When the Rams announced that guard Justin Dedich would open training camp on the non-football injury list, they did not reveal the nature of that injury. Today they explained it.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Justin Dedich “had a hand accident around the Fourth of July, and so that’s kind of what’s keeping him out for now.”
McVay didn’t specifically mention fireworks, but that’s the obvious conclusion people will draw from a July 4 hand accident.
During Fourth of July weekend in 2015, two different NFL players lost fingers in fireworks accidents. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s injury caused him to miss half that season, although he had a long career after that, including being a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion in Tampa Bay in 2020. Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Wilson also suffered a serious hand injury at Fourth of July 2015 and never played again.
There’s been no word on the severity of Dedich’s injury.
Dedich signed with the Rams as an undrafted rookie out of USC in 2024 and has played in 29 games for them, with nine starts.