Unlike 2018 when they were one of the healthiest teams in the league, the Los Angeles Rams have dealt with a number of key injuries in 2019 that has led to them being 5-3 through the first half of the season.
During the Rams’ recent matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in London they were short a key player on offense as running back Malcolm Brown missed his second straight game with an ankle injury, allowing rookie Darrell Henderson to see some time behind Todd Gurley in the game.
The Rams are now coming off a bye week though, so Brown had an extra week to get healthy for their Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It looks like he was able to as head coach Sean McVay said that Brown will likely be active this Sunday although he would not reveal his role, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN:
Fantasy Alert: Sean McVay said that “Things are looking very positive” for return of Malcolm Brown this week. As for rotation between Todd Gurley, Brown & Darrell Henderson? “I could probably be better equipped to answer after the game Sunday when you see what our game plan is.”
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) November 5, 2019
The Rams should be happy to have a veteran presence like Brown back in the lineup. Although Henderson has been decent during his limited amount of touches this season, he has made a number of rookie mistakes.
Additionally, it seems like McVay does have some kind of plan for the Rams trio of running backs. This would the first game since Week 1 in which all three played offensive snaps if it does happen.
The Rams rushing game plan has certainly definitely been different than in years past. Typically, Gurley would be the everydown back and log most of the touches in the backfield. This season, Brown’s percentage of offensive snaps has doubled his rate from last year and he has been often called upon to power through opposing defenses to earn first downs in place of Gurley.
Brown last played during the team’s Week 6 loss to the still undefeated San Francisco 49ers, starting in place of the injured Gurley. That was just Brown’s second-ever start, usually being the reliable backup for Gurley.
It should be interesting to see what McVay has in store for the Steelers this Sunday. All three backs have their different strengths, and McVay has been particularly fond of Brown’s ability to spell Gurley when needed.
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