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The Los Angeles Rams fell to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, dropping their record to 2-4 and placing them at the bottom of the NFC West. It's a surprising position for a team that had high hopes, but with special teams struggles and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, the Rams' poor start is not entirely unexpected.
However, following the loss, the Rams encountered an awkward situation involving one of their players. According to Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News, running back Kyren Williams expressed frustration to reporters about his playing time and opportunities in the Week 6 game. Yet, Williams' complaint appears to lack merit, as he actually saw a significant share of the workload.
Grosbard shared Williams' postgame remarks: "Rams RB Kyren Williams on why the offense's energy is inconsistent drive to drive: 'Can't tell you. Probably because I'm not out there.'" The quote itself casts Williams in a negative light, especially after another tough loss to a 1-4 Cardinals team that many expected to finish near the bottom of the league.
But Williams' grievance about his playing time and workload doesn't hold up when examining the numbers from Week 6. Williams was on the field for 42 offensive snaps, which accounted for 72.4% of the Rams' total offensive plays. That figure is actually higher than his season average of 70.7%, meaning he was on the field more often than he had been earlier in the year.
While Williams did have just 10 rushing attempts—his lowest total of the season—he still led the Rams' running game. He also caught three of six targets, which was four more targets and one more reception than fellow running back Blake Corum had in Week 6.
So, Williams led the backfield in snaps, playing over 70% of the time, and also led the backfield in touches. Yet he's complaining about his playing time with that postgame quote. Williams has been "out there," contrary to his claim.
His real issue may be with a lack of volume, which is a more reasonable complaint given that it was the fewest rushing attempts he's had in a game this season. But Williams was on the field enough this week and received the bulk of the work out of the backfield. Corum isn't going away anytime soon either, so Williams might have to get used to this workload, even if he wants to be more heavily involved.
Key Analysis
Williams' frustration seems to stem from a desire for more carries, but his snap count and touch share indicate he remains a central part of the offense. The Rams' backfield timeshare with Corum is likely here to stay, and Williams may need to adjust his expectations. His public complaint could also risk alienating coaches and teammates, especially after a loss that dropped the team to last place in the division.
Originally reported by sportingnews.