The Los Angeles Rams have been dealt a significant blow to their secondary, as cornerback Darious Williams is set to remain sidelined until further notice.
Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the news, stating that the team will take Williams' hamstring injury "one week at a time" to ensure a full recovery.
McVay stated that the Rams would be smart about their approach toward Williams' rehabilitation, explaining that the team would not rush him back into the game despite his important role as a cornerback.
Williams suffered the injury during the final play of the Rams' team practice on Thursday, leaving the team's coaching staff and trainers holding their breath.
Darious Williams went down with a hamstring injury on the last play of #Rams practice.https://t.co/iKJ0BT00cr
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) July 26, 2024
Fortunately, the injury is not season-ending, but it will keep Williams out of action for the foreseeable future.
The LA Rams' cornerbacks have been a strength of the team in recent seasons, but Williams' absence will be felt.
He contributed immensely to the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense last season. He made 53 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions.
His presence was expected to be a major boost to the Rams' secondary, but now the team must find a way to overcome his absence.
"We are definitely not going to rush him back," McVay assured.
"The good thing is: We're about 40-plus days out from being able to play Detroit, but hopefully we'll just take it a little bit at a time,” McVay said.
In a bid to alleviate the workload on the Rams' other cornerbacks during Williams' absence, the team signed Jerry Jacobs after Derion Kendrick also tore his ACL on Wednesday. This move will help to ensure that the team's secondary remains strong while Williams is away.
Jerry Jacobs entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent signee by the Detroit Lions out of Arkansas in 2021.
This far, the 2023 season has been the best of Jacob's career. He had 55 tackles and three interceptions, as were the 15 games he played and 12 starts. Jacobs equally logged 8 passes defenses.
Overall, the 26-year-old has had a total of 131 tackles, 23 passes defensed, and 4 interceptions across 40 games (29 starts) in three seasons.
The absence of Williams is a significant one, but the Rams are confident in their depth and versatility.
"When you're talking about those types of positions, it can be really tricky," McVay admitted. However, the team is well-equipped to pull through this hard time.
As the LA Rams prepare for their season opener against the Detroit Lions, they will do so without one of their major cornerbacks.
However, with a smart approach to Williams' rehabilitation and a deep pool of talent, the team is well-positioned to overcome this setback.
The LA Rams cornerbacks will miss Darious Williams but the signing of Jerry Jacobs brings a promising boost to the team, offering a glimmer of hope for a strong defensive showing.
Jerry Jacobs’ skill will be a valuable asset bringing depth and talent to the team and we hope the team adapts and thrives in their forthcoming game against the Detroit Lions