Moving ahead, the Rams’ backfield depth chart will need to be adjusted. Despite the fact that their run game took over in the second half against the Cardinals on Sunday, both of the team’s top two backs were injured.
Kyren Williams had a career-high 158-yard day in Los Angeles’ easy win, but the second-year back hurt his ankle. While Williams is not yet ruled out for Week 7, Ronnie Rivers appears to be done for the time being. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Los Angeles RB2 suffered a grade 3 PCL strain. Rivers is projected to miss at least four games, putting him on the IR for the 3-3 club.
The Rams have already had a substantial backfield upheaval in the last year, as they waived Darrell Henderson in November 2022 and traded Cam Akers to the Vikings in a salary dump in September. The Rams started anew in the early 2020s, with Henderson, Akers, and Sony Michel as their starting backs.
The Rams have already had a substantial backfield upheaval in the last year, as they waived Darrell Henderson in November 2022 and traded Cam Akers to the Vikings in a salary dump in September. The Rams began this season with Henderson, Akers, and Sony Michel as their starting backs (Henderson is still a free agent). Williams is currently the team’s starting running back, and after an injury-plagued rookie season, the Notre Dame product has emerged as a promising talent for the retooling franchise. Through six games, the Rams’ ground attack ranks 18th.
Williams, who was drafted in the fifth round last year, had two 100-yard rushing games in his last three games and has been the team’s undisputed starter all season. After a 141-snap rookie season, Williams has appeared in 337 offensive plays in 2023. This equates to an 82% snap rate. Despite the fact that Williams may need a week to recover, he does not appear to be an IR candidate. If Rivers, a 2022 UDFA out of Fresno State, is placed on injured reserve, he won’t be able to return until Week 12.
After trading Akers to Minnesota to end a stalemate, the Rams now have only sixth-round rookie Zach Evans on their 53-man roster behind Williams and Rivers. Former five-star recruit, the TCU and Ole Miss back showed flashes in college but never surpassed 1,000 yards rushing. In his one season at Ole Miss, he finished with 936 points. However, Evans (four carries, 10 yards in his entire career) is likely to receive more work in the future, especially if Williams is forced to miss time. Rivers’ injury is likely to have an influence on Royce Freeman, who the Rams have on their practice squad.
Obviously, the sixth-year back has far more experience than Evans. This season, the former third-round pick has appeared in three games but has only seen action on special teams.
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