Nate Landman Ruled Out vs. Raiders: Rams LB and IDP Impact
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman has been ruled out for Sunday’s Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders because of a concussion. The Friday designation removes the Rams’ leading tackler and on-field communicator from a defense already navigating significant attrition.
Landman’s absence is more than a depth-chart change. He has 51 total tackles, including 27 solo stops, and two forced fumbles through the Rams’ first six games. His range, tackling volume and ability to organize the front have made him one of Los Angeles’ most dependable defenders.
What happened to Nate Landman?
The Rams’ final injury report listed Landman out after he entered the concussion protocol. A player in the protocol must clear the league’s return-to-participation process before resuming game action, so there was no realistic late-week path to Sunday once the club issued the out designation.
This is Landman’s first missed game of the season. He recorded 10 tackles in last week’s loss to Arizona and has been at the center of a unit that has already lost important defensive-line personnel.
Who replaces Landman in the Rams defense?
The Rams’ Friday injury report says Sean McVay confirmed Los Angeles will elevate veteran inside linebacker Eric Kendricks from the practice squad. Shaun Dolac is listed behind Landman on the unofficial depth chart, while Grant Stuard and Omar Speights remain other options for redistributing snaps.
The replacement plan matters because Landman wore the green dot as the Rams’ on-field signal caller last season. McVay confirmed Kendricks’ elevation but did not publicly commit to a full-time defensive role or one player handling every Landman responsibility, so fantasy managers should expect uncertainty until pregame or early-game deployment clarifies the rotation.
Why the matchup favors Las Vegas underneath
Las Vegas has struggled to create a consistent rushing attack, but the matchup becomes more manageable without Landman. Ashton Jeanty has 313 rushing yards on 98 carries, while Mike Washington Jr. is questionable after missing the final two practices. If Washington is limited or inactive, Jeanty could have to absorb an even larger share of the backfield work.
The more important stress point may come through the middle of the field. Brock Bowers leads the Raiders with 382 receiving yards, and Michael Mayer has added 266. Linebackers are not solely responsible for either tight end, but Landman’s absence can complicate route handoffs, play-action fits and tackling after the catch.
Fantasy football and IDP impact
Nate Landman: Move him out of Week 7 IDP lineups. Concussion timelines can vary, so treat his Week 8 availability as uncertain until he returns to practice and clears the protocol.
Shaun Dolac: Kendricks is the first name to monitor after McVay confirmed his elevation, but neither he nor Dolac is a safe IDP start without evidence of an every-down role. Both are speculative options only in deeper leagues.
Omar Speights: His tackle floor receives a modest boost because more second-level traffic could flow his way. He is the safer Rams linebacker to use in balanced or tackle-heavy IDP formats.
Ashton Jeanty: The personnel loss slightly improves his matchup, but the Raiders’ 3.0 yards-per-carry team average keeps him from becoming an automatic ceiling play. Volume remains the primary fantasy argument.
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer: Both remain attractive because the Raiders can test a reshuffled linebacker group with crossers, play action and short-area targets. Bowers is the premium start; Mayer is a matchup-based option in deeper formats.
What to watch before kickoff
The Rams’ inactives and early defensive deployment should reveal whether Kendricks, Dolac or a rotation absorbs Landman’s snaps. Also monitor Washington’s final status for Las Vegas. A thin Raiders backfield would increase Jeanty’s touch projection, while an active Washington would preserve a more balanced rotation.
Landman’s absence does not automatically make the Raiders efficient, but it removes the Rams’ most productive tackler from the center of the defense. That is a meaningful change for Los Angeles’ run fits, tight-end coverage and IDP distribution.
Sources
Los Angeles Rams, Week 7 injury report: https://www.therams.com/news/rams-injury-report-week-7-2026-at-raiders-puka-nacua-trent-mcduffie-questionable-nate-landman-out
Los Angeles Rams, 2026 team statistics: https://www.therams.com/team/stats/2026/REG
Los Angeles Rams, unofficial depth chart: https://www.therams.com/team/depth-chart
Las Vegas Raiders, 2026 team statistics: https://www.raiders.com/team/stats/
Factual cutoff: October 23, 2026, 10:19 p.m. Central Time.
Comments