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znModeratorThings you love to see: WRs and TE’s blocking. Kudos to Davis Allen here allowing Puka to get into the end zone pic.twitter.com/6SFECn3MBl
— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 4, 2026
znModeratorPAY BYRON YOUNG RIGHT NOW I BEEN SAID THIS pic.twitter.com/JuptrZjKHF
— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) October 4, 2026
znModeratorI get a message that nothing is going on. I think we need to be “friends” for me to find the chat room.
My handle is “Zooey It Is”
I am not understanding your messages about Discord. I will ask RamsMaineiac. Odds are that when you are inside Discord, you don’t know where to go. But that’s a guess.
If “friending” is an issue, I know nothing about it. I wouldn’t know how to “friend” someone in there either way. But I don’t think that is the issue.
I don’t know if this image will help or not.
znModeratorGary Klein@LATimesklein
I don’t see Puka having limited playing time. Higbee, Allen and Klare the TEs. Could be a lot of Kyren Williams.Mumphield’s come on as reliable target. I would still expect to see Whittington as well
Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
It’s barely raining in the Philadelphia area but it’s significant enough to impact the first half of the game. Rams three headed rushing attack of Kyren, Corum and Puka should aim for 100 first half rushing yards to set the tone.znModeratorEagles inactives: Eagles without Lane Johnson vs. Rams
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/eagles-inactives-eagles-without-lane-112002076.html
The Eagles will be without star right tackle Lane Johnson on Sunday against the Rams.
Johnson, 36, is officially inactive after being downgraded to questionable for personal reasons on Sunday morning. Expect rookie third-round pick Markel Bell to start in his place. Veteran Fred Johnson is also out with a knee injury.
The Eagles were already without some key players as they host the Rams on Sunday afternoon at the Linc.
Entering the weekend, the Eagles ruled out six players. Here’s the full list of inactives:
OT Lane Johnson (personal)
WR Devonta Smith (hamstring)
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
S Marcus Epps (groin)
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
OT Fred Johnson (knee)
QB Cole PaytonThe Eagles’ backup OL in this game are Willie Lampkin and Micah Morrison. If another tackle went down, the Eagles would likely have to slide Tyler Steen outside.
Without DeVonta Smith in this game, the Eagles are going to rely on Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper and Elijah Moore. The Eagles have been extremely pleased by Wicks so far this season and think he’ll be fine in this role. But the Eagles are obviously going to miss Smith. He is second in the NFL in target share (32.9%) this season behind just Jaxon Smith-Njigba (37.9%).
And without Baun, the Eagles will turn to third-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to play next to Jihaad Campbell in the middle of the defense. The Eagles really like Trotter but this is undoubtedly a tough matchup against a Sean McVay offense that clouds every picture with eye candy.
This will be the second missed game for Dallas Goedert, who suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2 in Tennessee. Goedert was not put on IR, so the Eagles clearly expect him to return within a four-week window. The Eagles on Saturday elevated tight ends Zach Ertz and Josiah Deguara.
The Eagles’ backup quarterback for this game will be Tanner McKee, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday morning. Andy Dalton will be the QB3 after an awful interception last season.
znModeratorBelow are the inactives for both teams.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
WR C.J. Daniels Jr.
QB Ty Simpson (emergency 3rd QB)
CB Cam Lampkin
CB Jaylen Watson
OL Bill Murray
TE Colby Parkinson (knee)
DE Aaron Donald
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
QB Cole Payton
S Marcus Epps (groin)
LB Zack Baun (concussion)
T Lane Johnson (personal)
T Fred Johnson (knee)
TE Dallas Goedert (knee)
znModeratorBrycen@Brycen2047
The truth about Josh McDaniels is that he’s much closer to Matt Patricia or Alex Van Pelt than guys like Ben Johnson.***
“There's MULTIPLE issues with the Patriots pass game that cannot be summed up by just taking the easy road and placing the blame SOLELY on Maye…”@GregCosell on what’s going wrong in New England: https://t.co/1R0rKNi6Us pic.twitter.com/rm78sF1dgy
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) October 1, 2026
znModeratorOFFENSE
3rd down conversion %: 10th
DEFENSE
3rd down conversion %: 21st
Opponent Completion %: 3rd
Opponent Average Team Passer Rating: 4th
znModeratorRushing Yards Over Expectation
(Weeks 1 – 3)Data: @FantasyPtsData pic.twitter.com/UeDpuWEeLZ
— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) October 3, 2026
znModeratorWhich QBs have the highest Checkdown Rate?@FantasyPtsData pic.twitter.com/jCk1v30b9f
— Trav (Lunch Pail Stays Strapped) (@TSeel14) October 4, 2026
znModeratorfrom Adam Schefter, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50098838/sources-rams-intend-limit-puka-nacua-workload
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Nacua does not carry an injury designation for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia after being a full participant in Friday’s practice. Coach Sean McVay said Nacua “looked sharp” during practice Thursday, when the Rams have their heaviest workload.
“In terms of the snap count, that’s the thing that we have to be willing to navigate,” McVay told reporters Thursday. “But we’ve got confidence in some other guys that have played meaningful snaps in his absence.
“But he does look good. He looks strong, and he looks ready to go.”
znModeratorNotice what they are bad at.
1. Scoring–on defensive points allow, okay not great (12th). On offense, mediocre (20th).
2. 24th in rushing TDs.
3. 26th in turnovers.
4. Rush defense. Average at best (14th in opposing runners yards per attempt.)
5. 31st in average drive start (own 26). That’s on defense too, where they are 28th (opposing team avg. start is at the 33)..#5 is partially responsible for number 1. They have longer drives for fewer points, and face shorter opposing team drives on defense. That means special teams is playing a huge role in every mediocre scoring stat.
znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The Rams have elevated CB Cam Lampkin and OLB Darryl Peterson III from the practice squad ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Eagles.znModeratorEagles vs Rams: Position Breakdown
Here is how I view the two rosters heading into Sunday’s game
Note: Injuries and current form taken into consideration pic.twitter.com/hwLxtd8YRx
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) October 1, 2026
znModeratorVic Fangio’s young bul@Birdz4Lz
Its a trickle down effect when your team is bad in the trenches on OQB’s clock/progression scanning is sped up after repeated pressure, leading to pressing plays & out-of-whack rhythm
Weapons who been giving their all to get open now losing trust, begin running lethargically
znModeratorRamsRushHour@RamsRushHour
Puka’s never shared the field with a wide receiver operating at the level Davante Adams is putting up this year.This is going to be epic to watch.
znModeratorZach Brandon@MVP_Mindset
Matthew Stafford shares how his QB coach, Dave Ragone, once studied his performance after turnovers and sacks.They found his stats on the next possession are exponentially better than league average.
“I just equate that to being able to compartmentalize…Be honest and real about it and not ultra emotional.”
In performance environments, your execution on the next play often depends on how long you stay attached to the last one.
The key is not wasting energy arguing with reality and training yourself to respond and re-engage quickly.
znModeratorRams waive wide receiver Xavier Smith; wide receiver Alex Bachman expected to step into punt returner role
Stu Jackson
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams on Friday waived wide receiver Xavier Smith.
Smith, 29, primarily served as the team’s punt returner through the first three weeks of this season, and all throughout last season, also spending time in the role during his first season with the team in 2024. He averaged 9.4 yards per punt in 50 returns across 34 games played, with longs of 38 in 2024, 31 in 2025 and 19 this season.
While miscues on special teams in recent weeks have not fallen on Smith alone, he did have a costly one last Sunday night against the Broncos when he fielded the ball at the Rams’ own goal line and returned it 10 yards with 14:08 remaining in the third quarter. The ensuing 3-and-out off of that steep starting field position in their own territory, and the Broncos returning the ensuing punt 28 yards to the Rams’ 42, gave the Broncos what would be their best starting field position for an offensive series all game in a sequence of events that turned the momentum in Denver’s favor.
Speaking with the media prior to Thursday’s practice, Rams special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said Smith “has been consistent,” but also that there had been no thought about replacing him as the team’s punt returner. Given the time Smith punt in throughout training camp and into the regular season, Ventrone was confident Smith “would do the necessary things to be able to sustain at that position for us.”
McVay said Friday morning that the Rams were not thinking about making a change at punt returner at the time Ventrone spoke to media Thursday afternoon. But after taking a step back to “evaluate the totality of our group” and determine “what’s the best way to try to be able to put together all three phases,” McVay felt the decision to move on from Smith was in the best interest for the team.
McVay said they made that decision later Thursday night, then he met with Smith Friday morning. McVay said “there were some decisions last week that we’ve got to make better decisions, we got to be able to field it, and that doesn’t mean I love (Smith) any less. But we need better production from that position that he was playing a critical factor in.”
McVay said wide receiver Alex Bachman, who is currently on the team’s practice squad, will step into the punt returner role. Asked if he anticipates long-term trying to work some guys out to see if they might be fits at punt returner, McVay said “I think I’m interested to see how Alex does.”
“We’re always looking at if there’s way of improving the caliber of our team,” McVay said. “Those will be avenues that we’ll always explore within whatever parameters that we can do that within, and so I would certainly never say no. But I am also optimistic that I think we’re gonna see some good stuff from Alex on Sunday.”
As much as the Rams needed more from the punt returner role, that still didn’t make the decision to move on from Smith easy for McVay, given the relationship the two had built since Smith joined the team as an undrafted free agent signee in 2023. Joining an NFL team was a big deal for Smith, who had initially quit playing football after high school and spent 2016 working with Amazon before ultimately applying to Florida A&M University and successfully trying out for the school’s football team as a walk-on in 2017.
Ultimately, though, McVay felt the responsibility to the team to make a change there.
“Number one, very appreciative of Xavier Smith,” McVay said. “I think when you look at his journey, there’s a lot of cool things that are reflected in sports of overcoming odds and doing some different things, and I love him, appreciate the person. The hard part is, and you tell him and you tell the team, is that ultimately my job, and it’s one of the worst parts of it, but it is a part of the job responsibility, is you try to use your values and principles to make decisions that are best for the collective, even if it sometimes doesn’t benefit people that you’ve developed relationships with and you care about. And we just need better production out of that position. That’s you know exclusively what it was.”
znModeratorWhy Kyren Williams’ versatility can at times be a conundrum for the Rams
Nate Atkins
LOS ANGELES — Kyren Williams came out against the Denver Broncos like a man who couldn’t be stopped in any phase of the game.
There he was on a handoff, hesitating ever so slightly in the hole to create a cutback lane up the middle and through the seam before cutting back inside on that “stiff ankle” he’s worked on all offseason to rip off a 30-yard gain.
And there he was on a wheel route up the left sideline, going airborne between two defenders to reel in a pass from Matthew Stafford before dropping two feet inbounds for a first down.
And there he was in pass protection, blocking two blitzers on a shotgun play, allowing Stafford to throw away the ball.
Williams played 71 percent of the snaps, rushing 15 times for 88 yards and catching six passes for 70 yards in a 30-26 loss to the Broncos on “Sunday Night Football.”
He played one of his best games in a Rams uniform, and that begs a question: In a game in which they threw the ball 55 times versus 23 runs and blew a 16-point halftime lead, why didn’t they hand off more to their hot running back?
It’s more nuanced than that — because Williams is more nuanced than that.
“I think it depends on being able to stay on the field,” coach Sean McVay said. “I do think it’s important to get a feel and ride the hot hand. You know the confidence that I have in Blake (Corum), but I thought he was able to bring a lot of really cool things to life. I thought he got everything and that much more on some of his runs and then made a bunch of big-time plays in the pass game.
“Really, some of the plays he made in the pass game, particularly on that second two-minute drive, were key and critical and gave us an opportunity to even be able to win the game when I think a lot of the percentages were stacked against you. He was one of those guys that gave us a chance. I love that guy and everything he’s about and want to continue to have him be a focal point of what we’re doing moving forward.”
Los Angeles Rams ‘show same cracks’ in loss to Denver Broncos
Robert Mays, Dave Helman and more
As consistent and dynamic as Williams was in Denver, the opposite was true for his running mate. Corum had a strong first two games of the season, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, but Sunday just wasn’t his night. He ran six times for 15 yards. He gained seven yards on one carry and eight on the other five.The Rams have built this year’s backfield into a 50-50 split in the run game. The first two games showcased it: Williams entered Sunday with 126 yards on 23 carries, and Corum had 133 yards on 22 carries.
The two complement each other in many ways: Williams is the traditionally safer between-the-tackles option and a stronger third-down choice with his full physical development in his fifth season. Corum is more explosive, as he showed by averaging 6.9 yards per carry on outside runs a year ago, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Williams was bound to get more snaps because of his catching ability, where he is a more trustworthy and dynamic receiver and is also regarded as one of the league’s best pass-protecting backs, which is essential to how Stafford survives and dices up teams that blitz.
“They (the coaches) put me in these positions to be able to come out of the backfield and catch those passes, to go into the slot, to do those things like that and also run the ball and do pass pro,” Williams said. “I’ve always worked my whole life. I’ve always been a hard worker. But this offseason, being keen on those little details I need to do to be a complete back with the passing and the catching and the blocking and the running as well.”
Because Corum is in just his third season, he is largely confined to his rushing success, and an off night, as he had against the Broncos, can create a dilemma.
The Rams’ game plan was to lean on Williams in the passing game, given their limited options outside of Davante Adams. All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua missed the game with a hip injury, and the Rams are still searching for a third receiving option behind him and Adams.
Tight end Terrance Ferguson might have the best chance to be that, but he dealt with injuries throughout the game and left with an ankle sprain. Tight end Colby Parkinson suffered an AC joint sprain. The Rams only had four wide receivers active for the game.
That allowed Williams to see rare volume as a receiver, as he had seven targets. He converted a fourth down with a contested catch on the Rams’ first touchdown drive. He caught two key passes on the final drive, giving them a chance at a comeback.
“I wasn’t a running back until I got to college,” Williams said. “I played receiver my whole life. I wanted to be a slot receiver, but didn’t grow. That’s OK, but now I continue to create these mismatches with linebackers.”
The Rams knew Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would throw blitzes their way with their lack of perimeter receiving options, which made Williams essential in pass protection, both to the health of Stafford and to the operation of everything else. And pass protection can be one of the most physical tolls on a running back’s plate.
The Rams value Williams’ pass protection, leadership and overall versatility so much that his durability has become paramount. He has missed just one game since the start of the 2024 season.
It doesn’t mean the Rams couldn’t have leaned more on Williams situationally. They began their first drive of the second half with Corum while backed up at their own 10-yard line, went three-and-out and gave the ball back to the Broncos at the Rams’ 42-yard line, which ignited Denver’s comeback effort.
Los Angeles stuck with its plan to throw to tight ends early once injuries began to take their toll on the group. Arguably, a player who leads the NFL for a second straight season in rushing success rate at 63.2 percent should carry the ball more with a second-half lead.
But Williams’ value isn’t often shown by giving him 30 carries in a game, just as his value to the team isn’t always evident in a highlight reel or box score.
In many ways, he has become the emotional heartbeat of the Rams’ offense. It’s what has made him a two-time captain and last year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
It helps explain why the Rams keep believing in him in moments when others might find trepidation.
The previous week against the Giants, Williams fumbled before halftime to give New York a red zone possession that could have cut the Rams’ lead to one score. It was his first fumble in nearly a calendar year, but it could bring back memories of the 10 times he put the ball on the ground from 2023 to 2025.
Aaron Donald shut down a run on third down to force a field goal. On the Rams’ next offensive snap in an end-of-half situation, McVay called for a stretch run to Williams, and he bounced it to the sideline for 13 yards.
“With Kyren, what you’ve seen from him is his ability to respond, his ability to come back, his ability to make the next right play,” offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase said. “There was no doubt that that’s how he was going to approach it.”
That trust led to one of Williams’ best games Sunday night in Denver, and the pain lies in how it felt like they could have pulled out even more and still blew a 16-point lead. It’s a window into how Corum playing as he did for the second half of last season and in the first two games can unlock a more versatile Williams who doesn’t have to live in an old-school, high-carry way.
Rather, the Williams they need is the one he’s become in so many different areas.
znModeratorRams Wire@TheRamsWire
A year ago, the Rams blew a 19-point lead to the Eagles because of two blocked kicks, but Sean McVay feels better about his special teams now.znModeratorSFdata9ers🏈@sfdata9ers
Missed tackles forced by RBs
(min. 15 carries)1. Kenneth Walker
2. Kyren Williams
3. Keaton Mitchell
4. Jaylen Warren
5. Jahmyr GibbsznModeratorRams Wire@TheRamsWire
Rams place Terrance Ferguson on IR, make 2 other roster moves***
…
Injuries have become a real problem for the Rams, with Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Jaylen Watson and now Ferguson and Donald all missing time in the first four weeks of the season. They have good depth at several spots, but that depth is now being tested.
Ferguson’s injury is particularly problematic with Colby Parkinson questionable to play. He’s dealing with shoulder and knee injuries after battling through the pain last week against the Broncos.
…
Terrance Ferguson’s absence will last beyond just this week. The Los Angeles Rams announced on Friday afternoon that Ferguson has been placed on injured reserve. He will be required to miss at least the next four games as he recovers from an ankle injury that he aggravated in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
After placing Ferguson on IR and waiving Xavier Smith, the Rams opened up two spots on the 53-man roster. They filled them quickly by signing both Alex Bachman and Larrell Murchison to the active roster from the practice squad. Bachman will be the punt returner moving forward, and Murchison will provide some additional depth with Aaron Donald out due to a back injury.
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
On the decision to waive Xavier Smith, Sean McVay said they weren’t thinking about doing so at the time STC Bubba Ventrone spoke to media yesterday afternoon. “But as you get a chance to take a step back, evaluate the totality of our group. What’s the best way to try to be able to put together all three phases?”Decision – which McVay said he felt was “in the best interest of the group” – was made later last night, then McVay met with Smith this morning.
znModeratorAlex Bachman will be the Rams’ punt returner on Sunday against the Eagles, replacing Xavier Smith.
Sean McVay said that Kyren Williams is also an option but they don’t want to use their starting running back there if they can avoid it.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) October 2, 2026
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Bachman is 30 years old and has played in 22 games since 2021, 19 of which were for the Las Vegas Raiders in the last two seasons.
Over that time, he’s recorded five receptions for 43 yards. As a returner, Bachman had 22 punt returns last season for 124 yards. He also had nine fair catches. Bachman hasn’t had a kick return in an NFL regular-season game since the new rules were enacted, with his last kickoff return occurring in 2021.
Bachman signed with the Rams on August 18 and has been on the practice squad since he was released as part of final roster cuts.
znModeratorThree-and-Out Rates through Week 3
1. BUF (just one three-and-out so far)
2. ATL
3. LAR
…
30. HOU
31. PHI
32. TEN pic.twitter.com/xMksILTM4B— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) October 2, 2026
znModeratorSFdata9ers🏈@sfdata9ers
Which RBs are getting met in the backfield the mostznModeratorCulturedUpdatez@CulturedUpdatez
Steve Smith Sr. Shocked as Patrick Surtain II “Throws Rare Full-On Tantrum” in Frustration attempting to lock down Davante Adams !“I saw when he got frustrated, and I was like, ‘Yo, Surtain doesn’t get frustrated like that.'” 👀
“He threw a full on 8-year-old tantrum. He started doing that, and I was like, ‘Wow.'”
“Because watching these two guys go at it, it was fantastic.”“I’m bringing myself up to give you context of why and what I’m talking about… I love that Davante Adams is such a complete wide receiver.”
Adams finished the game with 7 receptions for 137 yards.
znModeratorjoemad wrote:
While miscues on special teams in recent weeks have not fallen on Smith alone, he did have a costly one last Sunday night against the Broncos when he fielded the ball at the Rams’ own goal line and returned it 10 yards with 14:08 remaining in the third quarter.While we chatting about the game during the game this came up. This was the first of the 3 disaster plays that got Denver back in the game. The punt should never have been fielded. They punted out of the situation but then Forbes ran out of bounds and drew the penalty in coverage. Evans’ poor re-kick gave Denver field position. During the game we were commenting in real time on how disastrous each of the 3 mistakes were.
znModeratorPFF@PFF
Highest passing yards per attempt this season (min. 75 dropbacks)Lamar Jackson 9.8
Brock Purdy 9.5
Josh Allen 9.1
Patrick Mahomes 8.3
Matthew Stafford 7.9znModeratorAndrew Brandt@AndrewBrandt
The Cleveland Browns are 3-1.
Just as everyone thought -
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