Rams juggle defense again after Sebastian Joseph-Day injury

THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams are hitting the midpoint successful their regular-season schedule. And it’s hitting back.

“Lot of guys to spell through,” Rams manager Sean McVay said arsenic helium began to work from a database of injuries Friday.

In the hardest stroke of the week, the Rams enactment chemoreceptor tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day connected injured reserve aft helium re-injured the pectoral musculus that kept him retired of the past game.

Five different starters remained sidelined oregon constricted participants successful signifier arsenic the Rams (7-1) tried to hole to big the Tennessee Titans (6-2) connected Sunday nighttime astatine SoFi Stadium.

They included Von Miller, the prima extracurricular linebacker who came with an injured near ankle erstwhile helium was acquired successful a commercialized with the Broncos connected Monday. Miller worked with trainers alternatively of practicing and was listed arsenic questionable for Sunday. Coach Sean McVay said it could beryllium a game-time determination whether Miller plays.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who sat retired signifier Wednesday and Thursday with a stiff back, was among those listed arsenic constricted successful signifier Friday but threw to receivers and was cleared for Sunday connected the authoritative wounded report.

Receiver Robert Woods (foot), cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee) and linebacker Ernest Jones (stomach bug) were termed questionable for the game, but McVay said helium expected them to play.

In clearer bully quality for the Rams, McVay indicated cornerback Darious Williams is expected to play aft spending 3 games connected IR with an ankle injury, and near tackle Andrew Whitworth returned to a afloat signifier workload Friday aft missing the triumph implicit the Texans connected Sunday.

All of those wounded worries mightiness not adhd up to the interaction the Titans are apt to consciousness from losing NFL starring rusher Derrick Henry to ft country earlier this week, and having just-signed 36-year-old Adrian Peterson moving successful his place.

But Joseph-Day’s wounded costs them the 6-foot-4, 310-pound mediate of their antiaircraft line, astatine a clip erstwhile helium was playing his champion tally defence successful the last twelvemonth of his contract.

“That’s a large nonaccomplishment for our shot team,” McVay said, indicating the effect of country connected the thorax musculus successful the adjacent fewer days volition find if Joseph-Day tin instrumentality aboriginal this season. “Guys volition beryllium asked to measurement up, (but) that’s a bummer for us.”

This means much enactment for Greg Gaines, the La Habra High merchandise who started successful Joseph-Day’s spot and played good alongside Aaron Donald and A’Shawn Robinson successful Houston.

“It’s decidedly tough,” Gaines said of losing the antheral teammates telephone Bash. “We’re large dudes. Sometimes we request a small interruption retired there. Being capable to power retired and not miss a interruption is decidedly an advantage. Missing that is going to beryllium a small tough, for sure.

“It puts much of a strain (on Gaines). I’ve been taking 25, 30 snaps a game, and present it’s going to beryllium up to 40, 50, 60. My body’s conscionable got to get utilized to that.”

McVay was asked if helium had immoderate concerns astir playing Stafford, who missed fractional of the 2019 play with fractured bones successful his back.

“I don’t, conscionable due to the fact that of the dialog that we’ve had,” McVay said. “You speech astir a pugnacious rival that’s worked done a batch of things implicit the people of his career. He’s had immoderate things similar this that benignant of popped up successful erstwhile years. He doesn’t look to beryllium acrophobic astir it, but I deliberation we privation to err connected the broadside of caution (in practice).”

The Rams scope the midpoint successful the 17-game docket astatine halftime Sunday. McVay has noted that they won’t play connected more-forgiving earthy writer until adjacent week’s Monday nighttime roadworthy crippled with the 49ers. He’s intent connected managing players’ signifier workload.

“(You) bash privation to beryllium astute and you’re not naive to the toll that 8 games up to this constituent takes connected these guys,” McVay said Wednesday.

He said Friday that helium worries little astir missed signifier clip with older players similar Stafford, Woods and Miller.

“You consciousness a small spot amended astir immoderate of these seasoned players, getting them to crippled day, knowing however crisp and crisp they are supra the neck,” McVay said.

He said he’ll effort to propulsion starters from blowouts, arsenic helium did successful Houston, but different won’t show workloads during games.

“I deliberation you spell into a gameplan knowing wherever (you can) springiness guys a breather,” McVay said. “That’s wherever you’ve got to person your reserves acceptable to measurement in. But erstwhile our guys are going, they’re going.”

NOTES

Rams proprietor Stan Kroenke paid a uncommon sojourn to practice, watching from the shadiness adjacent to the main gathering portion chatting with Rams COO Kevin Demoff, GM Les Snead and salary-cap adept Tony Pastoors. …

Asked if the Rams would prosecute receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who reached an statement to beryllium released by the Browns connected Monday, McVay said, “We’re not going to get into those kinds of things,” but added, “I would ne'er accidental ne'er connected thing similar that.” …

The Titans moved Peterson from the signifier squad to the progressive roster, indicating he’ll transportation the shot against the Rams connected Sunday.