Sean McVay opened his Monday news conference by reading off an injury list that changes the Los Angeles Rams’ season. Davante Adams ruptured his semitendinosus, one of the hamstring muscles, and will miss six to 10 weeks. Nose tackle Poona Ford ruptured his triceps and is done for the season. Kicker Blake Grupe tore his ACL and is also out for the year. Defensive end Kobie Turner has a groin strain that will keep him out for “a handful of weeks.”
All four were hurt in Sunday’s 18-16 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals, which dropped the Rams to 2-4 and last place in the NFC West. “I love those guys. I feel terrible for them. That’s the worst part about this,” McVay said. “But life goes on. This season goes on.”
Davante Adams: surgery, and a target around the bye
Adams went down late in the fourth quarter while running a route toward the end zone. McVay described the injury as a rupture of the semitendinosus, “which is kind of hamstring in his knee.” Jeremy Fowler reported that Adams will have a procedure to repair the hamstring, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, and that he hopes to come back at the early end of the six-to-10-week range, as close as possible to the Rams’ bye after Week 11.
The six-time Pro Bowler had 30 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns in six games. “You don’t replace somebody like him,” McVay said. “It’s significant when you don’t have a player like Davante, but we have to be able to adjust.” He added that the plan on offense “might be a week to week thing” depending on the opponent.
Asked whether the Rams will add a receiver, McVay said the information was still very new to him and that the roster moves would be worked out after his news conference, “especially with three guys that will be done for a significant period of time.” Besides Puka Nacua, the receivers on the roster are Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels and Alex Bachman.
Two starters lost from the defensive line
The defensive front takes two hits at once. Ford is out for the season with the torn triceps. Turner, who as Greg Beacham noted will miss a game because of injury for the first time in his four-year career, is expected to go on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. McVay said the club would use one of its return designations on him so he can come back this season. Adam Schefter put Turner’s expected absence at four to six weeks.
Grupe’s first game ends with a torn ACL
Grupe was signed off the New York Jets’ practice squad last week to replace Harrison Mevis, and his first kick as a Ram was good from 44 yards. On the kickoff that followed, he hurt his right knee trying to tackle returner Devin Duvernay, and the team placed him on injured reserve on Monday. Punter Ethan Evans did the kicking for the rest of the game.
McVay said Grupe did “an instinctual thing” in trying to knock Duvernay out of bounds. “Maybe just go low instead of taking them on high,” he said. He added that Grupe “does a great job converting on his kick” before the injury. “I feel terrible for him.” Grupe wrote that it was “not at all how I envisioned my time in LA” and that he has “no choice other than to attack rehab and come back stronger.”
On a replacement, McVay said John McKay, Bubba Ventrone and others were “working on some different options” and that “certainly we’ll have something here in the next day or two.” Mike Garafolo reported that the Rams will work out veterans Brandon McManus and Matt Prater on Tuesday.
McDuffie progressing, Garrett not back yet
There was some better news. Cornerback Trent McDuffie, who missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury he suffered in practice last week, is “progressing,” McVay said. “He’s feeling much better. The hope is progress this week and kind of determine his status at the end of this week.” Pass rusher Myles Garrett, on injured reserve since September 17 after knee surgery, will not return to practice this week.
What comes next
The Rams visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in Week 7. Watch for a kicker signing early this week, a possible receiver addition, Turner’s move to injured reserve and McDuffie’s practice participation once the first injury report of the week comes out on Wednesday.
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