The Rams’ list of injuries grew in their 30-26 loss to the Broncos on Sunday night, with cornerback Jaylen Watson and tight end Terrance Ferguson likely to be sidelined this weekend against the Eagles.
asserted
Watson → grow → Eagles
Watson dislocated his shoulder, but coach Sean McVay does not expect him to go on injured reserve.
asserted
him → dislocate → reserve
Ferguson sprained the medial ligament in his ankle, while tight end Colby Parkinson’s status is uncertain after spraining the AC joint in his shoulder.
asserted
status → sprain → shoulder
Those injuries all contributed to a blown 16-point lead at Denver as Los Angeles dropped to 1-2.
asserted
Angeles → contribute → 1
Not having Watson deprived the defense of its most physical cover cornerback, while the absence of two tight ends further limited the offense, which was already without top wide receiver Puka Nacua for the second straight week.
asserted
which → have → week
McVay expressed optimism Nacua could return this week after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury.
uncertain
Nacua → express → injury
“It sounds like he had a good workout before the game,” McVay said.
asserted
McVay → sound → game
The absence of Nacua as both a receiver and run blocker was felt in the red zone, where the offense scored one touchdown in four opportunities.
asserted
offense → feel → opportunities
Not having him made the Rams more reliant on their three-tight end packages coming into the game, and the injuries to Ferguson and Parkinson mandated further adjustments.
asserted
injuries → have → adjustments
The loss of Watson, who signed a three-year contract worth up to $51 million in March, tested the Rams’ depth in the secondary.
asserted
who → sign → secondary
Josh Wallace was called for a controversial pass-interference penalty that negated his interception and extended the Broncos’ game-winning drive.
asserted
that → call → drive
“There was a lot of opportunities that we had to be able to close the door on that game,” McVay said Monday.
asserted
McVay → be → game
“And I was proud of the way that our group competed, the way that we kept responding.
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we → compete → that
There were certainly some things that we can learn from.”
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we → be → that
What’s working
The connection between quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams flourished for the second straight game without Nacua.
asserted
connection → work → Nacua
Adams caught seven passes for 137 yards despite being covered by arguably the NFL’s cornerback in Patrick Surtain II.
asserted
Adams → catch → II
Tight end Tyler Higbee and wide receiver Konata Mumpfield also stepped up to help offset Nacua’s absence.
asserted
Higbee → step → absence
What needs help
asserted
needs → need → help
Despite an effective performance from running back Kyren Williams, Stafford threw the ball 55 times.
asserted
Stafford → throw → ball
McVay went away from the run in the first half, and it led to drives stalling out when the Rams could have taken a commanding lead.
uncertain
Rams → go → lead
In the second half, that lack of balance started with a three-and-out on Los Angeles’ opening possession and put Denver in position to start regaining momentum.
asserted
lack → start → momentum
Stock up
Williams showed his well-rounded game by rushing for 88 yards on 15 carries and catching six passes for 70 yards, in addition to his contributions in pass protection.
asserted
Williams → show → protection
It was his second straight game averaging better than 5 yards per carry, showing Williams is still the lead back ahead of Blake Corum.
asserted
Williams → average → Corum
After the Rams spent the offseason trying to address the special teams breakdowns that cost them the top seed in the NFC and a trip to the Super Bowl, some alarming issues popped up.
asserted
issues → spend → Bowl
A 28-yard punt return kick-started Denver’s first touchdown drive.
asserted
return → start → drive
Then, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was called for unsportsmanlike conduct to negate a punt that would have backed the Broncos up.
asserted
that → call → Broncos
Denver gained 39 yards of field position on the rekick.
asserted
Denver → gain → rekick
McVay did not provide an updated timeline on star defensive end Myles Garrett’s return from knee surgery.
asserted
McVay → provide → surgery
Garrett is not eligible to be activated from injured reserve until at least Week 6 against the Cardinals.
asserted
Garrett → activate → Cardinals
Key number
20,279 — Stafford’s yardage total in six seasons with the Rams, which makes him the first quarterback in league history to throw for 20,000 yards with two teams.
asserted
him → make → teams
He had 45,109 yards in 12 seasons with the Lions.
asserted
He → have → Lions
Up next
The Rams visit the Eagles on Sunday.
asserted
Rams → visit → Sunday
They blew a 19-point lead at Philadelphia last season, losing 33-26 in a game marred by several gaffes in the kicking game.
asserted
They → blow → game
The Aporia
