The Rams’ injury situation has created an opening, and two undrafted rookies are stepping right into it.
Darryl Peterson III was signed to the active roster earlier this week, while Wesley Bailey opened the season on the practice squad. Both entered the year with a chance to learn from Myles Garrett. Now, with the defense hit by injuries, they are being asked to help fill the void he leaves behind.
That is where defensive coordinator Chris Shula comes in. He has to move away from his blue-chip defensive plan and reshape the playbook around players who arrived without much fanfare. It is not the ideal setup, but it is the one he has right now.
For Peterson and Bailey, the challenge is simpler to define, even if it is not easy to meet. They have earned an opportunity, but the real work starts now. Between them, they have played fewer than 100 defensive snaps, which means the trial-and-error part of their development is still ahead of them.
Bailey, though, is already giving Rams fans something to watch. Peterson’s role is still something of a question, but the appeal is obvious: these are the kinds of players who can turn a thin depth chart into a surprise source of production.
That is part of the Rams’ formula, too. General manager Les Snead has long leaned on undrafted and under-the-radar players to help hold expensive rosters together. With injuries piling up, the burden falls even more heavily on that kind of value.
And there is real value in watching a rookie rise. Fans gravitate to stars, sure, but there is always a pull toward the overlooked player who forces his way into the picture. Peterson and Bailey now have that chance.
Their performances could also ripple beyond this season. The Rams are still sorting out which veterans, if any, should be considered for contract extensions. Edge rusher Byron Young is one of the names in that mix, and he has already earned top dollar for what comes next.
If Bailey or Peterson break through, Snead may decide to direct limited salary cap dollars elsewhere. If they do not, nothing changes. But with the way Snead has worked in the past, betting on lesser-scouted rookies is hardly a reckless move.
For now, the Rams have unexpected talent in the pipeline, and the next stretch will show just how far it can go.
In Other News...
Puka Nacua Gives Rams One Huge Week 7 Concern
Puka Nacuas name showed up on the Rams injury report with a calf issue, and that alone changes the feel of a Week 7 matchup that already had enough moving parts. Listed as questionable against the Raiders, Nacua has missed two games this season and has not been able to practice fully, leaving Los Angeles with one of its most important pass-catching pieces in genuine doubt going into the weekend.
The timing is especially awkward for a Rams offense that is already planning around Davante Adams being sidelined with a hamstring injury. With so much expected to run through Nacua in the passing game, the Rams now have to manage the possibility that their top target may end up as a game-time decision, turning a key divisional-weekend style test into an early stress point for the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Tough Puka Nacua Decision In Week 7
Puka Nacuas availability has become one of the biggest Week 7 questions for the Rams after he hurt his calf in practice and landed on the questionable list. For a team that has leaned on him as a central piece of the offense when hes healthy, the timing is far from ideal, especially with his history of missing games because of injuries.
The Rams now have to weigh the short-term benefit of having him on the field against the risk of making the calf issue worse. If they decide to be cautious, it would open the door for other offensive options to take on a larger role, but it also leaves Los Angeles facing a real test in how much it can ask from the rest of the group without one of its most dependable weapons. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Davante Adams Problem They Can't Ignore
Davante Adams hamstring injury has quickly become more than a short-term setback for the Rams. After suffering the issue in Week 6, the veteran receiver is expected to undergo a procedure to clean out his hamstring tendon in an effort to speed up the recovery process, with a return timeline now pointing toward the teams Week 11 bye.
The timing leaves Los Angeles trying to piece together its receiving plan for the next game while also waiting on Puka Nacuas calf injury status. With Adams unavailable and Nacua uncertain, the Rams may have to navigate a stretch that tests both their depth and their ability to keep the passing game on schedule. [Read more 🡒]