Rams News: Bobby Brown Designated To Return From IR, Likely To Play This Week

The Los Angeles Rams look to get another piece back into the lineup, as they have announced NT Bobby Brown was designated to return from injured reserve. He was placed on IR with a knee injury on Oct. 10 and missed the minimum requirement of four games, last playing in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 8.

Brown, 23, was the Rams’ fourth-round pick in 2021 and has steadily seen his playing time increase in his three NFL seasons. He had played in 40% of possible defensive snaps through five games this season and was listed as a starter in all five games. He started one total game his first two seasons.

Being designated for a return from IR opens a 21-day practice window in which he is not required to play. However, if he is not activated for a game within those 21 days, he will have to go back on IR for the rest of the year. Luckily, it doesn’t appear that it will be an issue, as head coach Sean McVay revealed.

“I do, yeah. He looked good,” McVay said when asked if he expects Brown back this week. “It was good to get him back and he was another guy that we’ve missed.”

Brown had compiled 13 tackles in his first five games, and although his impact is not seen on the stat sheet, he was a solid run stuffer for the Rams to begin the season. The Rams run defense has worsened slightly — 120.6 to 125.5 yards per game — since Brown’s injury.

Getting Brown back may not be a game changer for the Rams defensively, but it’s another piece that was an intended starter finally getting back to the lineup. Injuries have weakened an already young and inexperienced defense, and Brown’s return is a big step.

McVay expecting Matthew Stafford to return

McVay had previously said that Matthew Stafford’s status for Week 11 was completely up in the air but that given the quarterback’s toughness, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take the field.

Now, as gameday nears, it seems that Stafford may give it a go. McVay and the Rams have been impressed with the progress he has made over the course of the bye week.

“Matthew should be ready to go,” McVay said. “He was out there taking part in individual today. He’s making great progress. We’re operating with the anticipation and expectation that he is going to be good to go. He’ll be pushing through, but we expect him to be able to start and play and do his thing and lead the way this week.”