The Los Angeles Rams found out in a hurry how thin the margin is in their secondary.
For a half against the Denver Broncos, Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie helped keep the lid on everything. Denver didn’t score before halftime, and the Rams defense looked like it had the Broncos bottled up.
Then Watson went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter, and the whole game shifted. Los Angeles gave up 23 points in the second half, plus the seven that came off Matthew Stafford’s pick-six, and Denver stormed back for a 30-26 win.
Emmanuel Forbes struggled with the bigger workload, but he wasn’t the only one asked to do more. Josh Wallace, stepping in behind Watson, didn’t exactly have a clean night either. He was dealing with bad calls, precise throws, and a heavy dose of targets once Broncos quarterback Bo Nix started steering away from McDuffie.
That was the adjustment Denver made. The Broncos identified what had been working early, then leaned into it by attacking Forbes and Wallace. Nix didn’t put up a massive stat line, but the approach was enough to flip the game and complete the comeback.
And there’s a real chance this gets harder for the Rams before it gets easier.
In just three games, the secondary has already been hit by injuries to safety Kam Kinchens and Watson. That leaves two new defensive backs needing to step in and build chemistry on the fly, which is never simple in the middle of a season.
The unit isn’t falling apart, but it’s also not exactly loaded with margin for error. Denver was able to find enough success through its playmakers to keep Los Angeles’ cornerbacks under pressure, and the results were good enough to win even if they weren’t overwhelming.
What makes the situation tougher is the depth chart. The Rams have some extra bodies at safety, but not much cushion at cornerback. Watson’s injury has been confirmed as a dislocated shoulder, and Sean McVay said Watson will most likely miss Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
So now the Rams have to reset fast. The Eagles have given them problems lately, and unless the secondary - with McDuffie still carrying a heavy load - can hold together and stay healthy, the pressure on this group is only going to keep rising.
In Other News...
Matthew Stafford Sparked A Broncos Debate With His Tunnel Exit
After the Rams 30-26 loss to the Broncos, a postgame video of Matthew Stafford moving through the tunnel quickly became a talking point beyond the final score. The clip showed the veteran quarterback walking past Denvers 5280 sign and appearing to spit in that area, a moment that drew immediate attention because it came in the wake of a game the Rams had led at halftime.
There has been no official confirmation about what Stafford intended or even exactly what he was spitting at, and he has not commented on the incident. For a game that already featured a big passing night from Stafford, 390 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, the late video added an odd extra layer to a loss that left plenty for the Rams to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Trade Speculation Says A Lot About Their WR Problem
The Rams 1-2 start has already put a spotlight on a receiving room that looks thinner than expected, especially with Puka Nacua sidelined early and expected back by Week 4. Davante Adams remains the headliner, and Terrance Ferguson is in the mix, but the injuries have left Los Angeles needing more than just a short-term patch as it tries to steady an uneven opening stretch.
ESPNs Ben Solak even floated the idea of the Rams exploring a trade for another wideout, naming Marvin Harrison Jr. and Quentin Johnston as possible targets. It is the kind of speculation that usually says as much about a teams present discomfort as it does about any specific deal, and for the Rams, the real question is how much urgency they feel to add help before the season gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Offense May Need Another Reset Before Eagles Game
The Rams came out of their game against the Broncos with more than one injury wrinkle to sort through before turning the page to Philadelphia. Tight end Terrance Ferguson is expected to miss the Week 4 matchup with a medial ankle sprain, while Colby Parkinson is dealing with an AC shoulder sprain on top of the knee issue that had already been monitoring his status.
Puka Nacua gives the offense a more encouraging note, with the team optimistic he could be back after sitting out the previous two games. Even with that possible boost, the Rams are still facing another short-week reset in a game that will ask the offense to adjust quickly against the Eagles. [Read more 🡒]