The Los Angeles Rams entered the season with major questions after a 27-7 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, including problems involving a newly rebuilt cornerback group. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson had difficulty within the defensive plan, according to ESPN reporters Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.
The Rams acquired both players during the offseason, with their contracts representing about $175 million in combined commitments. Their opening performance raised questions about how the team will use the pair and get greater value from its investment.
The secondary issues came as the team was also dealing with Myles Garrett's knee injury. Garrett missed nearly a month of training camp before playing in the opener and later underwent arthroscopic surgery. He is now on injured reserve.
Fowler reported that the Rams had initially expected rest during camp and the preseason to manage Garrett's knee problem, but the injury became more serious after Week 1. He also wrote that the team has enough defensive talent to absorb Garrett's absence, placing additional importance on the play of McDuffie and Watson.
The Rams' offense also produced only seven points against San Francisco. Fowler noted that 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris' previous familiarity with the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford may have contributed to the offensive struggles. Graziano cautioned against drawing too broad a conclusion from one game while saying the team has problems to address.
