The Rams' injury bug has reached the coaching staff.
Coach Sean McVay took a hard shot to the head from one of his own players whil standing on the sideline during Sunday's game against the Chiefs, though he appeared to be all right afterward.
McVay walked right into reserve tight end Roger Carter Jr., who was putting his helmet on while running out onto the field. McVay and Carter didn't see each other before the collision. The hit left McVay in obvious pain, with the coach holding his face.
Sean McVay took a hard hit from one of his players 😳pic.twitter.com/LoP3me52Ni
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) November 27, 2022
Luckily, jokes about McVay entering the NFL concussion protocol were just jokes. McVay stayed on the sideline coaching an undermanned Rams team.
MORE: Who is Bryce Perkins? Meet the Rams' replacement fill-in QB
After the game, McVay told reporters the hit wasn't as bad as it looked. "It’s really not that big of a deal. I think it probably ended up looking worse when you replay it. I don’t think I broke my jaw, so I’ll be fine," he said.
It has been a rough weekend for coaches and collisions. Alabama coach Nick Saban had his face bloodied Saturday after taking a hit from a player's shoulder pad on the sideline.
“Nobody makes me bleed my own blood.” - Nick Saban, probably pic.twitter.com/CEtAhvKviM
— PropSwap (@PropSwap) November 26, 2022
It could have been worse for McVay and Saban. Former Saints coach Sean Payton suffered a leg fracture and MCL tear in a sideline collision with a player during the 2011 season. In 2016, Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had to be stretchered off and taken to a hospital after a Chargers player knocked him over.
MORE: Revisiting the Chiefs-Rams 2018 classic
While those collisions might've been unavoidable, it's worth noting McVay and Saban were victims of friendly fire.
If the Rams want to save their season, they're going to need McVay at full strength. Injuries to Matthew Stafford and John Wolford forced Los Angeles (3-7) to start third-string quarterback Bryce Perkins against the Chiefs on the road Sunday.