Barron playing, Joyner hurt

Joyner’s injury leaves Rams thin at cornerback

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/joyner-s-injury-leaves-rams-thin-at-cornerback/article_eda9624a-eeaf-520c-b6f6-cb12c7ba11c8.html

GLENDALE, Ariz. • The Rams entered Sunday’s game against Arizona with only four healthy cornerbacks — and two of those four should’ve been categorized as kind of healthy.

They finished the game with just three cornerbacks — not the best formula for coping with an Arizona offense that features lots of three- and even four-wide receiver sets.

Trumaine Johnson, who returned last week in a reserve role after being sidelined since Aug. 23 with a knee injury, made his first regular-season start. Janoris Jenkins, who missed the past two games with a knee injury, came off the bench but ended up seeing plenty of playing time in a 31-14 loss to the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Rookie E.J. Gaines started opposite Johnson at cornerback, and according to unofficial press box stats the Missouri product had three pass breakups and a tackle for loss.

But things got dicey when nickel back Lamarcus Joyner, the rookie from Florida State, went out with a groin injury early in the game. Joyner did not return.

After playing three safeties and just two cornerbacks in the nickel following Joyner’s departure, the Rams finally went with Gaines at nickel back and Johnson and Jenkins at corner in the second half.

It marked the first time Johnson and Jenkins, the team’s normal starting cornerbacks, had been on the field together in regular-season play since the 2013 season.

DEFENSIVE DEBUT

Recently acquired safety Mark Barron played special teams last week against San Francisco, but Sunday marked his first plays on defense for the Rams.

“We played a little bit more than we anticipated with Mark,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “Now Mark’s packages will continue to increase. You can see what he does. He’s a good football player, and he will make some big plays for us.”

Barron had a couple of jarring hits in the game. He had the sack that knocked Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer out of the game early in the fourth quarter. Used frequently on the blitz, Barron also had two quarterback hits.

“I knew I would be playing some, I wasn’t sure how much,” Barron said. “Yeah, I got a little bit more (playing time) than I thought I would.”

Barron also was strong in run support, finishing with five tackles and two tackles for loss.

“You put me out there, I’m gonna go out there and play ball,” he said. “I’ve just gotta get more acclimated with the system. Hopefully things will keep progressing.”