Rams need Byron Young to lead the charge once again against the Bills

The Los Angeles Rams do not seem to expect Myles Garrett back from injured reserve, where he's been since Week 2, anytime soon. Head coach Sean McVay said Saturday that it's unlikely Garrett will have his practice window opened next week. The general vibe is that he's out until further notice. 

In that case, Byron Young will need to keep playing like a man possessed, leading a Rams pass rush that finally got home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Young was responsible for 2.5 sacks alone, and his 3.5 on the year are half the team total. 

Without Garrett, with sophomore edge rusher Josaiah Stewart managing a recent groin injury, and with Aaron Donald in and out of the lineup as he navigates his NFL return, Young is the Rams' best bet to singlehandedly wreck plays and generate pressure up front. 

Rams will rely on Young to lead the pass rush once again vs. Bills

The defense will need to create such chaos against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Young's speed off the edge could prove crucial to keeping Allen contained or at least forcing him to scramble in the opposite direction, allowing the Rams time to shift the defense accordingly. 

The good news is that he should have both Stewart and Donald working alongside him; both were left off the final Week 5 injury report. 

While stopping the Bills will require a collective effort, with Garrett sidelined Young is LA's primary play finisher on the defensive front. He'll need to show up against Buffalo and for as long as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year remains out of the lineup. 

It's not just the sacks. Young also has a forced fumble and three tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, as of Sunday night Young's 21 pressures ranked sixth among 112 qualified edge defenders. His overall 81.1 grade ranked 13th, and he has been excellent against the run, ranking 15th with seven stops. He sat third with 15 hurries. 

Buffalo's offense runs through Allen first and running back James Cook second: Young will have his hands full in both phases. Fortunately for the Rams, he has shown all-around ferocity since a dud Week 1 performance along with most of his teammates.

Perhaps he can get a bit more help getting after the quarterback this game. Per PFF, all other LA edge defenders, including Garrett, have combined for 11 pressures. Undrafted rookie Wesley Bailey is the only other EDGE with a sack. Kobie Turner and friends have been excellent on the interior, but thus far it hasn't translated into many splash plays against the pass. 

At the end of the day, the Rams will likely have to turn once again to Young for the heavy lifting off the edge. With no Garrett, a rookie, a depth veteran, and a banged-up Stewart, they don't really have a choice.

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