The 3-0 Los Angeles Rams might be without both of their marquee cornerbacks on Thursday night when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that Aqib Talib will probably need surgery on the ankle he injured making a tackle in the third quarter of Sunday’s 35-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“It wasn’t good news on him,” McVay said. “He is going to get a second opinion (on Tuesday), but more than likely, he’s going to have something that will probably require surgery.
“Hopefully, we’ll get him back at some point in time.”
There was better news regarding Marcus Peters, who was helped off the field after suffering a non-contact right calf injury in the second quarter.
“He’ll be day to day,” McVay said. “Hopefully, we’ve got a chance to get him going this week. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. That was really encouraging news.”
Both Talib and Peters had MRIs on their injuries on Monday and were listed as “did not participate” on the Rams’ injury report.
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The Rams used trades with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos to acquire Peters and Talib, respectively, in the offseason, as they built the star-studded secondary already nicknamed “Lock Angeles.”
But the unit might be one of the deepest in the NFL, considering it has three backups with a combined 88 games of NFL starting experience.
That depth will be tested on Thursday if Peters in unable to play. The Rams would rely on slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman, as well as Sam Shields and Troy Hill, who came off the bench to play a combined 46 snaps on Sunday.
“Nickell Robey has played excellent for us this year,” McVay said. “Guys like Sam Shields and Troy Hill will be asked to step up. They played a lot of meaningful snaps yesterday.”
Shields started 62 games for Green Bay from 2010-16 and played in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl XLV.
Hill, in his fourth year, has started seven games in the NFL, including a stretch late last season when the team won in Seattle and Tennessee to clinch the NFC West. He also starred in the wild-card playoff loss against Atlanta.
“We have a lot of confidence in those guys,” McVay said. “Sam made a big-time breakup on the third down on that last series in the red zone that ended up getting them off the field.
“When we had to tighten up I thought those guys did a nice job. And to be able to step in on short notice… ultimately they were at their best at the end of the game.”
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The cornerbacks weren’t the only significant injuries for the Rams on Sunday.
Returner JoJo Natson, signed Sept. 12 to replace injured Pro Bowler Pharoh Cooper, broke his hand and will miss at least Thursday’s game, although McVay said he has a chance to return for the trip to Seattle on Oct. 7.
In his absence, McVay expects receiver Cooper Kupp to handle punts and safety Blake Countess to return kicks.
Dominque Easley, who has started at outside linebacker this season, is questionable with a knee injury. The former first-round pick had two ACL injuries at the University of Florida and has already missed portions of three NFL seasons with knee troubles.
Follow the Ventura County Star’s Joe Curley on Twitter @vcsjoecurley.
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