The Rams will be without starting cornerback Jaylen Watson for the rest of the season after shoulder surgery, weakening a secondary already dealing with injuries. Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson returned to practice, while the team weighs whether Garrett is ready to play Sunday against Washington.

By the Numbers
  • Watson: 24 tackles, 1 interception and 9 passes defended in 7 games.
  • Garrett missed 7 games after knee surgery.
  • Ferguson missed 5 games with an ankle injury; Ronnie Rivers missed 6 weeks with a calf injury.
Yes, But

Garrett’s return to practice is encouraging, but the Rams haven’t decided whether he’ll play Sunday. Watson’s absence is compounded by injuries to fellow starting defensive backs Trent McDuffie and Kam Curl.

State of Play
  • Los Angeles is 4-4 and preparing to face Washington on Sunday.
  • Josh Wallace and Emmanuel Forbes are expected to fill in for Watson.
  • McDuffie and Curl did not practice Wednesday; McDuffie is cautiously optimistic he won’t miss a game.
  • Ferguson and Rivers returned to practice. Colby Parkinson remains sidelined, while Steve Avila and Jordan Whittington were limited.
What’s Next

The Rams will assess Garrett’s response to practice before deciding whether he can play at Washington. His return could eventually put him alongside Aaron Donald, but Watson’s season-ending injury leaves Los Angeles with an immediate challenge in the secondary.

Bottom Line

Garrett’s possible return offers a boost, but the Rams’ biggest concern is a depleted defense: Watson is out for the year, and two other starting defensive backs are also managing injuries.