TRENDING MNF updates Guardians vs. Rays updates WNBA Finals updates Hurts reportedly out for season Fantasy Basketball sign up Story by Story by Can the LA Rams still contend amid disastrous start and injuries? Andrés Soto, USA TODAY Tue, October 20, 2026 at 2:40 AM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things just got that much more dire for the Los Angeles Rams .
The Rams dropped their second straight game by a field goal after a defensive lapse allowed the Arizona Cardinals to nab a last-second divisional win at SoFi Stadium. It was a game where the Rams offense looked sluggish, their ground game nullified and Matthew Stafford stymied by an aggressive defense that sacked him three times and hit him seven more.
Postgame, head coach Sean McVay told reporters he had "nothing positive to say about today."
A day later, the long-term outlook for the Rams this season has gotten even bleaker with three serious injuries to major contributors. Davante Adams ruptured his semitendinosus (hamstring and knee); the star wide receiver will be out six-to-10 weeks at the minimum. Blake Grupe, the newly signed kicker, tore his ACL attempting to tackle Arizona's Devin Duvernay on a kick return and is out for the season.
The front seven, however, will feel the brunt of the impact. Nose tackle Poona Ford is also done for the year with a ruptured tricep and defensive end Kobie Turner was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss "a handful of weeks," McVay told reporters.
"Those guys are key contributors for us," he said. "There are a lot of emotions. The first thing is support these guys, be there for them. Then the next thing is make sure that we figure out what's the best way for our team to be able to move forward in the absence of some critical factors for us. That's part of it.
"That's an unfortunate part of this game."
The devastating rash of injuries piled onto the 2-4 start begs the question: Can this Rams team, the one which began the season as Super Bowl favorites, still contend?
Houston Texans' Jawhar Jordan rushes in to score their fourth touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Wembley Stadium, London. (Paul Childs, Action Images via Reuters) New York Giants safety Jevon Holland (8) tackles New Orleans Saints running back CJ Donaldson (43) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images) Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) catches a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes (21) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine, Imagn Images) New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) tackles New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images) New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (32) runs with the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, Imagn Images) 1 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions Houston Texans' Jawhar Jordan rushes in to score their fourth touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Wembley Stadium, London. (Paul Childs, Action Images via Reuters) 1 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions Houston Texans' Jawhar Jordan rushes in to score their fourth touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Wembley Stadium, London. (Paul Childs, Action Images via Reuters) 2 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions New York Giants safety Jevon Holland (8) tackles New Orleans Saints running back CJ Donaldson (43) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images) 3 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. (Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images) 4 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) catches a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes (21) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine, Imagn Images) 5 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) tackles New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images) 6 / 6 NFL Week 6 highlights, standout performances and reactions New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (32) runs with the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, Imagn Images) Who will replace the Rams' injured players? The D-Line already was shorthanded without Myles Garrett, who is still on IR and has yet to return from knee surgery. The good news here is that not only is this the most talented unit on the team, it's also the deepest. Braden Fiske, Ty Hamilton and Tyler Davis likely will hear their numbers called and should be capable of stepping up during the extended absences of Ford and Turner.
Per reports, veteran free agent kickers Brandon McManus and Matt Prater are working out for the Rams on Tuesday as they look for a second new signing at that position in as many weeks.
The biggest challenge will be trying to replicate Adams' production. Konata Mumpfield and CJ Daniels are his backups on the team's unofficial depth chart, but Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell could possibly see more reps as well.
McVay also said he'll have conversations within the organization about adding another receiver.
"It's significant when you don't have a player like Davante, but we have to be able to adjust. His contributions can't be measured. You don't replace somebody like him," he said. "So what you do is you have to be able to figure out, what's the next right thing? What does that look like in terms of our vision? Having some other guys out too has been uniquely challenging, but it's part of it so we'll have to adjust and adapt. Sometimes it might be a week-to-week thing based on what we think is the best way to approach it or attack the opponent."
See some of the season's most notable touchdown celebrations from around the NFL. Above, Deebo Samuel Sr. #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates scoring his teams first touchdown during the 2026 NFL London Games match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, England. (Ryan Pierse, Getty Images) Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates scoring his teams first touchdown with teammates during the 2026 NFL London Games match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, England. (Ryan Pierse, Getty Images) J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos runs for a rushing touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images) Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Dominick Puni #77 after his rushing touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on October 11, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after catching a 17-yard touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half at Acrisure Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller, Getty Images) C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans celebrates with Nico Collins #12 after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Justin Ford, Getty Images) Marshawn Lloyd #32 of the Green Bay Packers leaps into the stands after a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Lambeau Field on October 11, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Daniel Bartel, Getty Images) Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his touchdown with Darnell Washington #80 during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent, Getty Images) Myles Price #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson, Getty Images) Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images) Christian Watson #9 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images) Mike Gesicki #88 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images) Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of the game at Caesars Superdome on October 05, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images) Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 01, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller, Getty Images) George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown on a 56 yard pass play against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images) Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Patrick Mahomes #15 after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger, Getty Images) Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz, Getty Images) Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants runs for a touchdown as Isaiah Likely #9 of the New York Giants celebrates during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Bernstein, Getty Images) Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Lamar Jackson #8 against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) Jonathan Taylor #28 and Keenan Allen #10 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrate after a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Johnnie Izquierdo, Getty Images) Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) Garrett Wilson #5 of the New York Jets celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Kenyon Sadiq #16 against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 20, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello, Getty Images) Jahmyr Gibbs #0 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints of the game at Ford Field on September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) Aaron Jones Sr. #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with fans after his rushing touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter of a game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen, Getty Images) Ja'marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) Terrance Ferguson #18 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on September 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons, Getty Images) James Cook III #4 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images) Demarcus Robinson #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images) Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Washington Commanders in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) Evan Engram #1 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with Quinn Meinerz #77 after scoring a 19 yard touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images) Kirk Cousins #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on September 27, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images) Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after scoring a 45 yard touchdown against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in the game at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Case Keenum #11 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on September 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) Cody White #82 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers with Ashton Jeanty #2 at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with Chris Lindstrom #63 after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images) George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his team's touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images) Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates his touchdown with Paris Johnson Jr. #70 during the first quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) Baltimore Ravens' running back #22 Derrick Henry celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the NFL match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 27, 2026. (MAURO PIMENTEL, AFP via Getty Images) Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Bernstein, Getty Images) Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Stacy Revere, Getty Images) Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans of the game at NRG Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz, Getty Images) Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown, to take a 23-14 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 01, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Cade Otton #88 against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Parker S. Freedman, Getty Images) Braelon Allen #0 of the New York Jets celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Chris Carter, Getty Images) Marshawn Lloyd #32 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets with Skyy Moore #23 and Kitan Oladapo #27 during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 20, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello, Getty Images) 1 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season See some of the season's most notable touchdown celebrations from around the NFL. Above, Deebo Samuel Sr. #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) 1 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season See some of the season's most notable touchdown celebrations from around the NFL. Above, Deebo Samuel Sr. #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) 2 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates scoring his teams first touchdown during the 2026 NFL London Games match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, England. (Ryan Pierse, Getty Images) 3 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates scoring his teams first touchdown with teammates during the 2026 NFL London Games match between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, 2026 in London, England. (Ryan Pierse, Getty Images) 4 / 54 NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos runs for a rushing touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images) 5 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Dominick Puni #77 after his rushing touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 6 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on October 11, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) 7 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after catching a 17-yard touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half at Acrisure Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller, Getty Images) 8 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans celebrates with Nico Collins #12 after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Justin Ford, Getty Images) 9 / 54 NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions Marshawn Lloyd #32 of the Green Bay Packers leaps into the stands after a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Lambeau Field on October 11, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Daniel Bartel, Getty Images) 10 / 54 NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his touchdown with Darnell Washington #80 during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent, Getty Images) 11 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Myles Price #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson, Getty Images) 12 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images) 13 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Christian Watson #9 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images) 14 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Mike Gesicki #88 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey, Getty Images) 15 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Dawson Knox #88 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images) 16 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 17 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter of the game at Caesars Superdome on October 05, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images) 18 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen, Getty Images) 19 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 01, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller, Getty Images) 20 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown on a 56 yard pass play against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images) 21 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Patrick Mahomes #15 after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger, Getty Images) 22 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz, Getty Images) 23 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants runs for a touchdown as Isaiah Likely #9 of the New York Giants celebrates during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Bernstein, Getty Images) 24 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Lamar Jackson #8 against the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 25 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Jonathan Taylor #28 and Keenan Allen #10 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrate after a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Johnnie Izquierdo, Getty Images) 26 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) 27 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Garrett Wilson #5 of the New York Jets celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Kenyon Sadiq #16 against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 20, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello, Getty Images) 28 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Jahmyr Gibbs #0 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints of the game at Ford Field on September 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 29 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Aaron Jones Sr. #33 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with fans after his rushing touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter of a game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen, Getty Images) 30 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Ja'marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner, Getty Images) 31 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Terrance Ferguson #18 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on September 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) 32 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Andy Lyons, Getty Images) 33 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season James Cook III #4 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images) 34 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Demarcus Robinson #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney, Getty Images) 35 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images) 36 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Washington Commanders in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 37 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Evan Engram #1 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with Quinn Meinerz #77 after scoring a 19 yard touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images) 38 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Kirk Cousins #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on September 27, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen, Getty Images) 39 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after scoring a 45 yard touchdown against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in the game at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 40 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Case Keenum #11 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on September 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) 41 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Cody White #82 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers with Ashton Jeanty #2 at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) 42 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with Chris Lindstrom #63 after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images) 43 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his team's touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images) 44 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates his touchdown with Paris Johnson Jr. #70 during the first quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 45 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Baltimore Ravens' running back #22 Derrick Henry celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the NFL match between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 27, 2026. (MAURO PIMENTEL, AFP via Getty Images) 46 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Ceedee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Bernstein, Getty Images) 47 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Stacy Revere, Getty Images) 48 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans of the game at NRG Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz, Getty Images) 49 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Levi's Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 50 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown, to take a 23-14 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How, Getty Images) 51 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 01, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 52 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring a touchdown with Cade Otton #88 against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Parker S. Freedman, Getty Images) 53 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Braelon Allen #0 of the New York Jets celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Chris Carter, Getty Images) 54 / 54 Best touchdown celebrations NFL fans won't forget from the 2026 season Marshawn Lloyd #32 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets with Skyy Moore #23 and Kitan Oladapo #27 during the second quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium on September 20, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello, Getty Images) What's wrong with the Rams? Injuries aside, LA has struggled with consistency on the offensive side of the ball and mental errors on defense. Turner told reporters postgame on Sunday that they've had good weeks of preparation but haven't been able to execute on gamedays.
McVay added that three of their losses have come down to one or two plays late in the game "not going in our direction."
"That's the truth," he said. "That's where we're at. ... I think we have to be able to bring (preparation) to life. I think there are always instances where we want our practice, preparation, and performance to equal game reality."
Another bit of optimism for Rams fans: there is precedent of in-season turnarounds under McVay. In 2023, they started the year 3-6 through Week 9 before winning four of their last five – with their lone loss in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens – to finish 10-7 and sneak into the playoffs. They did it again in 2024, starting 1-4 and resetting after a bye week to again finish 10-7, which was good enough to win the NFC West that season.
While there probably won't be a divisional championship this year (have you seen the San Francisco 49ers ?), there's a long road ahead for the Rams. But if there's any coach up for the challenge, it's McVay.
"That's what you sign up for," he said. "You don't just sign up for all the good moments. That's what makes it worth it is because it is hard. This is a good challenging moment and this is where we're going to lean in."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can the LA Rams still contend amid disastrous start and injuries?
Source: Sports
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