whitworth, Woods will always be a part of his family, and he is somebody that everybody in that locker room is playing for.

“I mean we signed together,” Whitworth added about Woods. “We were the first two free agents here in LA who came in with Coach McVay. I’ll never forget the three of us being in here and doing our press conference here in the facility announcing that we’ve signed as LA Rams, my kids were wearing his jersey that they had just made and that special day that we had with each other.

“And here we are now five years later. With as many games as we’ve won, the opportunity to be in two Super Bowls and two NFC Championships, he’ll always have a special place in our family and on this football team. He’s the top of the list when it comes to the guys that lead us and are the guys we play for.”