Rams lose rookie running back to IR just as his value was set to skyrocket

The LA Rams opted to sit key players in Week 18, their final game of the season. It was a sensible decision, as the move allowed coaches to tune up less-used players, rest banged-up starters, and give HC Sean McVay the rare opportunity to observe the team to determine strategies for the upcoming 2025 NFL Playoffs.

One player who the coaches and fans were eager to see let off his leash was rookie running back Blake Corum. From his selection in the 2024 NFL Draft in Round 3 with the 83rd overall pick, Corum was instantly expected to deliver more than a casual role of resting starting running back Kyren Williams in 2024. Corum was the bell cow of the Michigan Wolverines offense in 2023, an offense that claimed the NCAA National Championship.

And Corum played a huge role in that offense. But even with his selection in the draft, my instant grade struggled to see how he might earn meaningful snaps in this offense. Corum is a talented and productive running back. But so are Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers, and after he was signed, Cody Schrader. The running back room seemed to aim for homogeny after cutting RB Zach Evans, as all rushers were short and a bit light.

Who failed whom?

The expectations placed upon rookie RB Blake Corum were never defined by the team. Lofty hopes for Corum's rookie season ran amok by NFL analysts who saw his college production with his early draft selection, and simply filled in the blanks. A running back drafted among the Top 100 players chosen is conservatively expected to run 100-150 times in an NFL season, and rush for 500-800 yards.

Rams rookie running back Blake Corum rushed 58 times for 207 rushing yards and 0 touchdowns.

The problem is that we now have an opportunity to question the team's lack of opportunities for the rookie running back. Did Corum fail to develop quickly enough to earn a larger role in the Rams offense? Or did the Rams semi-redshirt the rookie, hoping to unleash him in the NFL Playoffs? If that was the case, it most certainly backfired. You see, Corum broke his right forearm early in the Week 18 contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

What did the Rams expect from Corum?

It's not a stretch to admit that the Rams are not exactly generous with rookie running backs in this offense. In his rookie season, RB Kyren Williams only rushed 35 times for 139 rushing yards. So this is not something that I believe we should attribute to Corum's lack of progress and/or development.

Corum was almost overlooked before the BYE, getting 13 carries for 53 yards. But as the season wore on, Corum's workload began to increase. And I suspect that had Corum remained uninjured in Week 18, there may have been a completely different outcome to the game. Corum rush two times for 10 yards. Uninjured, he likely would have ended the game with 20+ rushes and 100+ rushing yards.

That's a great way to enter the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

As a result of his injury, the Rams have placed Blake Corum on IR, ending his season. Still, I would not read too much into his rookie season. RB Kyren Williams proved that he could put up 1000+ rushing yards in his second NFL season in only 12 games. And there are no reasons to believe that RB Blake Corum cannot match that feat.

For now, the Rams enter the postseason without their rookie running back. But he will be back, stronger than ever in 2025. Thanks for reading.

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