Emmanuel Forbes Jr. didn’t see a single defensive snap in the Los Angeles Rams’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers last Thursday, and if that doesn’t make your head spin, nothing will. This is a guy they were rotating in during training camp and joint practices, suddenly ghosted when the real games started.
What in the World Happened?
Seriously, what gives? Kam Curl got hurt, right? So instead of Forbes, they pressed Jaylen McCollough into even more snaps. Then, get this, Josh Wallace actually came off the bench for seven snaps! Wallace over Forbes? It really feels like the Rams are giving him the Darious Williams treatment, just keeping him around for depth. What kind of message does that send to your players?
From JSN Battle to Sidelines: The Real Cost
Now, I’m not gonna lie, Forbes isn’t always super consistent, and yeah, a double move can sometimes beat him. But come on, last season? He was their *best* outside corner. And get this, he even went toe-to-toe with our guy, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, in a matchup that had everyone talking! When Forbes wasn’t on the field last year, the Rams were literally at their absolute worst. So, what’s the logic here? You’d think with McCollough having to play more snaps, they’d at least move Trent McDuffie inside, clearing the way for Forbes to come into the game. Instead, they trotted out Wallace. The Rams’ secondary got exposed hard in that opener, looking vulnerable, and honestly, McDuffie felt like the only defensive back who truly came to play. It’s not fair to say the other players weren’t ready, but McDuffie was the only one who didn’t seem to be on the back foot. This is a massive red flag, folks. A big, bright, flashing red flag that’s way too bright for any team hoping to contend.
So, what’s next? The Rams are staring down a New York Giants offense for Week 2 that can cause even worse problems than what the 49ers presented in Melbourne. Malik Nabers is already set to be a handful for any secondary, and Isaiah Likely is emerging as the NFL’s next playmaking tight end. How are they going to manage that with these glaring issues? Maybe a game on home soil might be the remedy to these issues. Maybe a lineup change could help, as well, because this can’t stand. Some chatter even suggests that if Forbes staying on the sidelines means McDuffie can’t be freed up for his best usage, or if McDuffie can’t be the glue that gets Quentin Lake back to his usual form, then maybe it’s time to trade Forbes. He has value, and the Rams could definitely use some future picks, especially with teams going after guys like Terrion Arnold despite his legal situation keeping him out. Whatever happens, after what we saw last week, the lack of Forbes and the massive influx of questions regarding the secondary is a tough look. It’s Week 2, and things are already looking shaky for a team with contender aspirations.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply