The Los Angeles Rams got back a major piece of the puzzle defensively last Sunday against the Detroit Lions with the return of Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib from ankle surgery.
Talib performed well in his first game back in limited action while also continuing to take more strides forward in practice. This has all led to head coach Sean McVay to voice that the 32-year-old will play the entire game in Week 14 against the Chicago Bears, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“He is, yeah,” coach Sean McVay told reporters on Friday. “Because of Detroit being a different surface, coming off just from just getting him acclimated, really, if you will, we felt like a half would be a good gauge for us and then you see how he feels. He felt great after the game. Hasn’t had any setbacks. Had a good week of practice. He’s continuing to get healthier as the days progress. It sounds like Soldier Field is in good condition and we’re expecting to have him out there. His leadership and his production has certainly given us a boost. You just feel his presence out there on the field. That’s one of those things that we’re sure glad to have Aqib back.”
His presence in the secondary is a significant upgrade as he has proven to be their top cornerback when healthy. This also shifts Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters back to a more comfortable role where he can make a larger impact with his big-play ability.
The Rams have struggled to defensively against the pass without Talib in the mix that saw them allow 30.8 points per game from Weeks 4-12. Meanwhile, Los Angeles gave up only 12.0 points per game in the first three weeks of the season, according to NFL Research.
Beyond that, this is an opportunity for Talib to get his legs under him for the long run over the remainder of the season and heading into the playoffs.
Follow Us
Subscribe