Second‑year Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway returned from a concussion in Week 7 and recorded his first sack of the season against Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, marking his fifth career sack. The South Carolina‑produced fourth‑round pick now has five sacks in his first 15 games, tying Chester McGlockton for the second‑most by a Raider defensive tackle in that span, trailing only Roderick Coleman (six). The piece also notes the Raiders’ No. 13 slot in the 2027 draft and links to fan community features.
Despite a shaky start to the season, Los Angeles Chargers left tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt remain among the NFL's elite when healthy. Pro Football Focus grades place both in the top tier of qualifying tackles (50+ snaps), with Alt edging close to the league’s best, rivaled only by Penei Sewell. The piece highlights the Chargers' injury report, a preview of the upcoming Rams matchup, and recent roster moves, while questioning whether the duo can stay on the field.
Sean McVay says star receiver Davante Adams, who ruptured his hamstring in Week 6, could return in six weeks—much sooner than the original 10‑week outlook—potentially after the Rams’ Week 11 bye. The timing would boost L.A.’s playoff push, but the team still battles other injuries, including Myles Garrett’s delayed knee recovery, TE Terrance Ferguson, and several position players on IR. With a crucial Sunday game looming, the Rams hope Adams and other sidelined players continue their positive rehab progress.
The Big Lead’s Week 8 running back power rankings list the NFL’s top 15 backs, highlighting injuries, recent performances and matchups. Notable entries include Arizona’s Jeremiyah Love, who missed two games with an ankle injury but may return against Dallas; Chicago’s D’Andre Swift, fresh off his seventh touchdown; Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, who rushed for 106 yards and two scores; and Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren, who posted his third 100‑yard game. The top five feature Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Derrick Henry (Ravens), Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Kyren Williams (Rams) and Javonte Williams (Cowboys), each with multiple touchdowns and strong week‑7 showings.
Going into Week 7 the San Francisco 49ers appeared the NFC's top team, boasting a perfect 6-0 record and MVP‑level play from Brock Purdy. After a surprising loss to the Atlanta Falcons—four turnovers and a blown 14‑3 lead—the blog asks who now leads the NFC. It breaks down candidates: 49ers (still #1 by DVOA, strong offense, solid defense), Vikings (only unbeaten team, elite defense), Seahawks (defending champs, defensive strength despite offensive woes), Bears (Caleb Williams return, solid defense), Lions (high‑scoring offense, improving defense), and Rams (efficient but 3‑4 record). The author still favors the 49ers as a fluke loss, ranking Bears, Seahawks, Vikings, Lions, and Rams next, and invites readers to vote.
Rams running back Blake Corum is a player to elevate in Week 8, while Colts receiver Keenan Allen could see an elevated role given injuries and game script.
The Rams, reeling from a 3-4 start after Myles Garrett’s Week 1 knee injury, may consider another blockbuster trade, but coach Sean McVay says the priority is waiting for injured starters to return rather than buying new talent. McVay notes key players like Davante Adams, Trent McDuffie, and Blake Gripe are expected back soon, making a trade for long‑term IR players unlikely. Meanwhile, the Seahawks and 49ers have already added Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner via trades. The Rams host the Chargers this Sunday.
Bills right tackle Spencer Brown opened up about the back injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Rams and the aggressive pain‑management protocol that kept him on the field for the Las Vegas Raiders game. He joked he took “enough drugs to sedate a small elephant,” a treatment cleared by the NFL, and said coach Joe Brady trusts him to be ready whenever. Brown missed Wednesday’s practice, remains questionable for the upcoming Ravens matchup, and the Bills could turn to Tylan Grable if the issue lingers. The team aims to protect its 5‑1 record heading into the AFC North clash at Highmark Stadium.
The Los Angeles Rams receive encouraging injury news for star receiver Davante Adams, who underwent a clean‑out hamstring surgery and is now projected toward the shorter end of a 6‑10 week recovery. Adams, who was sidelined after the 18‑16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, will miss at least three more games, keeping him out of the upcoming Week 8 matchup against the winless Chargers. Despite his absence, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns in a 35‑21 victory over the Raiders, with Puka Nacua and Davis Allen catching the scores. The Rams sit at 3‑4 after seven weeks.
The Los Angeles Rams are set to restore two defensive standouts for Week 8: cornerback Trent McDuffie, who missed the last two games with a groin injury, and linebacker Nate Landman, who sat out Week 7 due to concussion symptoms. McDuffie's return would bolster a secondary that has struggled without one of its top corners, while Landman's comeback restores the defense’s signal‑caller role previously handled by Quentin Lake. Their potential return comes as the Rams aim to rebound to a .500 record and stay competitive in the NFC playoff race, after backups Josh Wallace and Shaun Dolac filled in admirably.
Seven weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams remain an enigma. After a surprising loss to the 49ers on an international road trip, they fell to playoff‑bound foes Denver, Buffalo and Arizona, while their only wins came against a battered Giants, an injury‑hit Eagles squad and a struggling Raiders team. Injuries have shuffled the quarterback room from Jaxson Dart to Jameis Winston to JJ McCarthy, and key playmakers have missed time. With a daunting stretch looming – Green Bay before Thanksgiving, then the Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys and Seahawks – the Rams' true identity won’t emerge until the season’s final stretch, possibly after the bye week brings back players like Myles Garrett and Davante Adams.
Sean McVay confirms that defensive end Myles Garrett and rookie Terrance Ferguson remain on injured reserve and will not practice this week, delaying any chance they can join the 53-man roster before the 21‑day practice window closes. Both players must be activated within that period or be season‑ended, but the Rams have yet to open the window. With three games left before a Week 11 bye—against the Chargers, Commanders and Cardinals—their return likely targets Week 12 versus Green Bay. Meanwhile, veteran receiver Davante Adams is recovering faster than expected from hamstring surgery.
Los Angeles Rams wideout Davante Adams, who tore his left hamstring in the Week 6 loss to Arizona (18-16 on Oct. 18), undergoes a cleanup surgery and may return on the shorter side of the original six‑to‑10‑week timeline, head coach Sean McVay says. The Rams hope to see him back by Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 25, though his status remains unconfirmed. Before his injury, Adams posted 30 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns in six games. In his absence, Puka Nacua, Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell are poised to fill the void.
The latest NFC roundup highlights several key updates: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey assures his thigh injury from Sunday won’t linger, while QB Brock Purdy reflects on a costly interception and TE George Kittle warns that four turnovers won’t win games. Meanwhile, Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett throws for 272 yards and a TD in a Week 7 loss to Denver, with head coach Mike LaFleur emphasizing collective offensive issues and noting rookie Carson Beck’s back spasm. Over in LA, Rams coach Sean McVay calls out special‑teams kickoff coverage as “not good enough” after a poor showing against the Raiders.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams could return to the team sooner than initially feared.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confirms that Myles Garrett will not practice this week, pushing his absence to a potential seventh straight game. Despite earlier optimism on Oct. 23, McVay cites a lingering knee problem. Garrett, the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year acquired in a blockbuster June 1 trade from Cleveland, has only appeared in the Rams’ 27‑7 season‑opening loss in Melbourne. The Rams have won without him, most recently beating the Las Vegas Raiders 35‑21, but sit 3‑4 heading into a Sunday showdown with the Chargers.
The Kansas City Chiefs evaluated three kickers before adding veteran Justin Tucker to their practice squad, according to NFL Trade Rumors. Alongside former Rams starter Harrison Mevis and ex‑Giants K Ben Sauls, the 36‑year‑old Tucker—who spent a decade with Baltimore, earning multiple extensions and a franchise tag—was released in 2025 after 16 women accused him of sexual misconduct. In 2024 he appeared in all 17 games, converting 22 of 30 field goals (73.3%) and 60 of 62 PATs (96.8%).
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay revealed Wednesday that Myles Garrett's 21-day practice window won't be opened this week, according to Stu Jackson of the team's official website.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is back at the team’s facilities, attending quarterback meetings but still on crutches and unable to bear weight after his September injury against the Rams. GM Joe Schoen says Dart hopes to return if New York reaches the playoffs, yet emphasizes that optimism isn’t a medical clearance. With Dart on IR, the Giants have turned to J.J. McCarthy, who started a recent overtime win in Houston, and keep Jameis Winston as a veteran backup. Schoen cautions against planning for a January comeback until the rehab timeline is clearer, urging the team to focus on the quarterbacks who are healthy.
Rams tight end Colby Parkinson says Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández could thrive as a slot receiver if the MLB lockout pushes him toward football. Parkinson praises Hernández’s 5’10” frame, versatility and clutch play, noting the Rams need a wideout before the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline as Davante Adams recovers from a hamstring tear and Terrance Ferguson sits on IR. Hernández, a 35‑year‑old free agent after a year‑long, $4.5 million deal, battled elbow surgery and an oblique strain this season. Parkinson also hints that quarterback Matthew Stafford might toss a baseball as well, linking the two clubs’ hometown ties.
The Los Angeles Rams add former draft pick Joshua Karty to their practice squad on Oct. 28, 2026, boosting depth after veteran Brandon McManus was signed following a season‑ending injury to Blake Grupe. Karty, a 2024 sixth‑round pick from Stanford who converted 39 of 49 field goals (172 points) for the Rams, returns alongside long snapper Jake McQuaide and LB Jon Rhattigan. While his practice‑squad deal doesn’t signal an immediate replacement for McManus, it gives the team a potential knuckleball‑kickoff specialist to stabilize a struggling special‑teams unit.
Sharp Football Analysis’s Week 8 fantasy worksheet pits the LA Chargers against the LA Rams. The Rams are favored by 6.5 points (implied total 25.5) and boast a strong touchdown‑on‑drive rate (28.6%). The Chargers, however, sit 0‑5‑1 against the spread and rank last in offensive EPA, scoring touchdowns on just 12.7% of possessions. Quarterback outlooks: Matthew Stafford has limited yardage but high touchdown efficiency, while Justin Herbert returns from a bye with career‑low stats and a 59.4% completion rate. Key trends include the Chargers’ league‑worst sack‑plus‑turnover rate and the Rams’ run‑heavy, short‑pass game.
Trade deadline chatter heats up across the NFC. The Bears, after missing out on DeForest Buckner, are still hunting defensive help, while the Cardinals' OLB Josh Sweat and safety Budda Baker draw serious trade interest despite contract concerns. Los Angeles could flip Khalil Mack if the Chargers decide to move players, and the Rams are being eyed as potential buyers. Meanwhile, the Vikings, seeking line‑of‑scrimmage upgrades, see WR Jauan Jennings as a possible outbound piece. Sources from ESPN and Jordan Schultz fuel the buzz.
The Los Angeles Rams reshuffle their practice squad, adding K Joshua Karty (kicker), LS Jake McQuaide and ILB Jon Rhattigan, while cutting OL Austin Blaske, CB Nyzier Fourqurean and ILB Elias Neal. Rhattigan, a former Army undrafted free agent, has bounced through Seattle, Carolina, Pittsburgh and finished 2025 with the Raiders, logging six tackles in 12 games. The updated squad now features 21 players, including DB Nick Andersen, G Blake Hance and LB Eric Kendricks. The moves were announced by the Rams on October 28, 2026.
After the Colts dismissed GM Chris Ballard, wide receiver Josh Downs—now on an expiring contract—requested a trade on Wednesday. The 25‑year‑old, who’s on pace for 746 yards this season and has logged three 700‑yard campaigns since being drafted in 2023, could land with any of four teams. The Atlanta Falcons need a secondary threat to complement Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts; the Pittsburgh Steelers seek another deep weapon to bolster a play‑maker‑thin WR corps; the Kansas City Chiefs want a versatile down‑field target for Patrick Mahomes; and the Los Angeles Rams, dealing with Davante Adams’ injury and expiring contracts, could make Downs their No. 2 receiver. Each option offers a different fit for Downs as he eyes a new home.