Los Angeles Rams place former UAB standout on IR

The Los Angeles Rams will be without cornerback Darious Williams for at least the first four games of the NFL season, after the former UAB player was placed on the injured reserve list on Thursday.

Williams battled a hamstring injury throughout training camp and the preseason.

Over the past three seasons, opposing quarterbacks have posted a pass efficiency rating of 75.8 when throwing to receivers covered by Williams. No player in the NFL who has been the target of at least as many passes as Williams has a better rating over that span.

The Rams are scheduled to open their season against the Detroit Lions at 7:20 p.m. CDT on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. NBC will broadcast the game.

League rules require Williams to miss at least four games after being placed on injured reserve. After the Lions, Los Angeles will play the Arizona Cardinals on September 15, the San Francisco 49ers on September 22 and the Chicago Bears on September 29 to open the season.

Williams returned to Los Angeles in March after spending the previous two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. An undrafted rookie, Williams joined the Rams in 2018 and became a regular starter in 2020. His last game for Los Angeles was the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, when he led the team with eight tackles and a pass breakup.