Emmanuel Forbes has surprising Rams teacher for training-camp crash course

When the Los Angeles Rams signed Davante Adams, they acquired not only an offensive playmaker but also a highly effective pseudo-coach. Not just for young receivers who hope to master his separation-creating superpower. Adams has also become a trusted mentor for defensive backs. One such DB is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.

Wait, how can Adams possibly mentor a cornerback? Well, the wily veteran has been coaching up younger players from the moment of his arrival, and he is picking right up where he left off in 2026. That's quite beneficial for both the Rams and for Forbes, who is playing in the last season of his rookie contract.

Forbes has flashed the potential of an above-average starting corner, but his thin frame at 6-foot tall and a svelte 173 pounds limits his endurance and makes him vulnerable to physical receivers. Adams is putting him to the test in training camp.

Forbes is already benefiting under Adams' tutelage

While Forbes has promising coverage skills, he falls apart after the reception. Despite boasting a sub-60 percent completion rate when targeted, he flails with a career missed tackle percentage of over 20 percent. For the Horns, his missed tackle rate has jumped to nearly 22 percent.

To get better, Forbes must lock down opposing receivers to prevent completions in the first place, bulk up in the weight room to make better tackles, or both.

So far in training camp Forbes has been matched up with Adams, and the duo is splitting those contests evenly. Even when Adams does make the catch, Forbes has made the immediate tackle.

Adams is giving Forbes hard lessons on the practice field on how to cover an uncoverable receiver. And Forbes is responding to the challenge. That is something fans and coaches hope to see much more of when the season finally starts.

Forbes will never be the guy who outmuscles receivers. He may not even be the guy who outhustles his teammates. But he does have a knack for breaking up passes, sometimes with circus-worthy acrobatics. Last season Forbes recorded a career-best 18 passes defensed, tied for third in the NFL.

Lucky for him, Adams is more than a receiver; he is a part-time coach for his teammates. And right now, Forbes is getting the full benefit of his instruction.

As always, thanks for reading.

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