Rams’ Darrell Henderson could miss Buccaneers game

Before the Rams look an early-season prime trial this week, their starring rusher volition look an important wellness check.

How moving backmost Darrell Henderson’s ribs consciousness Friday could find if helium plays against the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected Sunday day astatine SoFi Stadium.

Henderson near the Rams’ 27-24 triumph implicit the Indianapolis Colts successful the 2nd fractional with what Coach Sean McVay called a rib cartilage injury, and helium won’t signifier Wednesday oregon Thursday.

In lawsuit it’s necessary, McVay said, the Rams volition hole Sony Michel to capable successful for Henderson arsenic helium did successful the 4th fourth successful Indianapolis and get rookie Jake Funk acceptable to marque his archetypal NFL carries.

“We privation to springiness him arsenic overmuch clip arsenic imaginable to get healthy,” McVay said Monday of Henderson. “This is thing that if the symptom subsides, past we volition beryllium assured of being capable to utilize him.”

McVay said he’s “hopeful and optimistic” that Henderson volition play Sunday.

But the Rams cognize rib injuries tin beryllium frustrating.

A twelvemonth agone this week, McVay said determination was a “chance” moving backmost Cam Akers would play against the Buffalo Bills aft the rookie separated rib cartilage successful a triumph implicit the Philadelphia Eagles. Akers missed the nonaccomplishment to the Bills and the pursuing game.

In past season’s playoffs, McVay and Aaron Donald sounded assured the antiaircraft tackle’s rib wounded wouldn’t halt him from playing against the Green Bay Packers. Donald played lone 53% of the antiaircraft snaps and was connected the sideline arsenic the Rams’ play ended.

This is wherefore the Rams made the commercialized to get Michel from the New England Patriots successful August. Akers was retired for the play with an Achilles’ tendon tear. Henderson’s ain durability was questionable.

Against the Colts, Michel took implicit erstwhile Henderson was wounded connected the archetypal play of the 4th fourth and gained 46 yards connected 10 carries. That included 4 consecutive carries for 10, 5, 11 and 6 yards, bully for 3 of the Rams’ 4 archetypal downs connected the thrust to the winning tract goal. It didn’t spell arsenic good erstwhile backmost Matthew Stafford gave the shot to Michel 3 consecutive times arsenic the Rams tried to tally retired the clock, and helium was stopped for 1, 2 and 2 yards.

“You tin spot this is simply a feline that’s been successful a clump of truly big-time games,” McVay said of Michel, who ran for the lone touchdown successful the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII triumph implicit the Rams.

Wide receiver Robert Woods said it was hard to spot Henderson get hurt, but amusive to spot Michel’s excitement astatine getting disconnected the sideline.

“He came in, large smile, and he’s like, ‘It’s spell clip now,’” Woods said Monday. “Really, conscionable to spot his vigor and excitement to get connected the tract and decorativeness the crippled for us.

“I’m truly excited to spot what helium tin do, yet getting the accidental to transportation the ball.”

There’s thing similar easing into it.

The 2-0 Rams and Stafford play the 2-0 Buccaneers and Tom Brady successful a crippled that, rightly oregon wrongly, volition beryllium seen arsenic a measurement of the hosts’ Super Bowl capability.

“Fortunately, for us, it’s aboriginal (in the season),” Woods said. “We get to trial ourselves and spot what it’s similar to spell up against the Super Bowl-caliber team.”

NOTES

The Rams-Bucs crippled was rated pick-’em successful Las Vegas connected Monday, aft line-makers favored the Rams by arsenic overmuch arsenic 2 points a time earlier. The Bucs were underdogs successful their 3 postseason victories past season. … McVay said he’s “optimistic” linebacker Kenny Young won’t beryllium suspended for Sunday’s crippled against the Bucs aft being ejected from the Colts crippled successful the 3rd 4th for making interaction with an official. The manager said Monday day helium hadn’t heard if the NFL decided astir a suspension oregon fine. …

Linebacker Justin Lawler had country Monday connected the manus helium fractured against the Colts. McVay said it’s imaginable Lawler could play successful a formed connected Sunday if the Rams determine to bring him up from the signifier squad again. … The Rams made 2 moves with signifier squad moving backs, signing Javian Hawkins aft terminating the declaration of Otis Anderson. A 1,500-yard rusher arsenic a redshirt freshman astatine Louisville, Hawkins was chopped by the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans this year.