If 2-4 wasn’t a bad enough start for the Los Angeles Rams, they are about to be without one of their top players for a while.
Wide receiver Davante Adams will be out 6–10 weeks after rupturing his hamstring, head coach Sean McVay revealed following the shocking 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
It was on the final drive for the Rams that it appeared Adams suffered the injury. The Rams were near the goal line where Adams pulled up during his route and hopped out the back of the end zone.
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He eventually limped off the field, and it wasn’t at all what the Rams wanted to see with their 33-year-old receiver, whom Matthew Stafford loves in the red zone since he joined them this past season.
While Adams was able to get off the field on his own power, further testing after the game showed just how serious of an injury it is for the veteran.
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It’s also quite serious for a Rams team to lose their leading receiver who plays such a vital role on offense, especially when Puka Nacua didn’t start the season on time due to his own injury.
Through six games, Adams had 480 yards through the air and four touchdowns.
Hamstring injuries for receivers can be tricky, as we look ahead to when Adams could potentially return. The timetable McVay gave proves just how delicate they can be, with the earliest return date sometime in December. If it goes a full 10 weeks, Adams would only be available for the remaining two regular-season games.
It’s safe to say Adams will be placed on the injured reserve, and he isn’t the only Rams player heading there after Sunday’s loss.
Kicker Blake Grupe, whom the Rams added leading up to Week 6 following the struggles of Harrison Mevis, is out for the season with a knee injury after he attempted a tackle early in Sunday’s game. Defensive tackle Poona Ford is also out for the year with a tricep injury, while fellow tackle Kobie Turner is heading to the IR with a groin injury.
Before the season began, there were talks of a “super team” developing in Los Angeles due to the Myles Garrett trade among other additions, while Stafford was coming off an MVP season at quarterback.
Now, with Garrett still dealing with a knee ailment in his own right, the Rams have been banged up with key players not just being down for a week or two, but prolonged recoveries.
This isn’t at all what McVay and the Rams expected when the season began, but they’ll be forced to weather the storm in hopes they can get back to consistent winning.
In the meantime, at receiver, the Rams will have to lean on Nacua, while players like Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield may see increased roles with Adams out.