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Before the Rams face a quality test early in the season this week, their main rusher will face a major health check.
The feeling of running back Darrell Henderson’s ribs on Friday could determine whether he plays Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium.
Henderson left the Rams’ 27-24 second-half victory over the Indianapolis Colts with what coach Sean McVay called a rib cartilage injury, and he won’t be training on Wednesday or Thursday.
In case it becomes necessary, McVay said, the Rams will prepare Sony Michel to replace Henderson as he did in the fourth quarter at Indianapolis and prepare rookie Jake Funk for his first trips to the NFL.
“We want to give him as much time as possible to regain his health,” McVay said Monday of Henderson. “It’s something that if the pain eases then we’ll be sure we can use it.”
McVay said he was “full of hope and optimism” that Henderson will play on Sunday.
But the Rams know rib injuries can be frustrating.
A year ago this week, McVay said there was a “chance” that running back Cam Akers would play against the Buffalo Bills after the rookie separated the cartilage from the ribs in a win over the Buffalo Bills. Philadelphia Eagles. Akers missed the loss to the Bills and the next game.
In last season’s playoffs, McVay and Aaron Donald seemed confident the defensive tackle’s rib injury wouldn’t stop him from playing against the Green Bay Packers. Donald only played 53% of defensive snaps and was on the sidelines at the end of the Rams season.
That’s why the Rams traded to get Michel from the New England Patriots in August. Akers was out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear. Henderson’s own durability was questionable.
Against the Colts, Michel took over when Henderson was injured on the opening play of the fourth quarter and gained 46 yards on 10 carries. That included four straight carries for 10, 5, 11 and 6 yards, good for three of the Rams’ first four tries on their way to the winning basket. It didn’t go so well when quarterback Matthew Stafford gave Michel the ball three times in a row as the Rams tried to miss the time limit, and he was stopped for 1, 2 and 2 yards.
“You can see he’s a guy who’s been in a bunch of really important games,” McVay said of Michel, who ran for the lone touchdown in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII win over the Rams. .
Wide receiver Robert Woods said it was hard to watch Henderson get injured, but fun to see Michel’s enthusiasm to leave the sideline.
“He walked in, big smile, and he thought, ‘It’s time to go now,'” Woods said Monday. “Really, just to see his energy and his enthusiasm to get on the pitch and finish the game for us.
“I’m really excited to see what he can do, to finally have the chance to carry the ball.”
There is nothing quite like relaxing.
The Rams 2-0 and Stafford face the Buccaneers 2-0 and Tom Brady in a game that, rightly or wrongly, will be seen as a measure of the hosts’ ability at the Super Bowl.
“Luckily for us it’s early (in the season),” said Woods. “We can test ourselves and see what it’s like to face the Super Bowl caliber team.”
REMARKS
The Rams-Bucs game was called a pick-’em in Las Vegas on Monday, after the front line leaders favored the Rams by up to two points a day earlier. The Bucs were overlooked in their three playoff wins last season. … McVay said he was “optimistic” linebacker Kenny Young will not be suspended for Sunday’s game against the Bucs after being sent off from the Colts game in the third quarter for contacting an official. The coach said Monday afternoon he had not heard whether the NFL decided on a suspension or a fine. …
Linebacker Justin Lawler underwent surgery on Monday on his hand which he fractured against the Colts. McVay said it was possible for Lawler to star in a casting on Sunday if the Rams decide to take him out of the practice squad again. … The Rams made two moves with the practice team’s training backs, signing Javian Hawkins after terminating Otis Anderson’s contract. A 1,500-yard rusher as a red-shirt rookie at Louisville, Hawkins was cut by the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans this year.
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