The Los Angeles Rams are looking to avoid a three-game skid after dropping games to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks in Week 4 and 5.
Although the Rams got off to a fast 3-0 start, the record was misleading as they had not resembled the high-octane offense and playmaking defense the league had become accustomed to seeing in recent years.
The loss against Seattle was particularly disappointing given they were in a good position to steal the game but lost on a whiffed Greg Zuerlein 44-yard field goal attempt. To make matters worse, new defensive addition Clay Matthews was diagnosed with a broken jaw and is expected to miss some time.
According to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN, head coach Sean McVay believes Matthews can return roughly after the team’s bye week:
Sean McVay said a realistic return date for OLB Clay Matthews, whose jaw has been wired shut since undergoing surgery, would be coming off the bye week. That's Week 10, Nov. 10, at the Steelers.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 8, 2019
Matthews’ injury is truly unfortunate as he had begun to resemble the Pro-Bowl linebacker that he was with the Green Bay Packers. Matthews is currently the sack leader for the team with six on the season and has provided some much-needed heat off the edge for Wade Phillips.
With the Southern California native on the shelf for a while, the Rams will need to make do with replacements like Samson Ebukam and possibly Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. Ebukam has played meaningful snaps at the outside linebacker spot for Los Angeles before, most notably in his performance last year against the Kansas City Chiefs where he turned two turnovers into two scores in what ended up being the game of the year.
Matthews’ injury is just another in what is becoming a rash of ailments for a Rams squad that has remained relatively unscathed the past two seasons. Taylor Rapp and Bryce Hager missed the game against the Seahawks with ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively, while Brandon Cooks was put into concussion protocol after landing and hitting his head on the turf.
Los Angeles has trumpeted their “next man up” mentality all season and they will need the rest of the roster if they hope to right the ship. They have an excellent opportunity to prove to the NFL that they are still one of the premier teams in the league when they take on the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.
