Rams’ roster depth just made a loud statement in comeback win vs Titans

Sometimes, having too much of a good thing can prove to be problematic. But that hasn’t been the case so far for the Los Angeles Rams. While the Week 1 inactives were mildly surprising, Week 2 showed that the depth of this roster could be one of its saving graces. The team did not play veteran defensive back Darious Williams in the opener, which raised some eyebrows. He is, after all, one of the highest-paid players on the roster.

But it turned out to be too much concern too soon. A costly Week 2 injury to cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon forced Williams into action. While the secondary didn’t come up with an interception, the pass defense was still pristinely effective. The Rams allowed rookie QB Cam Ward to complete 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards, and sacked him five times for a loss of 32 yards.

HC Sean McVay provided an update on Witherspoon. A broken clavicle (collarbone) isn’t necessarily a high-risk injury, but it does take time to heal, rehab, and return to football shape. Witherspoon is likely headed to IR, which opens the door for the Rams to bridge his absence with another defensive back. For now, expect the team to work with a trio of Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cobie Durant, and Darious Williams until he’s ready to return.

Rams depth chart was critical in comeback win over Titans

While the team remains relatively healthy, we’re seeing more and more subtle contributions from depth players as the season rolls along. Through two weeks, the offense has scored three receiving touchdowns, and two of those came from backup tight end Davis Allen. Ironically, Allen has just two receptions all year, both for scores.

Meanwhile, the offense finally got the memo about sharing the backfield workload. Week 2 opened with Kyren Williams handling most of the carries, only to get stuffed at or near the line. But in the second half, the Rams deployed backup running back Blake Corum with surprising effectiveness. He only carried the ball five times, but averaged 8.8 yards per attempt and scored his first NFL touchdown.

And then there’s the fact that starting left guard Steve Avila was unable to go in Week 2. He was replaced by backup interior lineman Justin Dedich. Even with a new-look offensive line, Matthew Stafford was sacked just once. Stafford completed 23 of 33 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The rushing attack also held strong, tallying 25 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown.

A pretty solid performance by the offensive line.

Still, there’s more ground to cover. Despite drafting three rookie offensive weapons, none have touched the football yet. That was glaringly obvious after McVay’s pregame comments led many fans to believe rookie TE Terrance Ferguson might see some action. He was never targeted.

The team is 2-0, so the strategy is working. But the Rams are clearly aware of the pitfalls that come from sticking with the same personnel week after week. As the remaining 15 games play out, more of these weapons may start to emerge. So far, the team is doing just enough to win — and winning early opens the door for optimism.

As always, thanks for reading.

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