Rams vs 49ers live updates: LA trails in third quarter

Kyren Williams hopes to revive Rams’ running game against 49ers

Rams running back Kyren Williams carries the ball against the Detroit Lions on September 8.

With star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined by injuries, the Rams will have an even greater urgency to establish a rushing attack Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium.

Running back Kyren Williams, who rushed for 1,144 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, is off to a slow start for a team that is 0-2 for the first time under Sean McVay.

“It’s still early,” Williams said. “We’re still working and it’s a long season… We don’t have the mindset to lose confidence in the face of a little bit of adversity. It’s part of the game, you’ve got to go through it and deal with it and you’ll come out better.”

“I’m glad it’s happening early. We’ll be better off later.”

Williams, who is in his third year as a pro, has rushed for just 75 yards on 30 carries, an average of just 2.5 yards per carry. Last season, he averaged five yards per carry.

In the season opener against the Detroit Lions, Williams rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Against the Cardinals, he rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Against the Cardinals, the Rams found themselves down 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-0 early in the second.

“He’s going to get going,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said of Williams. “He does everything right. … For any player, but especially in the running game, you need all 11 players, period. The more we’re on the field, the more we’ll get into a rhythm.”

With offensive linemen Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom and Jonah Jackcon on injured reserve, the Rams’ offense has been a patchwork. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury against the Cardinals and left tackle Alaric Jackson is back after serving a two-game suspension.

“The more continuity we have as an offensive line, the more we can feel what each other can do,” right guard Kevin Dotson said. “Once we get some consistency, we’ll be fine.”