Terrance Ferguson’s ankle injury is sounding more serious than the Rams probably wanted to admit, and Tuesday’s update from Sean McVay didn’t do much to ease the worry.
Ferguson, who turned in the best game of his career in Week 2 against the Giants, sprained his ankle six days later against the Broncos and was placed on injured reserve last week with what McVay described as a medial ankle sprain. That move means he’ll miss at least four games, but McVay’s explanation made the recovery outlook feel longer than the minimum stay on IR.
McVay said Ferguson’s placement on injured reserve was tied to “the significance” of the injury and the “real timeline” of his anticipated recovery. That doesn’t exactly point to a quick return when he becomes eligible again in Week 8.
The injury itself never looked encouraging. Ferguson appeared to worsen the issue twice in the game, first when he stumbled and grimaced at the end of a route on his opening target, then again on a nine-yard catch-and-run after briefly leaving for X-rays. He was done after that.
There was at least a little hope earlier in the week when he hadn’t yet been put on IR, but the Rams changed course on Friday. Based on McVay’s comments, Ferguson may be closer to the Week 11 bye than to an immediate return.
That’s a problem for a Rams offense that has been leaning on Ferguson as a de facto third receiver behind Davante Adams and a banged-up Puka Nacua. Konata Mumpfield could be the next man up, while Tyler Higbee is still in the mix.
But the depth chart is thin. Colby Parkinson, last year’s TE1, has been dealing with knee and shoulder injuries and “clearly isn’t himself,” and McVay hasn’t yet leaned on rookie CJ Daniels at receiver or Max Klare at tight end.
Ferguson hadn’t fully locked in his breakout status, but he had become an important piece in this receiver-lite, tight-end-centric offense. The Rams now have to patch things together and hope Nacua stays healthy. The encouraging part, at least, is that McVay isn’t worried Ferguson will be out for the season.
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