THOUSAND OAKS — Rams rookie running back Kyren Williams made it a morning routine to write down words of affirmation for himself while recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him for seven games this season.
You are who you are. Stay confident. Believe in your ability. Trust in the plan, always.
Those words along with daily greetings from veteran teammates helped Williams overcome his mental obstacles during his long roads to recovery. Last week, Williams completed his first NFL game and received his first carry, a 9-yard run against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
“They probably think they didn’t do a lot,” Williams said about his teammates, “but for them to say, ‘What’s up?’ or, ‘Are you good?’ That’s enough for me. Those little things that they did to help me navigate through this was huge.”
Williams is appreciative of the small details because he said he realized how quickly football can be taken away from him after suffering two long-term injuries in a span of three months to start his NFL career. Williams broke his foot in the offseason and missed the start of training camp before injuring his ankle on the opening kickoff of the 2022 season, which sent him to injured reserve for two months.
“It was a different type of grind because it allowed me to find who I was as a person and not as a football player,” said Williams, the team’s fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame. “I had to forget about football because I couldn’t really play football. I had a broken foot, broken ankle, so that physically limits me from playing football, so I had to figure out how can I get myself better?
“How can I be the better me through this injury and that’s mentally. I got myself mentally strong. I was on the field mentally taking notes, I was at home mentally working on myself, reading books, affirmations, all of that type of stuff to make sure there was no drop off for me.”
Williams spoke with enthusiasm about his first NFL carry, which came in the fourth quarter of a lopsided game for the struggling Rams. He also contributed three catches for 30 yards to display his versatility.
“I was waiting the whole game, like, (Rams offensive coordinator Liam) ‘Coen, let me get the ball,’” Williams recalled. “I don’t care what the game was, I don’t care what the score was. Like, I had one thing in mind, and that was to play, play football and play my type of game.”
Coen said Williams’ enthusiasm throughout the game and rehab process are not common for rookies, but he also wants him to build off his first completed NFL game.
“Just his play demeanor,” Coen said. “His play demeanor, his enthusiasm for the game, his involvement in the plan, his energy on the sidelines, his engagement, all those things that you look for from a veteran player he ends up kind of bringing in some ways.
“Now, does he need to clean some things up? Absolutely. Had a couple busts at the end of that game when he was in, had a couple mental errors when we were going fast on tempo and trying to get some things going. But he definitely brings a little bit of some juice and it’s really his communication, his energy.”
Williams is grateful to be playing football again, but now the Rams will be leaning on him to ignite the rushing attack, which has struggled for most of the season. Williams is a part of a running back rotation that includes Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers.
“I never realized how fast this game can be taken from you,” Williams said. “I’ve never gotten injured before this, so like that one play, I’m done for eight weeks. I had no control over it either, that’s the craziest thing. I’m just grateful.”
LIFE WITHOUT KUPP
Getting the ground game going will be one way the Rams will try to account for the loss of star receiver Cooper Kupp, who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
But Coen said this will also create opportunities for the inexperienced wide receivers, such as second-year player Tutu Atwell and undrafted rookie Lance McCutcheon.
“Obviously, a big loss in terms of a guy that’s just done so many good things for this organization right now and was playing at a pretty high level,” Coen said about Kupp. “Obviously, a ton of production over the course of this year so far, that’s got to be done by committee. It’s got to be done by a group of guys that can take on this challenge in a way of an opportunity for them to come in and step up in a big-time spotlight and a big moment for us and their careers and our situation as an offense. Some guys need to step up. They will.”
The Rams want the younger wideouts to step up, but the passing game will now likely flow heavily through Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson, arguably the two best downfield options for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who’s expected to be cleared from the concussion protocol on Friday and allowed to start against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Rams also have versatility at wide receiver with Ben Skowronek and Brandon Powell, two players capable of contributing with the ground game.
Related Articles
Rams expect QB Matthew Stafford to play against Saints
Rams WR Cooper Kupp to undergo ankle surgery, will be placed on IR
Game Day: Imagining the Rams without Cooper Kupp
Rams review: Bobby Wagner reminds teammates of their choices after latest loss
Swanson: Rams continue to be tested after another No Good, Very Bad Day
“We’ll see,” Robinson said about possibly getting more targets. “At the end of the day, I’m always prepared and ready for whatever is going to come my way. Again, it hasn’t always been perfect, but at the end of the day, I feel like I do what I need to do to put myself in position to be prepared for the opportunity that will come my way.”
Robinson was considered the No. 1 option at his prior two stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. He’s had a quiet first season with the Rams as the No. 2 option, but now the team will likely lean on him with Kupp sidelined for a minimum of four games.
INJURY UPDATES
Center Brian Allen missed a second consecutive practice because of a thumb injury. Offensive lineman Coleman Shelton is expected to play center if Allen can’t play against the Saints.
Stafford was a full participant for the second time this week and backup quarterback John Wolford returned to practice after missing the prior day with neck stiffness.