The Rams’ secondary is running thin, but Trent McDuffie keeps giving Los Angeles something it desperately needs: stability.
With the Rams sitting at 1-2 entering Week 4, the bigger-picture talk around the roster has cooled fast. A group that drew plenty of hype before the season has been forced to operate without several key names, including edge rusher Myles Garrett, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and now cornerback Jaylen Watson.
That leaves McDuffie carrying even more weight in the back end, and he has handled it. He has been a problem for opposing quarterbacks from the jump, sticking to receivers in coverage and making plays against the run. His impact is showing up in the numbers too, and the gap between him and the rest of the group is hard to miss.
Through three games, McDuffie has been targeted 18 times and allowed just six catches, while breaking up seven passes and grabbing one interception. He has added 11 tackles and has not missed one. By comparison, Watson has given up nine catches on 13 targets, Emmanuel Forbes has seen four targets, and Josh Wallace has been active in a smaller sample, but McDuffie’s production stands alone.
The pass breakup total is especially eye-catching. Seven already is the kind of number that usually starts to resemble a full-season haul, not a three-game stretch. Quarterbacks have clearly taken the hint and are looking elsewhere.
What makes McDuffie so valuable is that he isn’t just a cover corner or just a run defender. He gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a player who can handle both jobs, which matters a lot when the rest of the cornerback room is being squeezed by injuries.
After two games, McDuffie had allowed only five receptions on 12 targets. Now that total sits at six receptions on 18 targets. And he’s doing it against the top end of opposing passing games, not soft matchups.
The issue for Los Angeles is what comes next. With Watson sidelined, the Rams are stretched at cornerback, and the depth chart doesn’t leave much room for error.
As things stand, the team will use every healthy corner available against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. Practice-squad corner Cam Lampkin is a strong candidate to be elevated, just so the Rams do not have to kick safeties over to corner if another injury hits.
For now, though, McDuffie is the one piece holding the picture together. As long as he’s on the field, the Rams’ secondary has a fighting chance.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]