Few teams can match the Rams’ injury trouble — both in terms of volume and talent — and Sean McVay confirmed Cooper Kupp will be down another week. But the team may soon have some help in coverage.
The Rams are designating Darious Williams for return, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. A hamstring injury moved Williams to IR just before Week 1, making the veteran cornerback eligible to play in Week 5 — should the Rams deem him ready.
Unlike defensive lineman Larrell Murchison and rookie offensive lineman K.T. Leveston, the Rams did not place Williams on IR with a return designation upon setting their 53-man roster. Those two designations already count toward Los Angeles’ eight-activation total; Williams will not count toward that total until activated. Though, it seems a fairly good bet Williams will be one of L.A.’s IR activations soon.
The Rams, who re-signed Williams this offseason, had hoped to have him ready to return by Week 5. Should he get in a good week of practice, the recent Jaguars cap casualty could be ready to help the team that drafted him again. The Rams reacquired Williams in March, signing him to a three-year, $22.5MM deal. The contract included only $7MM fully guaranteed, giving the Rams post-2024 flexibility with the 31-year-old defender.
Williams’ age and contract structure effectively turns this into a “prove it” year. The Jags included him in their batch of cuts, which also included Zay Jones, Rayshawn Jenkins and Folorunso Fatukasi. Previously in place as a Jalen Ramsey sidekick in L.A., Williams — a Jacksonville native — started two seasons with his hometown team, not missing a game in that span. Williams operated as a Rams regular in 2020 and ’21, earning a Super Bowl LVI start. The Rams will hope the former UDFA has some of his prime remaining.
So far, the Rams have been able to use injury-prone pickup Tre’Davious White — a Bills cap casualty this offseason — as a starter. They have used White, Cobie Durant and Quentin Lake as CB regulars. Pro Football Focus, however, ranks none of that trio in the top 60 at the position, as the Rams rank 22nd against the pass through four games.