Rams linebacker Matt Longacre will miss the rest of the season after the team decided to place the pass-rush specialist on injured reserve with a back injury, Dan Greenspan of the Associated Press reports. 
The third-year product out of Northwest Missouri State ranks third on the team with 5 1/2 sacks, behind only Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn. After not recording a sack in his first two seasons, Longacre thrived in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ pass-rushing scheme.
First-year head coach Sean McVay commented on the loss, saying, “it’s unfortunate that we’re not going to have him because of what he’s meant to our team.”
The Rams rank fourth in the NFL with 48 sacks heading into the season finale, behind only the Jaguars (52), Steelers (50) and Panthers (49). With the team gearing up for the postseason, it will turn to Donald, Quinn and veteran edge rusher Connor Barwin to fill the void left by Longacre. Not signed beyond this season, Longacre is sure to garner some attention on the free-agent market after his breakout campaign.