Thanks to a strange, inconsistent season, the Los Angeles Rams will miss the playoffs after being in the Super Bowl just one year ago.
With just one game left and no chance of making it into the postseason, it will be interesting to see how Sean McVay and the Rams handle their Week 17 game against the Arizona Cardinals. On one hand, it would be nice to have a winning record, while on the other, there is no sense in overworking players in a game that ultimately does not matter.
That being said, one thing that is certain is that rookie running back Darrell Henderson Jr. will not be playing. Henderson suffered an ankle injury during the Rams’ Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. According to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com, he will be undergoing surgery and will be placed on injured reserve:
Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. will likely be placed on injured reserve after sustaining a high ankle sprain against the 49ers that will require surgery, Rams head coach Sean McVay said Sunday. That procedure will take place after Christmas.
While the Rams’ final game against the Cardinals could have been a good showcase for the rookie’s talents, health comes first so it is important to ensure that he is 100 percent going into the offseason.
Without Henderson, it is likely that Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown will continue to run the show. Of course, with Gurley dealing with arthritis in his knee, it would not be surprising to see him skip out on the last game as well.
McVay stated that he does not want to push his players, but still wants the team to be competitive. That was one of the reasons that tackle Rob Havenstein was kept out of the Rams’ last game.
This offseason should be interesting for the Rams as it is clear there are a couple of holes they need to fill before they can even think about making it back into the playoffs.
There is no timetable for Henderson’s recovery, but hopefully, he can have a productive offseason. With Gurley’s usage declining, Henderson may be called upon to have an increased role next season. He was expected to make an impact this season but was limited to just 39 carries for 147 yards and four receptions for 37 yards in 13 games.
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