The Los Angeles Rams are set to take on the San Francisco 49ers in their season-opening contest, as both teams try to become the first NFL franchise to win a game in Australia. The matchup has been dominated by storylines that go beyond the team's travels to Melbourne, as Myles Garrett is set to make his Rams debut and Aaron Donald could launch his return from retirement.
Behind Garrett (and potentially Donald) will be a revamped Rams secondary. While Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Quentin Lake remain at the top of everyone's minds, here's how Emmanuel Forbes Jr. could be the biggest surprise come game time.
Forbes was used in training camp at outside corner, his natural position. That allowed the Rams to keep McDuffie rotating between the slot
and boundary, while defensive coordinator Chris Shula was able to successfully utilize his dime defense, filling the field with defensive backs.
With the tall, stout Watson on the other side, Forbes looked like he was taking a stroll in the park during training camp. He was calm, comfortable, and in control. The secondary was hard to crack, especially when paired with a relentless pass rush disrupting the timing.
Shula typically keeps Kam Kinchens, Kam Curl, and Lake on the field at all times, rotating others such as Jaylen McCollough. Those players have been attacking the line of scrimmage with lightning quickness. Forbes was an equalizer for the Rams last season, and when he was benched against the 49ers in 2025, the Rams let Kyle Shanahan's unit run all over them.
Forbes is even better than last season, and he shut down NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. McDuffie's usage and natural read for the game, paired with Lake's, have already shrunk tight windows due to their prime positioning.
At the same time, players like Donald and Garrett are coming in hot at quarterbacks. Teams are going to go after Forbes, as they simply have no other option. Watch how much he's grown in the last few seasons.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Why one overlooked Rams cornerback is set to surprise in 2026
