Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has seen plenty of injury trouble in a decade with the Rams, but nothing matches what the team is dealing with right now.

The head coach said Wednesday that the current situation exceeds even the 2022 campaign, when the defending Super Bowl champions finished 5-12 amid a wave of problems that hit the offensive line especially hard.

“I’ve been the coach for 10 years, and I know 2022 was a season that we had a lot of injuries, particularly at the offensive line, but this has been more than any year, including ’22, with the amount of guys out at different spots that are key and critical to our identity, on offense, on defense and on special teams,” McVay said.

The latest setback involves cornerback Jaylen Watson, who will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after re-aggravating the injury in the team’s recent win over the Chargers.

Watson, signed as a free agent from Kansas City, had recorded 24 tackles, one interception and nine passes defensed in seven games before the shoulder issue ended his year.

McVay praised the cornerback’s contributions and noted that Watson wanted to try to play through the problem before doctors recommended surgery.

Other significant losses include defensive end Myles Garrett, who is returning to practice after missing roughly seven games following knee surgery, and wide receiver Davante Adams, who is on injured reserve after a ruptured hamstring that is expected to keep him out six to 10 weeks.

Defensive tackle Kobie Turner remains on injured reserve with a groin injury, while tight end Terrance Ferguson is also working his way back from an ankle issue and returned to practice this week.

Nose tackle Poona Ford is out for the season with a torn triceps, and kicker Blake Grupe is done for the year after tearing his ACL.

The Rams entered the season as Super Bowl favorites after adding high-profile pieces on defense, but they sit at 4-4 after eight games.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has dealt with some arm soreness but has indicated he expects to continue playing.

“That’s just the way it goes. That’s NFL football. I know everybody in that training room is doing everything they can to be back as fast as they can, and when and if those guys can do that, we’ll welcome them with open arms and it’ll be a nice boost for us when they get back,” Stafford said.

The team has already seen multiple starters miss significant time on both sides of the ball, and the secondary in particular has been thinned by the Watson loss and earlier absences for Trent McDuffie.

Garrett’s return to the practice field offers one potential boost as Los Angeles prepares for its next game against the Commanders.

Ferguson’s progress and the possible return of other players on the 21-day injured reserve window could provide additional help in the coming weeks.

McVay has emphasized that the club will look primarily to its own returning players rather than outside additions to address the shortages.

The 2022 season remains a clear reference point for the coach, given how injuries contributed to the sharp drop from Super Bowl champions to a 5-12 finish that year.

Whether the current group can avoid a similar decline will depend heavily on getting key contributors back and keeping the remaining healthy players on the field.

The Rams have a bye coming after their next two games, which could offer a chance for further recovery before the stretch run.

For now, the priority remains managing the present absences while preparing for the immediate schedule.