Injury update: LA Rams defense places rookie sensation Jordan Fuller on IR

A silver lining in the timing

The timing of this is important. With assigning him to the injured reserve roster now, the Rams begin the three-week timer. The Rams travel to face the San Francisco 49ers, host the Chicago Bears, and then travel to face the Miami Dolphins before their week nine bye week. With any luck, Fuller will be fully healed by the time the LA Rams emerge from the bye and take on the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

This absence occurs against three very good NFL teams. But the absence of Fuller will most impact the Rams pass defense. That means the Rams will face Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Foles, and Ryan Fitzpatrick without Fuller’s ability to cover closely.

More positives

The LA Rams have both Taylor Rapp and Terrell Burgess on the roster, both of whom shared absorbing the snaps of Fuller previously. Now the Rams will learn if either or both have improved from their last outings. In any case, this will allow the Rams to get some snaps with players who may have significant stakes in the Rams’ success next season.  After all, if the Rams have doubts or concerns about either player now, that will certainly play a role in how they approach this offseason.

And the Rams have safety Nick Scott on ice so far as well. He is their second-year safety, and stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 199 pounds. So far, he has played exclusively on special teams, but he was drafted specifically to develop into the Rams secondary rotation. With this latest development, the need for players to enter that rotation is here.  The only question is who will step up?