The Rams may be headed into Week 4 against the Eagles without one of the pieces they built this secondary around.
Jaylen Watson dislocated his shoulder in the Week 3 loss to the Denver Broncos and did not play in the second half. Sean McVay said the injury is not expected to send Watson to injured reserve, but the cornerback is likely to miss this week.
“He won't go on IR, but he will probably be out for this week,” said head coach Sean McVay. “We'll see if we can get him strengthened and harness it. It's something that he's dealt with before, but it's not something that we've discussed IR.”
Watson had been in the middle of his strongest performance since arriving in Los Angeles before the shoulder injury changed the game. In the first half, the Rams defense held the Broncos to -0.33 EPA per pass, 53 passing yards and 4.4 yards per attempt. Once Watson was out, Denver moved the ball more easily, posting -0.04 EPA per pass, 133 passing yards and 6.05 yards per attempt in the second half.
The matchup numbers tell the story of why the Rams will feel this loss. Courtland Sutton managed just one catch for 10 yards against Watson, and Jaylen Waddle had no receptions on two targets while being covered by him. Sutton’s biggest catch of the night came against Wallace.
Los Angeles is still in a better spot at corner than it was a year ago, but the gap between Watson and the next options is real. The Broncos were able to work at Wallace and Emmanuel Forbes once Watson was gone, and that’s where the stress started to show.
Over the last few weeks, the Rams have leaned more heavily on man coverage, and that has not always been a natural fit for Forbes. The team has used press coverage at the fourth-highest rate in the league this season, 34.2 percent, and Forbes’ smaller frame can be exposed by bigger receivers in those looks.
Wallace had his moments, but the communication issues showed up too. The Rams had more blown coverages with him on the field, including on the costly 2nd-and-20 conversion, when he and McDuffie misread each other.
That kind of breakdown is less likely when Watson and McDuffie are the pairing, thanks to their familiarity. Wallace’s lone interception was also helped by Kobie Turner tipping the pass.
The Rams are also losing something beyond coverage. Watson has been one of their best run-defending corners, and Pro Football Focus ranked him eighth among cornerbacks against the run this season.
Forbes has been better in that area this year, though part of that is tied to how carefully the Rams have managed his workload. He has played only 13 run defense snaps this season.
Even with Watson out, the Rams remain in a better place at corner because of McDuffie. But the depth behind him is about to be tested hard. McVay said Watson has dealt with this kind of issue before, and for now the Rams are expected to lean on Wallace and Forbes depending on the situation.
That’s a notable concern with the Eagles and Bills on deck over the next two weeks. Watson’s absence forces the Rams back toward the same depth they leaned on last year, and it puts their aggressive defensive approach under a brighter spotlight.
His physical style lets Los Angeles play tighter coverage and gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula more options. Without him, the Rams will find out quickly whether Wallace and Forbes can hold up as dependable backups.
In Other News...
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Sean McVay added more fuel to the conversation by confirming the league agreed a pass interference penalty against the Rams was incorrect in a recent game. Across the division, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he once supported allowing challenges on those calls, but he is more hesitant now because of the effect on game flow. For the Rams, it is another reminder that the debate is not just about fairness, but about what kind of game the NFL is willing to live with. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Fans Will Relate To Kelly Staffords Reaction After That Call
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Kelly Stafford seemed to capture the mood from the family side of the trip, sharing photos from Denver as the game played out. For Rams fans, it is the familiar mix of travel, emotion and officiating frustration that can make a loss linger a little longer, especially when a single call ends up shaping the final moments. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Offense Just Lost A Piece Sean McVay Has Counted On
Terrance Fergusons rookie season hit a setback this week, with the Rams placing the tight end on injured reserve because of a medial ankle sprain. The move means Ferguson will miss at least four weeks, taking away a young pass-catching option Sean McVay had been counting on as the offense tries to keep its depth intact.
To help cover the roster shuffle, Los Angeles elevated wide receiver Alex Bachman and defensive end Larrell Murchison from the practice squad. Fergusons absence also opens the door for rookie Max Klare to see more snaps at tight end, giving the Rams another chance to test their depth at a position that suddenly looks thinner than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]