Injuries to CBs Peters, Talib have Rams in tough spot

"Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters is dealing with a calf injury, and head coach Sean McVay seemed optimistic even though earlier reports said he would be sidelined two to four weeks. "He'll be day-to-day and hopefully we've got a chance to get him going this week," McVay said Monday. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow, but that was really encouraging news." The news was not so good for cornerback Aqib Talib, who is expected to have surgery on an injured ankle. "It wasn't good news on him," McVay said. "He is going to get a second opinion tomorrow, but more than likely, he's going to have something that will probably require surgery. But, hopefully, we'll get him back at some point in time. He'll handle it the right way and do everything he can to get back sooner than later." Peters sustained the injury midway through the second quarter of Sunday's 35-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He was helped to the sidelines while not placing weight on his right leg. The 25-year-old Peters was among a number of high-profile offseason acquisitions for the Rams (3-0), who sent a pair of draft picks to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the two-time Pro Bowl selection. Selected eight slots behind running back Todd Gurley in 2015, Peters leads the league with 20 interceptions since entering the NFL. He has four tackles and one interception this season. Last season, Peters recorded five interceptions to go along with 46 tackles and four forced fumbles in 14 games with the Chiefs. He had eight receptions as a rookie, returning two for touchdowns. Talib sustained his ankle injury in the third quarter. The Rams are expected to lean on cornerbacks Sam Shields, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill in the interim as the team hosts the Minnesota Vikings (1-1-1) on Thursday (8:20 p.m. ET). "Yeah, I think what you saw yesterday, I think it's going to be a combination of, obviously, Nickell Robey has played excellent for us this year," McVay said of replacing his star corners. "Then, I think guys like Sam Shields and Troy Hill will be asked to step up. "As far as the nature of exactly if those guys are available (Thursday), obviously, Aqib will be ruled out. With Marcus, that'll be predicated on -- OK, how does he respond tomorrow. Then, if that's the case, then maybe you look at getting somebody else up as well. But, those are things that we haven't decided on, but we do have confidence that we're going to get those other guys ready to go and they played a lot of meaningful snaps yesterday." --QB Jared Goff is riding high after going 29 of 36 for 354 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. "It felt like a good rivalry," said Goff. "I think you could feel the crowd. You could tell there were two sides in here. Ultimately, I think we had a little bit more, being at home, but you could definitely feel it. I think they are a great team, we're a great team, and hopefully that can continue for a long time." --RB Todd Gurley rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. --KR JoJo Natson injured his hand in the first half and didn't return. He was signed two weeks ago. --CB Aqib Talib is expected to have surgery on an injured ankle. "It wasn't good news on him," McVay said. "He is going to get a second opinion tomorrow, but more than likely, he's going to have something that will probably require surgery. But, hopefully, we'll get him back at some point in time. He'll handle it the right way and do everything he can to get back sooner than later." --CB Marcus Peters is dealing with a calf injury, and McVay seemed optimistic even though earlier reports said he would be sidelined two to four weeks. "He'll be day-to-day and hopefully we've got a chance to get him going this week," McVay said Monday. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow, but that was really encouraging news."