Jaylen Watson dislocated his shoulder against the Denver Broncos last Sunday, and the aftershocks are already rocking the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive backfield. The Broncos, who were completely shut out in the first half of that game, suddenly dropped 30 points in the second after Watson went down, laying bare a terrifying lack of depth that could haunt the Rams for weeks. This isn’t just one player out, this is a whole unit in serious trouble, especially heading into Week 4.
Tight End Shuffle: Rookie Steps Up, Vets Go Down
Terrance Ferguson, the second-year tight end, is officially out for the upcoming Philadelphia Eagles game after sustaining a medial ankle sprain in Week 3. This is a tough break for Ferguson, but it’s a massive opportunity for rookie Max Klare. Coach Sean McVay flat-out said it: “It certainly does,” when asked if Klare was in for a bigger role. McVay added that “This week will represent an opportunity for him to be able to get some reps and maybe get some good game-time action for us.” As if that wasn’t enough, fellow tight end Colby Parkinson also took a hit in the Denver game, suffering an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Parkinson didn’t practice today and is looking like a game-time decision. Talk about a brutal blow to the tight end room.
Defensive Backfield Depth Takes a Punch, Donald’s Status a Mystery
It’s not just Watson’s dislocated shoulder creating chaos in the secondary. Kamren Kinchens will miss his third game in a row with a hamstring issue he picked up back in Week 1. Josh Wallace is also limited with a shoulder injury, although he did play through it last week. The biggest shadow hanging over the Rams defense, though, has to be Aaron Donald. The man didn’t practice for the second straight day because of a sore back and is listed as questionable. When McVay was pressed about Donald’s availability, he dodged it, saying, “I wouldn’t want to say anything, you know, of that nature yet, but I think, you know, the back’s a little bit sore.” That kind of evasiveness from a coach usually means something big is up. Plus, Nate Landman didn’t practice and is questionable with a shoulder injury himself, an issue that’s been nagging him since Week 1 but he’s been playing through. Puka Nacua, who missed Week 2 and 3 with a hip ailment after initially hurting his groin in camp, is listed as limited but expected to play, which is at least *some* good news on the injury front.
So, the Rams are staring down the barrel of a major challenge against the Philadelphia Eagles. Can Max Klare seize his moment? How will that patchwork defensive backfield hold up against a potent offense? And what in the world is going on with Aaron Donald’s back? This Week 4 matchup is going to tell us a lot about the grit of this team and how much depth they actually have when things get rough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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