News Article
Published
Oct 18, 2026 at 10:46 PM EDT
No one would have predicted before the season the Los Angeles Rams would have a 2-4 record six games into the 2026 season.
After trading for star cornerback Trent McDuffie and NFL single-season sack leader Myles Garret, plus talking three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald out of retirement, some analysts even joked a 17-0 season wasn’t out of the question for the Rams.
But with Garrett put on injured reserve after the season opener, plus star receiver Puka Nacua also missing time with an injury, the Rams haven’t had their full complement of talent healthy at the same time.
But Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals may have been an eye opener.
Head coach Sean McVay has said repeatedly this season that the Rams are often their own worst enemy, and that was evident in the Arizona loss. With the exception of their 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, the Rams’ other three defeats have all come in one-score games.
Los Angeles uncharacteristically had just 286 yards of total offense against the Cardinals, and when star running back Kyren Williams was asked what he thought the offense’s issue was, he gave a pretty eye-opening reply.
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“Kyren Williams was asked why he thought the team couldn’t sustain the energy drive to drive,” ESPN’s Sarah Barshop posted on X.
“Can’t tell you, bro. Probably because I’m not out there,” Williams replied in a direct shot at McVay, who calls the Rams' offensive plays.
Williams had just 10 carries for 50 yards, plus three catches for 17 yards in the Week 6 loss. Backup Blake Corum tallied nine carries for 42 yards, plus two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown.
It was the least amount of carries Williams has had in a game this season, and it marks the fewest rush attempts he’s had in a regular-season game since he also had 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals in September 2023.
McVay gave no reasons or why Williams wasn’t used more against the Cardinals, but the Rams have clearly been trying to make Corum a bigger part of the offensive game plan.