The Rams didn’t just add Davante Adams for his hands and route-running. They also brought in a veteran who has been acting like a coach from the jump, and that’s already paying off for Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Forbes, a cornerback entering the final season of his rookie contract, has become one of the players Adams is helping in training camp. It might sound unusual for a receiver to be tutoring a defensive back, but Adams has been working with younger players since arriving and is continuing that approach in 2026.
That matters for Forbes, who has shown enough to suggest he can be an above-average starter, even if his build remains a problem. At 6-foot and 173 pounds, he can be worn down and can struggle when physical receivers get into him.
The biggest issue has come after the catch. Forbes has shown coverage ability, but his tackling has been a weak point.
He has held opponents under a 60 percent completion rate when targeted, yet his career missed tackle percentage is over 20 percent. For the Horns, that number has climbed to nearly 22 percent.
Improvement has to come somewhere, whether that means preventing the catch in the first place, adding strength in the weight room, or finding a way to do both.
In camp, Forbes has been lined up against Adams, and the work has been competitive. The two have split their matchups evenly, and even when Adams has hauled in the ball, Forbes has finished the play with the tackle right away.
That’s the kind of test Forbes needs. Adams is forcing him through tough reps against a receiver who is difficult to cover, and Forbes is answering the challenge.
There’s still a ceiling on what Forbes can be physically. He is not going to overpower receivers, and he may not even be the player who consistently outruns his own teammates.
But he does have a real feel for breaking up passes, sometimes in acrobatic fashion. Last season, he posted a career-high 18 passes defensed, which tied for third in the NFL.
For the Rams, that makes Adams a useful addition in more ways than one. He’s a top receiver, sure.
He’s also a steady hand for teammates who can use a little extra instruction. Right now, Forbes is one of them.
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