Rams' faltering run defense catches break with Cards' Jeremiyah Love ruled out

The Los Angeles Rams seem to be capable of mounting a solid defense for only one aspect of the game. In 2026, the run defense has struggled to get a foothold and enters Week 6 as the NFL's 26th-ranked run defense, allowing 128.4 rushing yards per game.

Fortunately for Rams fans, the team will not face Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who has been ruled out with an inkle injury. No one's cheering for an injury, but Love's absence gives LA a reprieve.

Cardinals rookies seem to spring to life against the Rams. In 2024, now-Texans receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. feasted on the secondary. Thankfully, they will not face him either.

The Cardinals' rushing attack has not met expectations as is. Love has only delivered 49 yards per game while the entire offense has averaged only 91.6 ground yards per contest. Well, they will likely perform better against LA this week.

Fans can only hope it won't be the difference.

Rams' pass defense has been the headliner in 2026

Ironically after last season's disaster in the secondary, the pass defense has been stealing the headlines. While generating only eight sacks in five games, the Rams have surrendered only 156.8 passing yards per game. That's a vast improvement on a defense that allowed 216.7 per contest last season.

But that proficiency against the pass has come at the expense of a far less effective run defense. The same basic group of defenders allowed just 110.8 rushing yards per game a year ago, and only eight rushing touchdowns.

The Rams have already allowed four in five games this season (and an average of 128.4 ground yards).

LA's defense has oscillated between defending the run and the pass. In 2024, the run defense was gashed by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Last year, a fading secondary sealed the team's fate by failing to shut down Seahawks receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba.

Now it appears that stuffing the run is again the greater challenge.

Fortunately, the defense will not be vulnerable to an elite rookie eager to make his mark in the NFL. Those scenarios have seldom worked out in LA's favor. With Love sitting this one out, Chris Shula's defense may stand a better chance of stopping the run.

That said, nothing is a given this season.

As always, thanks for reading.

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