The Los Angeles Rams’ secondary has been a revolving door this season due to injuries, trading for Jalen Ramsey and dealing away the team’s two starters to begin the year in Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
After all of the trades were complete, Troy Hill settled in as the team’s starter opposite Ramsey and his play has seemingly improved each week.
He was forced to leave the Rams’ Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys due to a thumb injury though, which was later revealed to require surgery on Monday.
The Rams were holding out hope that Hill would be able to return to the field for the team’s Week 16 matchup against the 49ers, but it appears the short turnaround with the game taking play on Saturday night is not enough for him to be ready. Rams head coach Sean McVay ruled Hill out for the game on Thursday, saying that Darious Williams will get the start in his place, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN:
Rams CB Troy Hill is OUT Saturday vs. 49ers. Darious Williams expected to start.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) December 19, 2019
This is obviously a tough break for the Rams as they get ready to take on a formidable opponent in the 49ers in what is a must-win game to keep their postseason hopes alive.
With only two weeks left in the season, it would not be surprising to see the Rams shut Hill down to ensure his thumb gets 100 percent healthy for the 2020 season.
In 14 games this season (nine starts), Hill recorded 41 total tackles, two interceptions, eight passes defensed and a sack. Williams saw a majority of the playing time in his absence against the Cowboys and played pretty well, although the game against the 49ers will only be his second career start.
