Rams need a new kind of offense to overcome injuries and mend inconsistency

After adding Davante Adams to injured reserve earlier this week, the Los Angeles Rams now facea new injury to star receiver Puka Nacua. That's on top of linebacker Nate Landman being ruled out for Week 7 as he remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. Cornerback Trent McDuffie is questionable along with Nacua.

New injuries have lengthened the growing list of benched veterans. Kicker Blake Grupe and nose tackle Poona Ford are now out for the season. Entering Week 7, LA has eight players from the 53-man roster on injured reserve. But injuries continue to occur. Right now, the casualty count has reached nearly a dozen.

For a team trying to turn the corner, injuries create unwanted uncertainty. The Rams' struggling run defense will be strained to its limits without Ford and Landman. They will face the Las Vegas Raiders also without defensive tackle Kobie Turner, one of the recent IR additions.

The offense could be without its top two receivers. LA has already targeted Nacua and Adams more than 100 times this season; their joint absence would force the offense to transform.

There may be a silver lining in Rams' injury storm clouds

If you are a glass-half-full type, you may view the recent adversity in a different light. Running back Kyren Williams was frustrated after last week's loss, and rightfully so. Despite being in multiple close games with the whole playbook in effect, LA has repeatedly abandoned the run and tried to pass its way to victory.

Unfortunately, defenses are entirely prepared.

But forced to reroute plays through an entirely new set of players, perhaps the advantage returns to the Rams' favor. After all, they have been reluctant to lean heavily into 12- and 13-personnel formations, as that necessitated sitting very productive receivers.

Now, they may have no other choice.

Without Adams or Nacua, LA's offense may not be recognizable. But it can still be dangerous. The Rams have plenty of underused offensive weapons who could steal the spotlight. The shelved rushing attack is averaging a robust 4.85 yards per carry.

If necessity is the mother of invention, LA is about to give birth to a new offense. And it may be overdue. Unless the Rams break their Nacua-Adams-centric, pass-happy habits, other playmakers will be grossly underused or outright neglected.

Like it or not, LA must conceive new ways to gain yards and score points. With the team already struggling at 2-4, perhaps this comes not a moment too soon.

As always, thanks for reading.

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