What are LA Rams running back options after Darrell Henderson injury?

The LA Rams were very deep at the running back position, then very shallow at the running back position. But as the team prepares for Week 17 to travel to Baltimore Maryland to take on the Ravens, the running back situation is… quite shallow once more.

The LA Rams had a healthy and productive starting running back in Sony Michel. But RB Darrell Henderson was injured once more after just one run in Week 16. Behind them are RB Cam Akers and RB Brandon Powell. Akers, of course, is coming back from an Achilles tear after less than six months’ time, which has often sidelined other players as long as a full year or longer.

Running back Darrell Henderson Jr., a player who has been trying to fend off a reputation for being less than durable, is injured once more.  Henderson ran once in Week 16 and sprained his knee in the process. Yikes. Now, what will the LA Rams do?

So Henderson is likely heading to short-term IR, again. That means a roster spot is opening.

Rams depth chart crucial now

Powell is the team’s special team’s hero. He returned a punt return for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. If you noticed, it was that play that proved to be the margin of victory for the LA Rams. Will the Rams risk pulling a player who has made such a huge impact on special teams to help carry the football? I can’t see it.

Finally, the LA Rams have rookie Jake Funk back for depth.  So far this season, Funk has carried the back twice for five yards. I’m not sure that the LA Rams view him as much of an option to handle many carries against the Ravens’ top-ranked run defense.

Of course, the team has 13+1 players currently signed to the 16 man practice squad. With the recent release of RB Mekhi Sargent, the Rams could re-sign him to the practice squad as additional insurance through the season’s end. After all. the stakes as to how the coaching staff sets up the Rams depth chart has never been more important.

The team wants to win out the season, yes. But it would be very disappointing indeed to lose a vital player to injury in the effort to move up or retain the team’s playoff seeding. But even more complicating is the fact that playing a football game trying to avoid injury is a sure-fire way to get injured.

I’d expect the LA Rams to add a running back (or two) to either the active roster or the practice squad. There is no way that the Rams can be comfy with having just Sony Michel as the only truly uninjured rusher. I get it that the team wants to demo some confidence and love on Cam Akers. But the fact is that it’s a far cry from the practice field to game day production. Or is it? Let me ponder that one and get back to you…