With the exception of Cooper Kupp tearing his ACL, the Los Angeles Rams stayed relatively healthy in 2018, which was a big reason that they went 13-3 and advanced all the way to the Super Bowl.
So far in 2019 though that has not been the case as a number of key players have missed time due to injury, including Clay Matthews, Todd Gurley, Aqib Talib, Micah Kiser, Austin Blythe and Tyler Higbee. Regardless of the injuries, the Rams have not played like their 2018 self at all, and the result has been three straight losses to drop to 3-3 on the year.
The Rams schedule will get easier moving forward, but injuries continue to be an issue for the team. Talib missed their Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a rib injury.
It wasn’t expected to be anything serious, but it appears he has not been improving at all. Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that Talib is expected to be placed on IR with the intention of returning later this season, although he will be out at least eight weeks:
Rams are now planning to place CB Aqib Talib on injured reserve due to his rib injury, per sources. Talib could return later this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 14, 2019
Lindsey Thiry of ESPN was then able to talk to Talib himself and confirm that is the case:
Rams CB Aqib Talib has confirmed with me that he is headed for IR, as @AdamSchefter first reported.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 14, 2019
This is obviously bad news for the Rams as Talib is perhaps their best corner and their secondary has struggled so far this season. Outside linebacker Clay Matthews also being out for a month with a rib injury also does not help, so it will be on the other players to step up while the two veterans get healthy.
Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill saw increased playing time in Week 6 while Talib was out, so that will likely continue to be the case moving forward. Talib is in the final year of his contract and if he is unable to return later in the year, it is possible that the 33-year-old has played his last game with the Rams.
