Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams exploded in his return to the lineup.
The second-year RB generated 204 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Williams rushed for 143 yards on 16 carries and added six catches for 61 yards and two scores in his first game off injured reserve.
When asked about his ankle’s condition following the victory, Williams responded jokingly:
“How many — 200 yards from scrimmage?” he said, via the team’s official website. “I want to say (I feel) 200 percent this time.”
The quotation was a twist on Williams’ remark from Friday, in which he claimed to be “150 percent” ready for his return on Sunday.
According to NFL Research, Williams made history as the first player in the NFL to achieve over 140 rushing yards, more than six receptions, over 60 receiving yards, and at least two receiving touchdowns in a single game. The 23-year-old is also the first Rams running back to surpass 200 scrimmage yards in a game since Todd Gurley in Week 6, 2018 at Denver.
Despite missing some games, Williams had two or more touchdowns in four games in 2023, marking his performance on Sunday. This ties him for the most in the NFL.
The sophomore running back began the season strongly before incurring an ankle injury during Week 6 against the Cardinals. The injury resulted in a four-game hiatus, creating an unusual situation: In his two consecutive games played, both against Arizona (Weeks 6 and 12), Williams managed to amass over 150 scrimmage yards. This marks him as the first player in NFL history to achieve over 150 scrimmage yards in two back-to-back games against the same team.
“Kyren is an exceptional football player,” said head coach Sean McVay. “He has a genuine passion for competition and a natural enthusiasm for the game which, coupled with his impressive productivity, makes him a standout player. He’s been doing a great job. Kyren is incredibly conscientious and loves to compete. He’s put in a lot of hard work to get back to this level of performance, and it’s been great to see.”
Williams’ play perfectly embodies a youthful Rams squad that is rapidly moving towards contention. McVay’s team, with a 5-6 record, is just one game away from a wild-card spot, with six games left to play.
