The Rams are hoping Trent McDuffie’s return to Southern California gives them something to smile about in Week 2.
McDuffie, born in Westminster and back in the area after four seasons with the Chiefs, described the move home in emotional terms earlier this offseason. He said, "Honestly, I almost cried. ...
And then you come back to my family, who can see me play all the time now. ... And then just knowing I'm back in Cali."
Now the question is whether that homecoming can translate into something useful for a Rams team trying to shake off a rough opener. After a trip that ended with a lopsided loss on prime time in Australia, Los Angeles returns to SoFi Stadium still looking for the kind of sharp, complete performance expected from a team billed as a Super Bowl favorite.
The challenge doesn’t get any softer just because the Rams are back home. Their next opponent is a Giants team that already knocked off the Dallas Cowboys, so the defense will have to be ready right away.
For McDuffie, Week 1 offered one of the few bright spots in an otherwise messy night for Los Angeles. The Rams gave up 27 points and had trouble slowing the 49ers, but McDuffie held up well in coverage.
He allowed four catches on six targets, but those completions produced only 23 yards. He also broke up two passes, and one of those nearly turned into a wild interception.
The numbers tell the story pretty cleanly: 5.8 yards per completion, 3.8 yards per attempt, no missed tackles, and just nine yards after the catch allowed. He was around the ball consistently, which is more than can be said for much of the rest of the secondary.
That matters even more because the Rams need much more than a decent outing from him going forward. Los Angeles signed his teammate Jaylen Watson at a healthy $17 million average salary, while McDuffie’s extension reset the market after the trade. A deal like that comes with real expectations.
The Rams were dealing with injuries in Australia, and while edge rusher Myles Garrett landed on injured reserve, there was also some encouraging news on other players. Health is going to be a major factor if this team wants to clean things up on both sides of the ball.
For now, though, McDuffie looks like one of the pieces the Rams can trust. If the defense is going to steady itself, he’ll need to keep delivering - and if all goes well, this return to California might be one worth remembering.
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