LOS ANGELES — Blue visor on his helmet, white No. 25 jersey on his torso, new Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes practiced with the team for the first time on Wednesday.
The Rams will spend the week teaching Forbes how their defense operates and allowing him to adjust to his new surroundings, and they don’t expect to hurry him onto the playing field after claiming him off waivers from the Washington Commanders on Monday.
“It’s really just getting him acclimated. He’ll start off with the look team,” head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “Seems like a great young man. Excited to be able to get him in the building but no pressure in terms of trying to rush him to get on the field. Whenever he’s ready, we’ll see when that time is.”
Speaking with reporters before practice on Wednesday, Forbes said he’s spent the last couple of days traveling and transferring his life to Los Angeles while also beginning the work of learning the Rams’ playbook.
That’s the biggest challenge to his transition, the second-year cornerback said, and he met with cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant on Tuesday to get a feel for the defense.
“Just got a couple weeks before playoffs or whatever else,” Forbes said. “If you know football, you know football. It’s only running so many coverages. It’s really just learning the lingo and how they do certain things.”
Prior to being claimed by the Rams (6-6), Forbes already knew cornerback Cobie Durant and safety Kam Curl. The latter was Forbes’ teammate in Washington last season, and called Forbes on Monday to celebrate their reunion.
He also knew some members of the Rams’ coaching staff from the pre-draft process in 2023, and they’ve already had advice for him since he joined the team.
“Be yourself and play with confidence,” Forbes said. “That’s one thing they said they’d seen, that I wasn’t playing with confidence, and that’s one thing I’m looking forward to just go out here and play ball and not worry about other things, honestly.”
Forbes was a first-round pick by the Commanders in 2023 but struggled as a rookie, allowing 39 receptions for 636 yards on 60 targets. After Washington underwent a regime change following the season, bringing in a new front office and coaching staff, Forbes was unable to find a foothold this season prior to being waived.
“It’s part of the business, you know? I wish it didn’t happen like that but it did and I have a fresh start here and a clean slate,” Forbes said. “And I’m just ready to take advantage of it.”
INJURY REPORT
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said he expects to practice in full and play against the Buffalo Bills (10-2) this week after suffering a lateral ankle sprain in the second quarter of Sunday’s victory over the New Orleans Saints.
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“Pretty good,” Stafford said of the ankle. “Yeah, I’ll be good to go. … I think everybody in here is dealing with something at some point. It’s just kind of whether or not you can play with it and how good can you get it feeling before Sunday. So I got no issue with going out there practicing today, playing on Sunday. I’ll be good to go.”
Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson took a rest day during practice after participating in a walk through, McVay said, adding the Rams want to be smart with him after a foot injury impacted his ability to practice last week.
“Don’t expect that to effect anything with him moving forward,” McVay said.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp received a veteran rest day on Wednesday and did not practice. Receiver Demarcus Robinson (hand) was limited.