The Los Angeles Rams might be without their absolute best cornerback against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, as Trent McDuffie picked up a groin injury during Thursday’s practice and is now questionable for Sunday. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday that McDuffie was skipping practice today, making his availability for that divisional showdown totally up in the air. This is a massive hit if he can’t go.
Who Even Steps Up If McDuffie Can’t Go?
Look, McDuffie’s potential absence isn’t just a concern, it’s a full-blown crisis for the Rams’ defense, especially with Arizona’s passing attack coming to town. This guy has been an All-Pro talent, an absolute cornerstone of LA’s secondary since they snagged him from Kansas City this offseason. If he’s sidelined, we’re talking about Josh Wallace and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. needing to step into way bigger roles alongside Jaylen Watson. That’s a huge ask. The Rams would lose their most reliable option in coverage, hands down. You just know Arizona is gonna try to exploit that matchup, forcing LA to tweak their coverage schemes and maybe even bring extra safety help over the top. The problem with that? It pulls resources away from stopping immediate threats like Trey McBride. It’s a lose-lose situation for the defense.
These McDuffie Numbers Are Straight Up FILTHY
Here’s the kicker: McDuffie has arguably been the best cornerback in football this season. We’re not just making this up, the numbers scream it. Pro Football Reference’s advanced defensive stats show that opposing quarterbacks have completed a measly seven of 21 passes thrown his way, totaling just 42 yards, with zero touchdowns, and McDuffie even snagged an interception. That kind of production translates to an absolutely ridiculous 22.5 passer rating allowed. Think about that for a second. Twenty-two point five! Pro Football Focus backs it up, ranking him third among 104 qualified cornerbacks with an 85.2 overall defensive grade and second with an 88.7 coverage grade. These aren’t just good numbers, they illustrate exactly how impossible McDuffie has been to attack this year.
Losing this guy against Arizona means the Rams have to completely rethink their defensive game plan. All eyes are gonna be on that Rams injury report right up until kickoff for Sunday’s divisional battle against the Cardinals. If he’s out, the Rams are gonna have to pull some serious magic to slow down Arizona’s passing game. This is gonna be a nail-biter, no doubt.
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.
Leave a Reply