Besieged Rams defensive back may have saved his job with Week 9 heroics

Time is running out for the Los Angeles Rams to make a trade before the November 4 deadline halts all NFL commerce at 1:00 pm PT. However, the need to make additional investments into this roster may have been taken off the 'to-do' list by a stellar performance by the offense and defense in Week 9.

There were so many outstanding players in the Week 9 win. But perhaps one that did not get his due accolades in the post-game wrap-up is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.

After the team pried promising young slot cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans, some thought Forbes might be inching his way out the door.

His Week 9 performance suggests otherwise:

Is there a method to general manager Les Snead's madness? In a year, he has now reinforced an unattended secondary with two of the hottest cornerbacks in the 2022 and 2023 NFL drafts. The cost to do so? He swapped a fifth-round pick for a sixth-round pick. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was claimed off waivers, so he cost the team nothing.

Right now, things are starting to click for the young cornerback when the team needs him the most.

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. exploded in sticky coverage in Week 9

In a Week 9 contest that had all the subplots and camouflage of a trap game, Forbes single-handedly ensured that would not be the case. In what will likely be a performance that defined the turning point of his career, he put up four tackles, broke up three passes, and intercepted his first pass in Horns to shut down the Saints offense.

Even his interception celebration is worth a second look.

For a young man who has seen his share of struggles in the secondary, this was fun to watch. It was fun because a young passionate cornerback realized that he does belong in the NFL, and is very good at defending passes. While he has yet to enter the upper echelons of NFL cornerbacks, he is certainly trending in that direction.

Forbes performance was not just good, it was outstanding. It was the type of performance that the team hoped for when he joined the roster a year ago. And it was the type of stickly coverage that suggests that the addition of Roger McCreary may be just enough to get the defense through the absences of Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon.

Forbes was impressive. He has not looked this good since his rookie season in the Washington Commanders secondary. Best oif all, with the expected return of both Williams and Witherspoon to the secondary, LA's pass defense appears to be getting much stronger in the weeks ahead.

Congratulations, Emmanuel Forbes. You may have saved your job, but you also turned the corner. For all the doubters who were crying for your release, you've made them eat their words. And many Rams fans are thrilled at the recent turn of events.

As always, thanks for reading.