The Los Angeles Rams have placed leading tackler Micah Kiser on injured reserve.
The Rams’ starting middle linebacker will be sidelined for at least three weeks after the move made Thursday. Los Angeles (7-3) hosts San Francisco (4-6) on Sunday.
Kiser injured his knee late in the Rams' 27-24 victory at Tampa Bay last Monday night, coach Sean McVay said. Kiser leads the team with 77 tackles, along with three passes defensed and a forced fumble.
Kiser is a third-year pro from Virginia who barely played as a rookie and then missed all of last season when he tore his pectoral muscle in a preseason game. He took over for Cory Littleton in the middle of the Rams’ defense this season.
Troy Reeder is likely to play extensively in Kiser’s absence. Reeder started eight games last season before playing a backup role this season, but he started last month when Kiser missed one game with a groin injury.
The Rams' No. 1-ranked defense has played extensively with just three linebackers in their ostensible 3-4 scheme this season, preferring to have five defensive backs on the field for most downs.
Coordinator Brandon Staley kept cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safeties John Johnson and Jordan Fuller on the field for every snap in Tampa Bay, while cornerbacks Darious Williams and Troy Hill only missed seven snaps apiece.
The Rams designated linebacker Ogbo Okoronkwo to return from injured reserve Wednesday, but he is unlikely to play this weekend, McVay said. Okoronkwo is recovering from elbow surgery.
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