3 reasons why starting backups for Week 18 should excite Rams fans

(2) - Seldom-seen defenders will make the highlight reel

It's hard to imagine that a very young defense has an abundance of players who simply did not see much playing time in 2024. But that is the reality of rostering such a young and talented defense under the auspices of new DC Chris Shula. The Rams have made it a point to feature young players throughtout the 2024 NFL season. Now, there is a huge question over who will play in Week 18, who will sit out, and most of all, will it make a difference in their preparedness for the postseason?

There are many players on the defensive side of the football who have not seen much in the way of playing time this season. And then there is the in-season additions to the team as well. Finally, which of the team's practice squad players will be elevated to compete in Week 18? The Rams can activate two practice squad players to play in Week 18. The thing is, the team has many players who could be named to play in Week 18.

So let's break down some of the players who could see playing time in Week 18 on defense:

CB Emmanuel Forbes

It's rare that a Round 1 rookie is released from the team that drafted him in his second season, but that is what former Washington Commanders Emmanuel Forbes faces as he fights to improve his NFL reputation in the LA Rams secondary. So far, Forbes has not seen any action on defense, although he did play in two snaps for special teams. In his rookie season, Forbes allowed just 60.7 percent of passes thrown his way to find their target.

A former teammate of Rams DB Kamren Curl, Forbes arrival has stabilized the Rams secondary in terms of depth. Along with FA veteran Ahkello Witherspoon, Forbes joined the team after the season had started. In many ways, he replaces the loss of veteran DB Tre'Davious White. But Rams fans have yet to see Forbes in action. Since the team has taken the option of sitting starters, this is a great opportunity to place Forbes to the test against very good NFL wide receivers

CB Cobie Durant

It may seem absurd to list defensive back Cobie Durant as a hoped-for starter in Week 18. But let's look at the facts. The Rams have been content to start both Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon since Week 15, and the defense has been outstanding over that three-game period. So Durant has not seen any action since Week 14, nearly one month ago.

That much of a hiatus is bound to show up in the form of rust. And that rust can be knocked off by seeing playing time against the Seattle Seahawks. After all, that is why you work so hard to have that opportunity in Week 18 to fold some inactive players into live action without fearing bad consequences. And for Durant, the Seahawks give a tremendous test in coverage and physicality.

Durant is in his third NFL season, and is on the cusp of earning a starting role for the team as an outside cornerback. A great game in Week 18 can help his cause significantly. If he plays, that is.

DE Desjuan Johnson

When the LA Rams selected Mr. Irrelevant, DE Desjuan Johnson, with the final pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, In just 102 defensive snaps in 2023, Johnson added 2.0 quarterback sacks, two tackles for a loss, nine tackles, and three quarterback pressures. The hope was that he could parlay that respectable rookie showing into a larger role in 2024. Unfortunately, that has not happened.

The opposite has happened, as he has seen fewer games and defensive snaps in 2024. Still, I equate his smaller role in 2024 as more about stiffer competition than actual regression by the player. And nothing reverses a shrinking role on defense than having an unexpectedly positive contribution in an NFL game. Thus, Week 18 could mean a great deal to Johnson's role with the team.

Like many NFL roles, it's tough to really 'get into,' a game with limited snaps. There is a rhythm, an unspoken cadence to the game that oftentimes requires a player to get a minimum of 15 or more snaps just to get into the flow of the game. Johnson has only seen 15+ defensive snaps in one game in 2024. Hopefully, he can see extended action in Week 18.

Rookie ILB Elias Neal

While getting rookie inside linebacker Elias Neal into the game for Week 18 will require the team to elevate him from the practice squad, I'd love to see him see some action. Much like rookie ILB Omar Speights, Neal showed a great deal of physicality and production in preseason. Unfortunately, he came out of the short end of the depth chart, sitting out the entire 2024 NFL season on the practice squad.

Is he the answer for the future inside linebacker for this defense? I truly cannot say. But nobody knows until he has the chance to play in an NFL game. So why not give him the opportunity in Week 18? He certainly looked the part in preseason. While I understand completely that a regular season NFL game is far more complex and vigorous, no player can improve on the bench. Give him a shot to show up and impress the coaches.

Rookie OLB Brennan Jackson

Rookie outside linebacker Brennan Jackson has seen just 20 defensive snaps all season. The only outside linebacker with fewer defensive snaps than that is second-year OLB Nick Hampton, who enters Week 18 with just 10 defensive snaps. Unlike my expectations for the team to employ a four-man edge rusher rotation, the team has opted for a three-man rotation that is limited to OLBs Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Michael Hoecht.

While that may work throughout the course of the season, it does nothing to generate data to be used to evaluate players who are not given meaning opportunities to play and get NFL experience to fuel their development. So far, there is not a lot of coal burning for Jackson to add energy for his growth.

Week 18 is a great opportunity to change that. Give him the start, allow him to compete the entire game, and see how he shows up in various down and distance settings. Jackson is a very physical player, someone who gets stronger the longer the game plays on. In just 20 snaps, he has three tackles. Let's see how he can create pressures if given a lion's share of snaps in a game.