Rams could be short-handed at this key position on Thursday night

Starting CB Cobie Durant has a bruised lung and could miss important 49ers game

The possibility looms that the Los Angeles Rams could be short-handed a corner when they take the field on Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers.

Starting CB Cobie Durant, who has played well of late after the team ended the experiment of aligning him in the slot, suffered a bruised lung in the team’s most recent game against the Buffalo Bills. While not officially ruled out for this week’s primetime game, Durant is in jeopardy of missing this all-important NFC West matchup.

What is Rams’ plan B if Durant is out?

Ahkello Witherspoon’s playing time has dramatically decreased of late. After being on the field for 44 and 37 defensive snaps against the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, the veteran did not make it only the field versus the New Orleans Saints and played only six snaps in the Bills game. These six snaps could have been in replacement of Durant, as co-starter Darious Williams played 58 snaps to Durant’s 50.

It’s clear that the Rams don’t really want to start Witherspoon on the outside. They had a season-long look at him a year ago and opted to not bring him back over the offseason. LA waited until Tre White was performing poorly and they were considering a trade to the Baltimore Ravens before they brought back Witherspoon.

There was a stint where the Rams tried to get all three of Witherspoon, Durant, and Williams on the field at the same time by playing Durant in the slot, but ultimately Durant is a much more effective player on the perimeter.

Could recently signed corner make his Rams debut?

Los Angeles recently claimed corner Emmanuel Forbes off of waivers from the Washington Commanders. Forbes was a first round pick in 2023, but fell out of favor when Washington changed coaching staffs and defensive schemes.

A clip of LA’s new corner practicing for the first time went viral on social media because of Forbes’ slight frame.

It’s very possible that we could see Forbes make his Rams debut in Durant’s absence, especially considering how LA is reluctant to turn to Witherspoon full-time. It’s unlikely that Forbes would start over the veteran; however, it might make sense to put the younger corner on the field in obvious passing downs when the threat of run is minimized (because of his slight frame).

As the saying goes, you can never have too many corners in the NFL. Recently adding Forbes certainly makes the possibility of losing Durant for a week more palatable.