The Rams are facing a brutal reality early this season: their depth is getting absolutely shredded, and it’s all thanks to a nasty run of injuries to their biggest stars. It’s September 29th, and what’s “real” in the NFL is always a moving target, but for the Rams, these issues look like they’re here to stay for a while.
Stars Down, Depth Exposed
Injuries are hitting hard, exposing a major vulnerability for a team with +670 Super Bowl odds. When you’re paying top dollar for stars, filling out the roster behind them gets tough, right? Well, that challenge is hitting the Rams square in the face. They’ve got reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett barely playing, superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua sidelined, and crucial offseason addition Jaylen Watson also out. The lack of reliable depth behind these guys is glaring, and it’s putting immense pressure on the rest of the squad.
Where Did the Pass Rush Go?
Let’s talk pass rush. This is wild. The Rams are currently sitting at 29th in sack rate across the league. You read that right: twenty-ninth! This is the same team that was 10th last year. Sure, they swapped Jared Verse, a very good player, for Myles Garrett, an all-time talent. But if Garrett’s hardly on the field, that talent isn’t doing much good. Instead, guys like Kobie Turner and Byron Young are seeing inexperienced players getting huge roles behind them. Turner’s own pressure rate has dropped significantly, from 12.4% last year to a measly 7.6% this season. The only silver lining? They are still generating pressure, so maybe, just maybe, those sacks will start coming. But for now, that D-line is looking rough.
The “Davante Adams Show” and Tight End Mania
And then there’s the wide receiver room. With no Puka Nacua, it’s pretty much just “the Davante Adams show.” Get this: the Rams only dressed four wide receivers in a recent game, but _five_ tight ends! “SNF” play-by-play man Mike Tirico said he couldn’t even remember the last time he had more tight ends than wide receivers on his call sheet. Yeah, Konata Mumpfield had a great game with a long touchdown, but let’s be real, you can absolutely see what’s missing. Nacua unlocks _everything_ for Sean McVay’s offense. While those three-tight-end looks are helpful (the Rams led the NFL in them), it shows just how much they’re trying to compensate for the missing firepower.
It’s always tough early in the season to figure out what’s “real” and what’s just an illusion. Players aren’t robots, and matchups change, but when multiple stars go down and the depth can’t hold up, you gotta wonder if this is more than just an early season blip. For these Super Bowl contenders, the coming weeks will reveal if these glaring weaknesses are just temporary setbacks or deep-seated problems keeping them up at night.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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