Rams' Talib headed to IR, could return late in season
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib is headed to injured reserve with cracked ribs, head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Monday.
The IR designation means that Talib will miss at least eight weeks before potentially being activated for a return late in the season.
Talib's rib injury was suffered in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks and kept him out of the team's 20-7 Week 6 loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.
The former first-round pick, who was traded to the Rams from the Denver Broncos prior to the 2018 season, hasn't shown the same form that made him a five-time Pro Bowler and 2016 All-Pro. According to Pro Football Focus, the Kansas product grades as the 99th-best corner out of 117 through the first six weeks of the season.
Before the injury, the Cleveland native had amassed 14 tackles and two pass deflections during the 2019 campaign. Troy Hill, David Long Jr., and Nickell Robey-Coleman are among the defensive backs in line for increased snaps while Talib is on the shelf.
After three straight losses, the defending NFC Champion Rams will look to right the ship against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7.
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