Story of Rams’ win over Seahawks had a late twist

The Rams damaged much than the Seahawks’ hopes of repeating arsenic NFC West champions erstwhile they won a bruising game, 26-17, Thursday night successful Seattle.

Seahawks backmost Russell Wilson is expected to miss astir six weeks aft having country Friday to repair a digit connected his passing hand, which helium injured erstwhile helium struck the wrist of Rams antiaircraft tackle Aaron Donald connected a follow-through.

But the Rams person a perchance important wounded of their ain to woody with.

Cornerback Darious Williams came retired aft injuring an ankle successful the 4th fourth successful a collision with Rams information Taylor Rapp aft a Seahawks walk play, and was instantly declared retired for the remainder of the game.

“I deliberation it looks similar it’s going to beryllium a mild ankle sprain,” Rams manager Sean McVay said Friday.

That sounded similar comparatively bully news.

But McVay besides said the injury’s severity and whether Williams volition play against the New York Giants 2 Sundays from present successful New Jersey are “to beryllium determined.”

That sounded similar atrocious quality for a cornerbacks corps that has fixed the Rams immoderate of their champion and worst moments successful a 4-1 commencement to the season.

Jalen Ramsey continues to beryllium the champion successful the league astatine the position, portion nary longer limiting himself to accepted cornerback duties, and Williams has played well, his ain versatility being 1 crushed Ramsey tin bash each that helium does.

But aft 4 games with David Long successful the 3rd cornerback role, McVay and antiaircraft coordinator Raheem Morris benched Long and gave rookie Robert Rochell his archetypal commencement Thursday.

Those 4 are the lone cornerbacks connected the progressive roster. If Williams misses a crippled oregon more, Long would person to play. Or the Rams could crook to information Terrell Burgess, who was drafted successful 2020 with the thought that helium besides could play slot country but has been relegated to peculiar teams successful 2021.

Barring the acquisition of a caller cornerback, these are questions for the coaches to ponder during the other clip betwixt the Thursday crippled and the Giants game.

McVay had praise for some Burgess and Rochell connected Friday.

Burgess, a third-round draught prime from Utah, played often successful the archetypal fractional of his rookie play earlier an ankle wounded enactment him connected IR, but helium has played lone 1 drawback connected defence this season.

“Terrell is simply a feline that you privation to get going,” McVay said. “I person a batch of content and assurance successful Terrell, and you privation to spot if that’s thing that comes to beingness erstwhile we get backmost (to the signifier installation connected Monday).”

It appeared Rochell, a fourth-round prime from Central Arkansas, did capable to gain different commencement adjacent though helium committed a walk interference punishment that led to the Seahawks’ archetypal touchdown and gave up a D.K. Metcalf touchdown catch.

“I liked the mode Rochell handled himself,” McVay said. “He misjudged the 1 touchdown to Metcalf a small bit, but helium made a immense breakup connected (Tyler) Lockett connected the adjacent drive. He’s a mentally pugnacious kid.

“I thought that was demonstrated yesterday, and I deliberation he’s lone going to amended and get much and much comfy and confident.”

One tangible vantage for Rochell: He’s 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, portion the feline named Long is 5-foot-11, 196.

“There are definite guys that are large that don’t play big, but helium (Rochell) plays with large length.”

In a tiny sample, Rochell is giving up 6.7 yards per walk thrown his direction, beneath the league mean of 7.5. Ramsey (4.8) and Williams (5.6) are overmuch amended than average. Long (8.6) is worse.

Williams’ wounded seemed to beryllium the Rams’ lone wellness interest going into the play off, what McVay calls a “mini-bye.”

McVay said Matthew Stafford’s close scale digit “feels good” aft the backmost had to popular it backmost into associated successful the 2nd 4th Thursday; choky extremity Tyler Higbee was “sore” Friday aft suffering a neck-and-shoulder stinger; extracurricular linebacker Leonard Floyd was OK aft going down adjacent the extremity of the game.

“He conscionable felt similar giving maine a bosom onslaught with the mode that helium was benignant of laying determination for a second,” McVay said.