Davante Adams ruptures hamstring, out 6-10 weeks: Rams' injury crisis deepens
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Rams star Davante Adams tore his hamstring on Sunday. He will miss 6 to 10 weeks, coach Sean McVay said.
- The injury came late in an 18-16 home loss to the Cardinals. It was a non-contact play with 1:18 left.
- Adams is not the only loss. Two more Rams are out for the season, and the 2-4 team faces a long climb.
Los Angeles Rams star Davante Adams tore his hamstring on Sunday. He will miss six to ten weeks. Coach Sean McVay shared the news on Monday.
The 33-year-old receiver got hurt late in a home loss. The Rams fell 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals. It was their third loss in four games.
What happened
Adams was running a route into the end zone. The play came with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter. No defender touched him.
He simply pulled up, grabbed his leg, and limped to the sideline. Medical staff checked him there. He did not return to the game.
On Monday, McVay gave the full picture. Adams ruptured his semitendinosus. That is one of the three muscles at the back of the thigh.
A rupture means a full tear. It is one of the worst hamstring injuries a player can get.
The injury struck during the same 18-16 loss to the Cardinals that ended with Chad Ryland's six field goals. The Rams were driving late. Then their best receiver went down.
Adams has been a bright spot this season. He has 30 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns in six games. He is a six-time Pro Bowl pick.
He has also been named first-team All-Pro three times. He is in his 13th NFL season. Green Bay drafted him in the third round in 2014.
He played for the Packers, Raiders, and Jets before joining the Rams. His career totals are 1,047 catches, 13,113 yards, and 121 touchdowns, according to Reuters.
Why it matters
The Rams are now 2-4. They built this team to win now. Instead, they sit near the bottom of their division.
Adams is a key target near the goal line. Without him, defenses can focus on Puka Nacua. That makes life harder for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The injury list keeps growing. Nose tackle Poona Ford ruptured his triceps on Sunday. He is out for the season.
Defensive tackle Kobie Turner hurt his groin. He will miss four to six weeks. He is likely headed to injured reserve.
Kicker Blake Grupe tore his ACL on Sunday. He is also out for the season. The Rams had signed Grupe only last week after releasing Harrison Mevis.
Now they need another kicker. Pass rusher Myles Garrett is still out. He had knee surgery in mid-September.
He has missed five games. McVay said he will not practice this week. Cornerback Trent McDuffie missed Sunday with a groin injury.
He is getting better, but his status is unclear.
This is a lot for one team. Six weeks ago, the Rams talked about the Super Bowl. The big game will even be played at their home stadium.
Now they must survive without several starters.
What happens next
Adams will likely go on injured reserve. That means he must miss at least four games. The 6-to-10-week timeline points to a return in December.
That is only if healing goes well. The Rams will not rush him. A hamstring tear needs full rest.
Coming back too soon risks a repeat injury.
For now, the passing game falls on Puka Nacua. He is a first-team All-Pro. Behind him, the Rams have Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell.
CJ Daniels and Alex Bachman round out the group. Mumpfield leads them with eight catches for 127 yards and one score, according to Reuters.
McVay said the team will talk about adding a receiver. No move has been announced yet.
Help may come at tight end. Terrance Ferguson is on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He could return as early as Week 8, according to USA Today.
His return would give Stafford another target.
The Rams need wins fast. Their season already includes an overtime loss to Buffalo. Every week without Adams makes the playoff climb steeper.
If the Rams can stay close in the race, Adams could return for a late push. That is the best-case plan. But first, this battered roster must prove it can win without its star receiver.
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