Rams' Week 8 injury roundup: Davante Adams on track, but war of attrition wears on

The Los Angeles Rams can't get Davante Adams back soon enough, and although it will be a while either way, head coach Sean McVay believes his star receiver is on track to return nearer the front end of the initial six-to-10-week timeline, following a successful procedure on Adams' ruptured hamstring. 

"I think it's probably closer to the shorter term. He tells me, which I believe, that he's Wolverine, he'll heal quick and be ready to go," McVay said of his Marvel superhero veteran. "So he's in good spirits. He sent me a picture the day of [the surgery] being able to walk already. He's doing really well, and based on how everything went, I think on the shorter end is what is projected."

That's at least a positive drop in the Rams' bucket of injury woes. A couple other encouraging nuggets: McVay said lineback Nate Landman, who missed Week 7 in concussion protocol, would be a full participant in Wednesday's practice. 

Cornerback Trent McDuffie, who has missed consecutive games with a groin injury, practiced in limited fashion, which is an upgrade on his string of DNPs leading up to the Raiders game. 

Rams' other initial injury news is less encouraging

The other news was not so positive. On injured reserve, Myles Garrett and Terrance Ferguson will not have their practice windows opened this week, McVay confirmed. 

Center Coleman Shelton, an anchor on the Rams' offensive line, was a DNP with a hip injury McVay said he felt during last week's game. Tight end Colby Parkinson also sat out practice with a rib issue, the latest in his plague of injuries. 

On special teams, long snapper Joe Cardona was another DNP after tweaking his ankle in Las Vegas, prompting the Rams to reunite with Jake McQuaide on the practice squad. The two-time Pro Bowler spent 2011 to 2020 in Los Angeles and returned midseason in 2025. 

Those updates are on top of recent injuries up front to Poona Ford and Kobie Turner. How long can this keep up? Indefinitely, it seems. 

Adams' promising outlook won't affect any game ahead of the Week 11 bye, but it's something to hold onto. If, that is, the Rams can stay afloat in the meantime. 

As Matthew Stafford put it so counterintuitively well, the team's job in the meantime is to ensure a "painful return" for Adams and company. Stafford knows how it is. If LA remains in the playoff chase after the bye, fighting through lingering discomfort will be well worth it for Wolverinish competitors. Otherwise, it would hardly be surprising to see Adams and Garrett shut down for the year. 

While Shelton's injury is of particular concern, having McDuffie back in practice is a big win. Co-star Jaylen Watson has been stellar of late, and Josh Wallace has been very solid in a starting role, but obviously, getting McDuffie back would be a boost for the secondary.

Unlike for Adams or the other IR members, that could happen as soon as Week 8 against the Chargers. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow