The Los Angeles Rams are set to host their second straight home game in Week 6 with their first matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this season. The Rams are coming off a 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 in Cooper Kupp’s return to the field following a four-game absence because of a hamstring injury.
Entering Sunday’s showdown with the Cardinals, the Rams possess a 2-3 record, making this a must-win game against a 1-4 divisional opponent. The Cardinals lost 34-20 to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but they continue to play competitively each week under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Ahead of a Week 6 matchup versus the Cardinals, here are six players from the Rams to keep tabs on.
RB Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams has seized full control of the Rams’ backfield right now and he recorded career-best marks in rushing yards (103)and rushing attempts (25) in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts. The second-year back was unable to have similar success against a domain defensive front of the Eagles last week, finishing with 53 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
The good news for Williams is that the Cardinals own the 26th-ranked run defense in DVOA through the first five weeks. While Matthew Stafford should have success through the air on Sunday, Williams should see improved production on the ground against the Cardinals.
WR Cooper Kupp
Kupp made his season debut for the Rams in Week 5 versus the Eagles, and he immediately became the focal point in the passing game again. The All-Pro receiver caught eight of his 12 targets for 118 yards, leading the Rams in all three categories in his first week back.
We just saw Ja’Marr Chase explode for 15 receptions, 192 yards, and three touchdowns on 19 targets in Week 4 against the Cardinals. Kupp received a massive workload in his season debut and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be busy again on Sunday in a game where the Rams need to win if they want to make noise in the NFC playoff picture.
WR Tutu Atwell
With the return of Kupp to the offense, Tutu Atwell saw season-low marks in targets (5), receptions (2), and receiving yards (9) in Week 5. The electric wideout still managed to score a touchdown and he was inches away from hauling in a 63-yard touchdown from Stafford if the veteran quarterback put more air on the pass.
we were 🤏 close to a 63-yard Tutu Atwell touchdown pic.twitter.com/4zyYrcfZQj
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 10, 2023
Sean McVay is still figuring things out with Kupp back in the mix, but he’ll want to continue keeping Atwell involved with his quick motions and vertical shots. The Cardinals are allowing 7.8 yards per completion (sixth-most in the NFL) and their secondary is unquestionably one that Atwell can take advantage of down the field.
OLB Ochaun Mathis
Besides Kupp, Ochaun Mathis was designated to return from injured reserve before last week’s loss to the Eagles. The rookie edge rusher was active on only 10 defensive snaps, but he was involved in a couple of near sacks on Jalen Hurts.
Fellow rookie edge rusher Byron Young has shown flashes through the first five weeks of the season. Michael Hoecht has failed to show much in the pass-rushing department, and with the Rams in desperate need of production off of the edge, we could see Mathis’ role in the defense grow each week. That should begin in Week 6 versus the Cardinals.
DT Kobie Turner
The Rams received better-than-expected news when it came to Bobby Brown III and the knee injury he sustained in Week 5. After being carted off in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss, Brown has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and he’s since been placed on injured reserve.
Signing a replacement could be in the cards soon, but for the short term, rookie Kobie Turner could see more snaps at nose tackle. Turner has 13 combined tackles and one sack in his first five games in the NFL, and he’ll need to be more productive if the Rams want to improve from being the No. 25 ranked team in run defense DVOA.
CB Derion Kendrick
It was a rough outing from Derion Kendrick in Week 5 against the Eagles. Kendrick was tasked with covering A.J. Brown for the majority of the contest, and the talented receiver finished with six receptions for 127 yards on eight targets.
The worst stretch in last week’s game for Kendrick came at the end of the second quarter when he allowed a big play to Brown, committed a horse-collar penalty, and then got flagged for defensive pass interference to give the Eagles the lead before halftime. The Cardinals will likely do everything they can to scheme up Marquise Brown on Kendrick with Ahkello Witherspoon excelling on the other side of the field.
