Terrance Ferguson is ready to be the star Rams fans envisioned

The Los Angeles Rams got a monster day from Davante Adams, but someone else still had to step up for the offense to function against the Giants on Monday night. Enter tight end Terrance Ferguson, who set career highs in catches (six), yards (54), and targets (nine) as the No. 2 receiving option with Puka Nacua sidelined. 

After Ferguson was seemingly invisible against the 49ers, drawing one target in over 30 snaps, it was the bounce-back performance Rams fans needed to see. 

Perhaps it's also the first hard evidence that Ferguson is ready to assume the mantle thrust on him after the 2025 draft, when he arrived in Los Angeles via the 46th pick was heralded as a potential star.

Terrance Ferguson showed he can be a lead option in Rams offense

Ferguson failed to pay off expectations as a rookie, posting a 44 percent catch rate and struggling to earn a consistent role. Despite drawing plenty of hype with a strong summer, he made a quiet debut against the 49ers. 

Of course, the Rams' playcalling was in part to blame. For whatever reason, Sean McVay underused his tight ends against the 49ers.

That obviously wasn't going to work with Nacua missing in Week 2, even with Adams having one of his best games ever. Ferguson stepped in to fill the void, leapfrogging veterans Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee as a go-to target. 

Which is significant. Rams entered the year with Ferguson profiling as a potential "WR3" given the lack of established depth behind Nacua and Adams. While he did most of his work as a second- or third-read target, often as a checkdown security blanket ahead of the sticks, he drew nearly 30 percent of Matthew Stafford's targets - only one fewer than Adams. 

Notably, Ferguson's six catches were more than half his total all last season, and as many as he had through Week 15. 

He did, of course, drop a well-thrown ball late in the game about 15 to 20 yards downfield, one that he should have had despite tight coverage. Other than that, though, Ferguson made himself useful, especially after the catch. His speed and physicality in a tight end's frame make him a hard tackle for a single defensive back coming up to make a play. 

On his touchdown catch, he showcased his smooth route-running skills on a long-developing in-breaker that left him wide open in the middle of the end zone. Ferguson is a tough cover for a defender of any position. 

The Rams have been waiting for him to turn his raw talent into tangible results. He'll have to keep building on his strong performance, but if we're to believe our eyes, Ferguson is ready to ascend.

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