INGLEWOOD, Calif –– He woke up grateful and overwhelmed to be in the NFL. The moment he long dreamt of came to fruition. Seeing his name emblazoned on the back of an NFL jersey was momentous, but it almost didn't happen. His dreams were nearly derailed after a rash of injuries and his father's passing while in college; Jordan Whittington is now savoring the moment.
Before the game, he said a prayer: "God, if this life only exists in my dreams, then don't wake me up." After a six-catch, 74-yard preseason debut for the Los Angeles Rams, Whittington may dream more during the day.
It didn't take the 6th-round rookie out of Texas long to announce his arrival to the NFL; after shaking off an Eric Scott tackle, Whittington took a first-quarter slant for 30 yards, setting up an early Rams field goal en route to a 13-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He plays with the tenacity and fervor that defines and typifies the Rams' wide receiver room.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was effusive with his praise of Whittington.
"Jordan Whittington also really stood out to me. You can see he's got a great look in his eye, great game-day demeanor," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "He's a grown man, and he played like a grown man with the ball in his hands, did a great job without it. I just really like him.
"He's going to be a factor for us, and I thought today was a good start for him, and he's the type of guy that's only going to continue to grow from that."
Another rugged, dynamic receiver, Whittington, joins Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua under the tutelage of wide receiver coach Eric Yarber. Whittington understands the blessing afforded him to be in the same position room as a triple crown winner, known for his sly and precise route running.
"A guy like Cooper who's so smart and knows the game, and things move so slow to him," Whittington said. "Just having him teach the things that he knows...it really helps."
The rookie's dreams are not relegated to the night–they're unfolding in the light of the day before us all. And as he continues to dream with his eyes wide open, the Rams — and the rest of the NFL — will take notice.