The Los Angeles Rams managed to overcome a slow start to win their first home game of the 2023 season against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6.
The Cardinals have been a much more competitive team than people expected given the state of their roster, but they were able to slow down the Rams offense in the first half. However, Sean McVay and company turned things around in the second half as they finally embraced their run game.
Kyren Williams got the bulk of the carries and punished Arizona up front with run after run. Williams eventually scored a touchdown to seal the game, though he and Ronnie Rivers got banged up in the process.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Williams suffered a sprain ankle while Rivers sustained a PCL sprain and both could miss some time:
While Kyren Williams’ MRI revealed just an ankle sprain that may knock him out this week, the news was not as positive for Ronnie Rivers. Source says he has a Grade 3 PCL sprain and is out 4-5 weeks. That likely means IR. https://t.co/DXhoRvHAxM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2023
Although McVay was optimistic that Williams would be good to go for Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it seems likely that he will miss at least one game.
Williams has been handling the lion’s share of snaps for the backfield since the team traded away Cam Akers and it appears that the workload has finally come back to bite him. The second-year player has already dealt with various nagging injuries, and his ankle sprain comes at an unfortunate time.
While it’s good news that Williams won’t miss too much time, it leaves Los Angeles pretty shorthanded in the running back room. Without Williams or Rivers, Zach Evans figures to get the first crack at starting snaps though the team will also likely call up Royce Freeman from the practice squad. The also could look to the free agent market, where a familiar face that knows the offense like Darrell Henderson is available.
Sean McVay discusses decision to run ball more in second half
McVay had to pivot the game plan at halftime as the passing game wasn’t working in the first half. After conversations with the players and staff, McVay explained that he and the team wanted to get more downhill and set themselves up in the early downs. It worked to perfection as the Rams dominated on the ground in the second half to earn the win.
