The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 on Sunday, and the aftermath in Los Angeles centers on ankle and shoulder injuries that undercut the Rams’ personnel plans late in the game.
McVay details injuries to Ferguson and Parkinson
Head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Terrance Ferguson exited the game with a medial sprain to his ankle and that Colby Parkinson was clearly hampered. McVay said Parkinson did have an AC sprain to his shoulder and added that Parkinson will likely be one to monitor on the injury report.
McVay also described Ferguson’s problem as a medial ankle sprain and cautioned the team will monitor how it develops. He added that the current expectation is for Ferguson to miss the Rams’ Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, a timeline McVay outlined as the staff continues evaluations.
McVay suggested Parkinson will be one to watch on the weekly injury report, signaling the team expects to track his status closely throughout the week.
How the injuries altered personnel usage and play-calling
The Rams’ offense shifted markedly after Ferguson left. The team operated out of 13 personnel — one running back, three tight ends — on 45.7 percent of snaps in the first half, but that rate fell to 27.8 percent in the second half once Ferguson was sidelined. The change was driven by availability rather than schematic preference.
Efficiency numbers underline why the Rams value heavier tight-end groupings. The offense averaged 0.11 EPA per pass out of 13 personnel, while it generated -0.34 EPA per pass out of 11 personnel in the second half. Those figures help explain why losing Ferguson altered the Rams’ down-and-distance options and their ability to sustain the game plan designed earlier in the week.
Analysis of Sunday’s game projects that if Ferguson is unavailable — and particularly if Parkinson misses time as well — the Rams may struggle to operate out of 13 personnel the way they want. The same analysis notes that getting wide receiver Puka Nacua back would allow the Rams to operate out of 12 personnel and use heavier tight end sets.
With the Rams' tight-end room in flux, the coming practice week will be critical. Ferguson’s expected absence for Week 4, Parkinson’s shoulder status and the timeline for any reinforcements will shape how Los Angeles adjusts its personnel groupings and play-calling when it returns to the field.
