The Los Angeles Rams have confirmed that cornerback Trent McDuffie will be inactive for Sunday’s Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders, marking his second consecutive absence due to a back injury. This decision means the franchise will not reunite its two marquee offseason trade acquisitions on the field, despite edge rusher Myles Garrett returning to the active roster. The defensive pair has yet to share a snap since the Rams’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, leaving the team with only one combined game of service from both stars before the trade deadline.
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McDuffie’s absence is particularly notable given his elite performance this season, as he holds a passer rating against of just 17.7, ranking among the top corners in the league according to Pro-Football-Reference. The Rams likely felt comfortable managing his workload given Washington’s limited receiving corps, a strategic calculation that allows them to prioritize long-term health over short-term gain. However, the defensive backfield is already thin, as cornerback Jaylen Watson was placed on injured reserve this week with a season-ending injury, further straining the secondary’s depth.
Beyond McDuffie, the Rams will also sit drafted rookies Ty Simpson and Keagen Trost, leaving Max Klare and C.J. Daniels as the active rookie contributors on the roster. The team is also expected to activate Terranc, though the full scope of the roster changes remains a key talking point ahead of the contest. As the Rams navigate this period of reconstruction, the inability to field both Garrett and McDuffie simultaneously highlights the fragility of their new defensive identity, forcing them to rely on depth and scheme adjustments to compensate for the missing star power.
Source: Yahoo Sports
