The modest but meaningful gesture honored a wonderful moment for Kyren Williams amid a subpar performance by the Rams’ second-year running back — and by the team overall.
When the Rams most needed him, Williams, who stumbled twice in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, steadied himself in the second half.
Early in the third quarter, after he ran the ball up the middle for a two-point conversion, coach Sean McVay gave him a smile and congrats. His support was evident on the enormous video screen at SoFi Stadium as he put his arm around Williams’ shoulders.
After Williams fumbled on a run inside the 10-yard line early in the second quarter, McVay didn’t need to stick with him. Williams recovered to carry the ball one yard for the Rams’ first touchdown of the season, their eighth overall.
After Williams mishandled a short pass from Matthew Stafford later in the quarter, McVay had the option to bench Williams, but he stuck with the stocky running back, and the Rams prevailed 28-20 over the Commanders.
Williams became the first Rams running back to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards since Todd Gurley in 2019 with 27 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown. He also added three receiving yards.
After winning four of their previous five games, the Rams improved to 7-7 and secured an NFC wild-card playoff spot—an incredible feat in a season that was meant to be about rebuilding and aiming for an early draft pick the following year.
There were flaws in the game. Before the Rams’ defense forced the Commanders to run out the clock, the score was closer than it should have been in the closing minutes due to the Rams’ red-zone misdeeds.
However, McVay demonstrated by putting his arm around Williams’ shoulders that he can overlook errors as long as Williams responds to them with the same fervor as he did on Sunday.
“It means everything,” Williams said of McVay’s support. “He was telling me right when it happened, ‘I’ve still got trust in you. I’ve still got 100% trust in you.’ That’s just who he is. I don’t expect him to change over little mistakes that happen in this game.
“That’s how football works. Such things do occur. Although it’s my responsibility to prevent it, you must always assume that errors will occur. Nobody is flawless.”
Although McVay claimed he saw early on that Williams’ hold on the ball wasn’t as firm as it should have been, the running back’s mishaps were avoidable and didn’t indicate a long-term issue.
“He’s a fantastic athlete. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be in many of these favorable situations, McVay stated. “I adore how he wrapped up the match.
“He’s the kind of guy who has the right football character, the right mindset, and the right mentality to be able to use these things as learning opportunities, so he’ll learn from it. Think positively as you move forward. He nevertheless had a significant positive impact on this game.”
Williams missed 10 games in 2022 due to foot and ankle injuries that required two surgeries. This season, Williams defeated Cam Akers to start as the starting running back; however, he missed four games due to an ankle injury sustained in Game 6.
He didn’t back in with ease when he came back. In the Rams’ 37-14 rout of Arizona, he scored 143 yards rushing and added 61 receiving yards (two touchdowns), making an instant impression.
He’s a kindly 5-foot-9 and 194 pounds on their roster, and a lot of that weight is heart. As anyone could, Stafford was quick to reassure Williams following the blunders.
“Just keep going. Keep playing,” he said when asked what he told Williams. “It goes back to fundamentals. Just continue to trust those fundamentals, and he’s as conscientious of a guy as we have on our football team. We all know the kind of work he puts in and the spark he gives our offense. Great to see him get back out there and continue to play well after that.”
Williams accepted accountability for his errors.
“If I’m going to get the ball that many times, I’ve got to be able to have great ball security, keep it high and tight no matter what the situation is. Just be more aware. That’s on me. I will fix it and be better next week,” he said, though “next week” is really Thursday at home against New Orleans.
“It’s a big mistake but you can’t think of it like that,” he replied. “You must possess the ability to persevere. When that occurred, there was still a ton of game. If I had given up, I would have disappointed myself, my teammates, and everyone else. I don’t operate in that manner as a team player. If I make a mistake, I take responsibility for it and grow from it.”
McVay laid the blame for what he called a “pattern” of subpar red-zone play calling on himself. But in the end, everything worked out perfectly for the Rams’ postseason prospects. According to Williams, that held greater significance for him than reaching 1,000 scrimmage yards.
“Graces come our way on a daily basis. You see, it’s still a blessing even though it might get difficult at times,” he remarked. “Since the second grade, I have been engaging in this activity. All I ever wanted to do was this. All I want to do is this. We’re going to keep doing what needs to be done because we know how important it is for this team and all of its members to play well in December.”
He and they cannot waste that opportunity.