THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher said his primary cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, is "probably not" going to play on Sunday, which had become rather obvious.
Among the questions now are: How long will Johnson be out, and how will the Rams make up for his loss against a team in the Detroit Lions that is so effective throwing the ball downfield.
Johnson injured his right ankle during Sunday's 30-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He has been wearing a large protective boot ever since. The Rams have not revealed the severity of Johnson's injury, but he is believed to have suffered a sprain that will not jeopardize the entirety of his season.
Count me out if you want to ..
— Trumaine Johnson (@Trujohnson2) October 12, 2016
I'LL BE BACK ❗️ ™J22 https://t.co/taOnrK9U5B
Fisher described Johnson as "week-to-week" after Tuesday's practice.
Johnson's injury came one day after the Rams released veteran cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, a move made largely to promote defensive lineman Morgan Fox from the practice squad for the game against the Bills.
The Rams claimed Dwayne Gratz off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday in order to shore up their depth at cornerback, with Fox, a rookie, waived in order to create room on the 53-man roster.
With Johnson out, the Rams will start Troy Hill on the outside, opposite E.J. Gaines, who will become their No. 1 corner and likely match up against Detroit's Marvin Jones, the league's leading receiver.
"Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me who lines up in front of me," said Gaines, who spent all of last season recovering from foot surgery and missed the first three games this season with a thigh injury. "I just try to go out there and make the best of it. I think we'll just go out there and match up well against these guys and try to make some plays against Matthew Stafford."
Stafford ranks sixth in completion percentage (68), ninth in passing yards (1,378), 11th in touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.50) and 12th in Total QBR (66.4).
Stafford's primary target, Jones, has already racked up 519 yards, 205 of which came in one game against the Green Bay Packers. Hill, undrafted out of Oregon, knows Jones well. He spent last season with Jones on the Cincinnati Bengals, often lining up on the other side of him during practice.
"He's making big plays," Hill said. "He's explosive."
Hill replaced Sensabaugh as the No. 2 cornerback in Week 2, survived an onslaught of targets from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and started Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, paving the way for Gaines' return the following Sunday.
Hill and Gaines are each listed at only 5-foot-10; Lamarcus Joyner, who plays the slot, is 5-foot-8.
"But they can play tall," Fisher said, "because they can elevate for the ball."
Gratz was a third-round pick out of Connecticut in 2013. He has compiled three interceptions, 13 pass deflections, 119 tackles and two forced fumbles in his career. In Jacksonville, he was at best the fourth cornerback and likely No. 5 on the depth chart after being inactive on Sunday.
Gratz spent the 2015 season primarily as a slot corner, but Fisher said he has the ability to play along the outside.
Fisher was "really surprised" the Rams were able to claim him.
"I liked him coming out of Connecticut," Fisher said of Gratz. "Great young man, very smart, team guy."