The Los Angeles Rams went into the bye week on a whimper after losing to the Miami Dolphins in disappointing fashion in Week 8.
Although there were a number of factors that contributed to the 28-17 loss, one of the more notable was the status of cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Despite not being listed on the injury report all week, Ramsey was listed as questionable before being a late scratch altogether.
Ramsay’s absence left a rather notable void in the secondary. However, the Rams are doing what they can to ensure that it does not lead top any further setbacks.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, head coach Sean McVay revealed that Ramsey woke up ill on game day and is now going through the testing protocols for coronavirus (COVID-19):
Sean McVay said that Jalen Ramsey just woke up not feeling well and went through all necessary protocols to make sure it’s not COVID-related/he can be around the team and travel back with them.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 1, 2020
Ramsay underwent multiple tests prior to the game and the results deemed that his illness was not COVID-19-related. Regardless, the All-Pro never felt well enough to take part and did not play a single snap.
Instead, Ramsay was replaced by cornerback David Long Jr. for Week 8. While the timing of the sickness was hardly ideal for L.A. they can take solace in the fact that he will have an extra week of rest to get back to full health.
It appears he was already back in the Rams’ practice facility on Monday, which is a sign he tested negative:
Sean McVay says that Darrell Henderson will be fine for Seattle (thigh/quad) and that Jalen Ramsey is feeling better and was in the building for film today. He missed Sunday’s game with an illness.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 3, 2020
It is difficult to gauge whether or not Ramsey’s presence would have made a difference in this debacle by the Rams that was plagued by turnovers and costly miscues on every front. This will undoubtedly be the biggest point of emphasis for this team as they look to get back on track for a pivotal matchup with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.
The defense has been the biggest strength for L.A. at the halfway point of the 2020 NFL season thanks to the efforts of Ramsey and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The week off should help pay some major dividends for getting the team as a whole on the same page.
