The Los Angeles Rams placed starting cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve Thursday due to a hamstring strain and he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Williams was injured in the second practice of training camp and was mostly sidelined until Wednesday, when he was a limited participant. Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that Williams was making progress and last week said the cornerback was expected to be ready for the season opener on Sunday at the Detroit Lions.
The Rams signed Williams, 31, as a free agent to a three-year contract in March after his release by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a cost-cutting move.
He was with the Rams from 2018-21, including the Super Bowl LVI team in February 2022, and joined Jacksonville in free agency on a three-year, $30 million contract one month later.
Williams had 53 tackles and four interceptions in 17 starts last season and has 236 tackles with 10 picks in 80 career games (55 starts).
The Rams listed Williams and veteran Tre’Davious White, another free-agent signing, as starters at cornerback, while reserve Cobie Durant also was limited at practice this week because of a hamstring injury. Undrafted rookies Josh Wallace and Charles Woods are the other reserves.