Johnny Mundt (knee) and Jake Funk (hamstring) both out for season
The Los Angeles Rams didn’t have any trouble putting away the New York Giants in Week 6, but they didn’t come away from the game completely unscathed. Both Johnny Mundt and Jake Funk suffered injuries on Sunday, knocking them out for the second half of the contest.
On Monday, Sean McVay revealed that Mundt and Funk will both be out for the rest of the season, per J.B. Long.
Mundt injured his knee and Funk tore his hamstring, and both players will undergo surgery.
Ouch. @RamsNFL lose TE Johnny Mundt (ACL) and rookie RB Jake Funk (hamstring) for the year, Sean McVay announces. Both injuries will require surgery.
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) October 18, 2021
Mundt exited in the first half of the game with a knee injury that was discovered to be a torn ACL. The Rams will place Mundt on season-ending injured reserve. While Mundt isn’t a lethal weapon through the air, he’s a capable pass-catcher that is useful as a blocker.
The five-year veteran has caught 10 passes for 93 yards in his career. Mundt saw an increase in playing time behind Tyler Higbee with Gerald Everett departing in free agency. We could see either Jacob Harris or Brycen Hopkins in an expanded role amid the absence of Mundt.
As for Funk, the rookie running back sustained a hamstring injury on Sunday versus the Giants.
Funk spent most of his time on special teams, playing in more than 50% of the Rams’ special teams snaps in four out of the first six weeks. With Cam Akers, Raymond Calais, and Xavier Jones all on injured reserve already, Funk was serving as the No. 3 running back on the depth chart behind Darrell Henderson Jr. and Sony Michel.
Seeing that Los Angeles is now thin at running back, they could look to add someone in free agency. And given Funk’s role, the Rams may prioritize someone that can contribute on special teams.
Hopefully, Mundt and Funk can come back stronger for the Rams in 2022.
