The Rams have managed to keep winning, but the passing game has taken a clear hit without Davante Adams. Puka Nacua has carried the load, and the numbers show just how much the offense has leaned on him: 19 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns since Adams went out. Defenses have been able to key on him, and the result has been a passing attack that has drifted into short, safe throws more than anything else.
That’s why the trade deadline looming on November 10 matters. With Adams still working back from injury and not expected to return until Week 12 or 13 at the absolute earliest, the Rams may have to look outside the building for another receiver who can take some of the pressure off Nacua and stretch the field a little more.
Tutu Atwell gave the offense a jolt in Week 8 with a 40-yard catch after five straight three-and-outs, but he still has to prove he can be counted on every week. Since last season, he has 11 catches in 15 games.
One name that fits the Rams’ need is Josh Downs. Indianapolis is in rough shape after firing general manager Chris Ballard and falling to 2-6 following a 42-7 loss to the Jaguars in Week 8.
The Colts have already moved DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, and Jonathan Taylor is also on the trade block. Downs, a former third-round pick in the final year of his rookie deal, has asked out too.
He may not be the flashiest option, but he has been productive. Downs leads the Colts with 30 catches for 330 yards and has five receptions of 20-plus yards.
He is also on a cheap contract, which matters. The problem for Los Angeles is the price.
Indianapolis reportedly wants a third-round pick, and the Rams are short on draft capital, with only four picks in next year’s draft and a depleted 2028 stash. That could push Downs toward a team willing to pay more.
Brian Thomas Jr. is the bigger swing. The Jaguars receiver has been in trade rumors for weeks, and unlike Downs, he brings real downfield ability.
The issue is that his production has cratered: 10 catches for 1107 yards on 22 targets. That’s a stunning drop for the same first-round rookie who posted 87/1282/10 and made the Pro Bowl.
Thomas is under contract through next season, with a possible fifth-year option after that, so the upside is obvious if a new situation gets him going again. But the asking price is steep.
Jacksonville is reportedly looking for a second-rounder, using the Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. trade as a guide. That may be a tough number for the Rams to meet, especially given where Thomas was drafted and what Los Angeles has left to work with.
The most affordable path may be Dontayvion Wicks. Philadelphia, like Indianapolis, is a team that could make sense as a seller, especially with Jalen Hurts out indefinitely and the season slipping away.
Wicks has put together 19 catches for 284 yards and has been the most efficient of the three options, with a 56.4 success rate that stands out. He has also shown he can be a steady presence in the middle of the field.
Wicks is under contract through 2027 after signing a $12.5 million, one-year extension with Philadelphia. That is not nothing, but the Rams are likely to spend next season replacing Adams anyway, and Wicks offers a higher floor and ceiling than any other Los Angeles receiver not named Nacua.
The price could be the most manageable of the group too. Philadelphia sent Green Bay a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder to get him, and if teams view the Eagles as a club ready to sell, that return could shrink.
In Other News...
Rams Rookie Suddenly Forced A Bigger Sean McVay Decision
The Rams found a little more offensive rhythm against the Chargers after leaning harder on rookie tight end Max Klare in the second half, and the usage jump came with a career-high snap count. For a team still sorting out how to distribute work around its young pieces, that kind of in-game adjustment matters, especially when it helps the offense settle in and keeps the matchup from feeling one-dimensional.
It also fits into a broader picture of how Sean McVay is managing the roster right now. Blake Corum and Kyren Williams continue to share the backfield, Puka Nacua remains the clear focal point at receiver, and the edge rotation has included Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey. Klares expanded role adds another layer to those weekly decisions, and it leaves McVay with one more personnel question to answer as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Found New Defensive Spark As One Offensive Issue Still Lingers
The Rams finally strung together back-to-back wins for the first time this season, beating the Chargers 24-9 in Week 8 and moving back to .500 at 4-4. The game offered a little of everything the Rams have been searching for, from a steadier defensive showing to useful contributions from players such as Trent McDuffie, Blake Corum, Josaiah Stewart, Wesley Bailey and Tutu Atwell. Even with McDuffie working through a recent groin injury, the defense helped set the tone and gave the team a much-needed lift.
Still, the offensive side did not come out of the game looking fully settled, especially after a sluggish first half. The Rams got enough to win, but the uneven start left one familiar issue hanging over a team that is trying to build momentum as the season moves forward. There was also some injury concern to monitor after Jaylen Watson left with a shoulder injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a defense that had just found some new spark. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Handed Justin Herbert An Ugly Rivalry Milestone
The latest chapter in the Rams-Chargers rivalry left Justin Herbert with an unwanted place in the record book, and it came in a game that only added to the frustration around the Chargers season. After the Week 8 loss to the Rams, Herbert now has the most losses by an NFL quarterback since 2020, a grim marker for a player still trying to carry a team that has yet to find its footing.
Los Angeles is still winless at 0-7, and Herberts numbers against the Rams reflected the broader offensive problems that have followed the Chargers all season. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 257 yards, but the two interceptions and lack of a touchdown summed up another rough outing for a team that made offseason changes and still has not solved its issues. [Read more 🡒]