The Rams’ defensive line was up to a significant challenge during Sunday’s 37-32 victory over the Buccaneers. With injuries and an ejection to deal with, the nine-man rotation quickly went down to seven. And given 90-degree temperatures with significant humidity, plus a slate of 90 plays to defend, there was a lot the line had to deal with.
Los Angeles usually designates one of its nine defensive linemen inactive, and that player on Sunday was end Matt Longacre. Thus, when fellow end William Hayes went down with an ankle injury, it meant others would have play more snaps in his place.