Emmanuel Forbes Jr. seized a larger role for the Rams when their top corners were out, proving he can handle more in the secondary

The Rams entered last Sunday’s game against the Commanders missing their top two cornerbacks, with Trent McDuffie out due to a back injury and Jaylen Watson out for the season with a season-ending shoulder injury. For the first time this season, both of the Rams’ top cornerback options were unavailable at the same time.

That setup thrust Emmanuel Forbes Jr. into the kind of role he had not played all year. According to the Rams, Forbes was on the field for every defensive snap against Washington, a dramatic jump from his season-long usage of 33% of defensive snaps through that point.

The Rams’ staff credited Forbes for how quickly he adapted. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula described him as extremely productive, citing pass breakups, physicality in run support, and tackling, and head coach Sean McVay said Forbes played tough, was sticky in coverage, and helped in run support.

Forbes’ impact showed up in both coverage and situational plays. In the Rams’ account, he allowed six receptions for 19 yards, recorded three pass breakups, and was credited with the first tackle on run defense. He also stopped a screen pass for a 4-yard loss, helping shift momentum in a game where Jayden Daniels and the Commanders used multiple looks to extend plays.

When both Watson and McDuffie played every defensive snap earlier in the season, Forbes had none. In contrast, in the Washington game, Pro Football Focus graded him at 90.6, the second-highest grade on the Rams’ defense in that matchup behind outside linebacker Myles Garrett, while his defensive grade also ranked among the highest of all NFL cornerbacks entering the game.

There was added personal context for Forbes, who was released by the Commanders in November of his second season and signed with the Rams two days later. The Rams said Sunday marked his first game back in the stadium he called home during his rookie season and an additional season before that release, and he framed the opportunity as helping his team win against his former team.