The Rams roll into Week 3 facing a familiar nemesis: the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams are undefeated at 2-0, but the Eagles come in with a little extra swagger. The Birds have won three straight against the Rams. And covered the spread in 6 of their last 8 games, showing consistency that the Rams will want to disrupt. Leading the charge for the Rams is head coach Sean McVay, the architect of their recent success, who brings as much intensity to the sidelines as to his play-calling. But last week, things took an unexpected detour. McVay was sidelined by something worse.

In the grind of the Rams-Titans game, the HC tore his plantar fascia. It’s a brutal injury for anyone who’s ever suffered it, with a pain that’s sharp and persistent. But in a twist that might surprise fans used to seeing coaches protected from the physical toll, McVay isn’t letting this pain slow him down. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, “I was actually texting with Sean McVay yesterday about this, and he said he feels a lot better. Once a thing tears, it’s actually really beneficial. So it was terrible at the time, but happy to report that he’s feeling better, and he’s probably going to have a cool little limp on the sidelines. So we’re all going to be jealous of how cool he looks, as we usually are.”

The injury happened in the heat of battle, during a Rams-Titans game that demanded McVay’s every command and movement on the sidelines. It’s unclear exactly when the injury occurred, but it caught attention when the HC was seen limping on the sideline near the end of the game. That was different from the usual sight of him charging up and down the field like his usual self.

The Rams HC is handling this injury with his usual mix of determination and a dash of swagger. “Foot’s good. I did tear my plantar fascia, so yeah,” he said on the Coach McVay Show. “Well, that’s a good thing, because I guess it allows you to heal a little faster. But I was being dramatic, limping around towards the end of the game, but the MRI confirmed I did that.” But he was quick to downplay any concerns about his role moving forward.

“Good news is I’m not playing. I’m just on the sidelines watching, so if I have a little cool limp to add some swag, then you’ll know why,” the head coach confirmed. McVay, who led the Rams to a championship in 2022, is showing that even with a painful injury, his sideline presence will remain as fiery as ever. But before diving into the Week 3 showdown, let’s take a closer look at how the Rams performed in Week 2.

5 takeaways from the Rams vs Titans showdown

1. The game was no cakewalk. Titans hit hard, showing physicality that tests a team’s grit. The Rams passed the test, winning 33-19. But the price tag was steep — especially for Sean McVay. Their ability to claw out a win with injuries piling up sends a message: this team isn’t backing down.

2. Los Angeles showed flashes of brilliance but kept getting stuck when it mattered most, especially near the red zone. The offense had a standout highlight when Puka Nacua rumbled for a 45-yard touchdown run, breaking open a key moment in the game. But in several drives near the goal line, they stalled, failing to punch it in consistently.

3. Byron Young made a huge impact with two sacks against the Titans, raising his season total to three. His most crucial play came in the fourth quarter — a strip sack that shifted momentum.

4. After a Rams punt, the Titans had a chance to take the lead, but on the second play, Young blew past the right tackle and forced a fumble from quarterback Cam Ward. Linebacker Nate Landman recovered the ball, and three plays later, the Rams transformed a slim four-point lead into an 11-point advantage. That sack-fumble essentially sealed the game for Los Angeles.

5. The Rams’ win wasn’t just about the final score but how they weathered the storm. They dominated 90% of the first half but trailed 13-10 at the break, a scenario that could have sparked panic. Instead, they kept calm, refused to force plays, and came out in the second half locked in, turning the game around with 20 unanswered points.

The Rams face a critical test in Week 3 against the Eagles — another hot, hungry team. Sean McVay’s injury update shows he’s not letting this plantar fascia tear define him or his team. Limp or no limp, the Rams’ head coach will be there, fiery and unyielding.