Forbes silences old rivals in 20-13 Rams win
The former Commanders first-round pick delivered three pass breakups before telling the crowd to hush after a key fourth-down stop.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Los Angeles Rams fans in Landover, Maryland, received a specific moment of silence from their visitors on Sunday. After stopping Washington’s final drive, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes turned to the home crowd and wagged his finger before flapping his hands downward to signal for quiet. The gesture capped a 20-13 victory for the Rams and marked a personal milestone for the former Commanders player.
Forbes, a 173-pound first-round pick taken by Washington in the 2023 draft, was released halfway through his second season. The Rams claimed him on waivers in 2024, where he started as a reserve before earning more defensive snaps in 2025. His performance against his former team was mixed. He gave up Washington’s only touchdown on a slant pass to Van Jefferson and took a penalty for unnecessary roughness.
Despite those setbacks, Forbes recorded three pass breakups and six tough tackles. He filled in for injured teammates Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. The deciding play came on a fourth-down attempt by Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. Forbes positioned himself underneath the underthrown pass, tapped it up, and safety Jaylen McCollough knocked the ball out of bounds to seal the win.
Head coach Sean McVay praised Forbes’ maturity and competitive stamina after the game. McVay noted that Forbes played tough in run support and remained sticky in coverage. The coach highlighted how Forbes responded to the single penalty by continuing to play at a high level for the remainder of the contest.
Forbes described his motivation as simple, stating that he had this matchup circled and was ready to show what he has. He called himself a ball player and said he believes he is the best in the world when playing at his peak. The Rams also dealt with other injuries during the game and in practice this week.
Left guard Steve Avila left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. Beaux Limmer replaced him for the rest of the match. Avila had played through a similar injury in the previous week's win over the Chargers. Tight end Terrance Ferguson pulled his hamstring during practice on Friday after returning from a five-game absence. McVay said Ferguson will likely sit out for another couple of weeks while the team decides when to activate him from injured reserve.
