The Rams may be heading into Sunday’s Week 6 rematch with Arizona missing a long list of familiar names, and the injury report only got heavier on Wednesday.
Steve Avila, Puka Nacua, Trent McDuffie, Kam Curl, and Terrance Ferguson were all projected as non-participants in the team’s walkthrough, leaving Los Angeles with some real uncertainty as it prepares for the Cardinals. Most of those players are expected to sit.
McDuffie is the one the Rams are still holding out hope for. He came back against the Los Angeles Chargers, then missed last week with a back injury, and Sean McVay sounded cautiously upbeat about his chances to return.
“I think we're optimistic that this week he will be able to go,” said head coach Sean McVay. “With the injury that he sustained, it's weird because you have these muscles around it in the back, which in some of the movement, especially at his position. He's so damn tough but you want to make sure that you're putting him in a position to have a successful outcome.”
The Rams already know they’ll be without Nacua, Avila, and Ferguson against Arizona. McVay said Wednesday that Nacua won’t go on injured reserve because the team has limited return designations available. Avila and Ferguson are both expected to miss a few weeks.
There were a few more names on the report as well. Joe Cardona, Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson, and Myles Garrett were listed as limited participants.
Cardona has sat out the last two games with an ankle injury. Allen and Parkinson are still worth watching as the week goes on.
Garrett’s presence on the report isn’t expected to be a major surprise, since the Rams will likely manage him through the week to keep him ready for game day.
The Rams aren’t the only team dealing with health issues, though. Arizona is set to be without Gardner Minshew, which means Carson Beck will make his first career start against Los Angeles. Michael Wilson also hurt his neck and will be out.
The Cardinals had their own list of absences on Wednesday, with Hjalte Froholdt in concussion protocol, Jon Gaines dealing with an ankle injury, and Roy Lopez sidelined by toe and ankle issues.
Los Angeles has been fighting through injuries all season, but the last few weeks have made the challenge even tougher. The Rams have still won three straight, yet doing it again without players like Nacua and Avila will be a different kind of test as they try to avoid a sweep by Arizona.
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