Rams’ aggressive roster-building strategy being put to the test

To say that the Los Angeles Rams are riddled with injuries would be putting it lightly. The team has suffered losses to Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua in the early season, and on Monday, head coach Sean McVay announced that tight end Terrance Ferguson is likely to miss this week due to an ankle injury.

Nacua could be back, as the team is "hopeful" he'll go against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Rams haven't proven themselves as being totally reliable when it comes to injury timelines. The problem is that starting tight end Colby Parkinson's status is unknown as he deals with a shoulder injury, calling into question how the Rams will utilize their 13 personnel if he's unable to play.

Against the Eagles this week, the Rams may have to turn to Max Klare for the first time. Maybe they run more 11 personnel, using a rising Konata Mumpfield in a bigger role.

Regardless, when the Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson, McVay made a quip about how drafting a player like Kenyon Sadiq or Makai Lemon wouldn't guarantee them a Super Bowl. He's right, but the Rams could use either player right now. Sadiq is a clear star for the Jets, and Lemon's playmaking ability with the ball has the potential to mimic the NFL's best.

Sure, we could say if the Rams didn't draft Simpson, they wouldn't have been able to add Garrett, and thus would be unable to motivate Aaron Donald to return from retirement. We could also say that drafting a quarterback with a team built to win in 2026 was the wrong move, as the team had looming depth issues that are getting exposed currently.

No matter what we say, that's the past. Sean McVay and the front office wanted this exact roster, and now it's time to prove what they're made of. This week, especially with Jaylen Watson also set to miss the game, we will have a good indication of whether Los Angeles' approach to roster building was the correct one, or if their prioritization of adding star power hurt their ability to maintain effectiveness with their rotations.

The pressure is on; the Eagles are on the back foot after an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears, and McVay needs to come through. Because of the injuries, pressure, and expectations, this could be one of the more defining weeks of the season.