The Los Angeles Rams opened their season with a defensive wrinkle that surprised many: Darious Williams, one of the team’s most trusted veterans, was made a healthy scratch.
According to Nate Adkins of The Athletic, head coach Sean McVay emphasized afterward that the decision was less about Williams himself and more about a week-to-week plan that could shift depending on practice performance and matchups.
A New Rotation Against Houston
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Against the Texans, the Rams leaned on Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant, and Emmanuel Forbes as their primary cornerback trio. Witherspoon handled CB1 duties, logging 51 snaps (81%), while Forbes played nearly the same workload with 50 snaps (79%) on the opposite boundary. Durant anchored the slot with 25 snaps (40%). Rookie Josh Wallace mixed in for 10 snaps (16%), giving Los Angeles fresh legs on the outside.
The corners were supported by a heavy safety presence. Quentin Lake and Kam Curl played every snap, while rookie Kam Kinchens logged 90%. The alignment produced the desired result: a gritty 14-9 victory in which Houston failed to generate consistent explosive plays.
Why Sit Williams?
The game plan called for length and recovery speed outside, paired with safety-heavy coverages to counter bunch formations and crossing routes. Witherspoon’s press skills were suited for locking down the X receiver, while Forbes’ speed and instincts fit the Z side with safety help layered behind. Williams remains a trusted veteran, but McVay and his staff opted not to run a four-corner rotation in this matchup.
As McVay noted, the plan can swing depending on the opponent. Against teams that live in spread sets with multiple vertical threats, Williams’ role could expand again.
A Breakthrough for Forbes
Perhaps the most encouraging sign was the performance of Forbes. Cut by Washington after a rocky start to his career, the former first-rounder has steadily rebuilt his confidence in Los Angeles. His 4.3 speed and ball skills were on display in Week 1, where he looked patient at the line and efficient at the catch point.
If Forbes continues to stack clean performances next to Witherspoon, the Rams can remain in their preferred big-nickel looks, keeping three safeties on the field while deploying Williams as matchup depth rather than necessity. For a team that has lacked cornerback flexibility in recent seasons, it’s a welcome change.
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