Rams welcome back a trio of familiar faces to roster

Attempting to bolster the NFL’s worst run defense, the Los Angeles Rams welcomed back two familiar faces to their defensive line. Larrell Murchison was activated from the Injured Reserve List (IR) and Jonah Williams was poached off the Minnesota Vikings practice squad (PS). The two additions fill out the Rams roster at 53.

In addition, the Rams made other personnel transactions earlier this week. They designated cornerback Darious Williams to return to practice from the IR. This opens a 21-day window for Williams to re-join the roster. Undrafted rookie corner Cam Lampkin was waived after a couple of weeks on the active roster and after clearing waivers, was signed to the PS. Finally, kicker Tanner Brown was terminated from the PS.

Jonah Williams begins his third stint out west. He was originally signed out of Weber State back in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. After spending his rookie year on the PS, Williams played in 41 games with 22 starts over the next three season’s. All told, he charted 77 tackles, four of those for loss, 2.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures, and only two missed tackles as a Ram. His production was spread over 1035 defensive reps and another 373 on special teams.

The Rams claimed Larrell Murchison off of waivers in December 2022 after his release from the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted at #147 of Round 5 in 2020. Murchison has been a predominantly backup player over his four seasons, logging 37 tackles, five for loss, six pressures and two sacks over 44 games, eight starts, and 691 defensive snap. He’s only missed two tackles over his career, as well.

Breaking updates: Larrell Murchison broke his foot on his first day back at practice and is out indefinitely and Darious Williams is expected to play vs. the Packers this Sunday.

While it unlikely that Darious Williams will be activated versus the Packers this Sunday, his return to the field is a welcome sight. He was the biggest off season addition to the L.A. defense and the secondary has struggled in his absence. An October 2018 waiver claim from the Baltimore Ravens, over six year’s in the NFL, DWill has started 55 0f 80 games, with 3952 defensive reps. He’s stacked up 236 tackles, 62 passes defended, and 10 interceptions. He’s allowed a completion rate of 58.6% and QB rating of 73.9.

Back in July I asked, “Will the Rams defensive line be the flashpoint?”

Four games in, there is no definite answer. That’s only because L.A. has struggled at all three levels of the defense. While both Murchison and Williams are not behemoth’s to clog the middle of the interior, they do bring veteran savvy and grit. Both are grinders, willing to do the unsung dirty work. Since Bobby Brown and Neville Gallimore have been mostly non-entities so far, maybe Murch of JWill can force some double teams to help out the linebackers and/or create some exploitable matchups for the Rams young stallion pass rushers.

When you have the NFL’s worst defense, placing any finger, no matter how small, in the dike that can help stem the offensive flow is welcome.