The Rams could limp into the playoffs, and not just because they blew an opportunity by losing their regular-season finale.
Safety Jordan Fuller will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of an ankle injury sustained during the Rams’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers, coach Sean McVay said Monday.
Fuller wasn’t the only Rams player to be injured in Sunday’s 27-24 loss at SoFi Stadium, which dropped the Rams from No. 2 in the NFC playoffs to No. 4.
Matthew Stafford played through a toe injury, McVay said, but the quarterback will play the No. 5-ranked Arizona Cardinals in a wild-card game next Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
“He went in, he felt good,” McVay said during a video conference call with reporters. “I just had the typical pain.”
Fuller, the captain and defensive signalman, was injured early in the fourth quarter against the 49ers. He is the team’s primary tackle and had a key interception in the Rams’ win over the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 2.
“It’s a huge loss for us,” McVay said.
Other defensive backs also suffered injuries. Cornerback Darious Williams is being evaluated for a shoulder injury, McVay said, and safety Taylor Rapp is in concussion protocol.
With Fuller out and Rapp in concussion protocol, defenders Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess could play in their places.
Linebacker Leonard Floyd suffered a back strain and wide receiver Van Jefferson is nursing a shoulder problem, McVay said, but they are expected to play the Cardinals in the third game this season between the teams.
Despite those setbacks, the Rams were ostensibly strengthened by the return of running back Cam Akers on Sunday, who suffered an Achilles injury in July.
Akers made 13 snaps against the 49ers. He rushed for three yards on five carries and caught three passes for 10 yards.
It’s not a big production, but it was a first step.
“With the amount of touches he did in the space he had, I thought it was really limited what he could do,” McVay said. “But I think it’s going to be great for him to just go out and play football. … I think he’ll feel better next week.”
The Rams’ loss to San Francisco left them with a 12-5 record. They won the NFC West because the Cardinals fell 38-30 to the visiting Seattle Seahawks on Sunday to finish 11-6.
McVay focused on the positive.
“What I don’t want to lose is the entirety of a 17-game body of work,” he said of his team, adding that three NFC West teams, including the 49ers, made the playoffs.
“Really proud of this group, proud of their resilience, and I’m looking forward to responding with these guys in the right way.”
Rams players got over Monday’s loss to the 49ers and have moved on, offensive lineman Rob Havenstein said.
“You don’t get on the roller coaster of confidence, emotions, none of that,” he said. “You don’t go up and down. You stick to your guns, so you take your entire 17-game season and pick the good, analyze the bad and fix it.”
The Rams are in the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons under McVay.
In 2017, the Rams did not play the starters in their final regular season game and lost to the 49ers. They then lost to the Atlanta Falcons in a wild card game at the Coliseum.
The following season, they won their season finale against San Francisco and made it to the Super Bowl, in which they lost to the New England Patriots.
Last season, they beat Arizona in the season finale and advanced to the divisional round before losing to the Green Bay Packers.
Etc.
With several NFL teams looking for new coaches, McVay confirmed that members of his staff have been contacted. He declined to identify which trainers. … McVay said he was surprised by the large number of 49ers fans at SoFi Stadium, which made it difficult for Rams players to communicate. “It caught us off guard just because of the way it’s been this year. … Great atmospheres, great environments. Yesterday it was the same, but there was a lot of red in there. And that was definitely a surprise.”
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