Ever since Kyren Williams was placed on injured reserve, the running game of the Los Angeles Rams has been less effective. With the Rams entering their bye week in Week 10, Sean McVay revealed that Williams is expected to make his return in Week 12 versus the Arizona Cardinals.
Sean McVay said he expects RB Kyren Williams to return after Williams comes off of Injured Reserve.
Williams still has to miss Week 11 against the Seahawks (would be the fourth game for the minimum four games missed when placed on IR).
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) November 6, 2023
Williams suffered a sprained ankle in Week 6 against the Cardinals after he recorded a career-best 158 rushing yards and a score on 20 attempts in the win. Besides Williams’ production on the ground, he was productive as a pass catcher, and his reliability in pass protection was valuable.
In the three weeks that Williams has been on injured reserve, Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman have split the backfield workload. Considering the Rams enter their bye week in Week 10 — and bye weeks don’t count as an accrued week on injured reserve — the earliest Williams can return is Week 12.
From Weeks 1 through 6 (when Williams was starting), the Rams were sixth in rushing EPA (0.012) and fourth in rushing success rate (45.3%). Meanwhile, the Rams have been 18th in rushing EPA (-0.171) and seventh in rushing success rate (42.9%) in the three games Williams has missed.
While the offense of the Rams has sputtered in recent weeks, Matthew Stafford could return in Week 11 and Williams is projected to be back in action in Week 12.
