Derion Kendrick kept his resolve to step up when Rams needed him – Daily News

THOUSAND OAKS — Early in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick was lined up across from veteran receiver Tyler Lockett. It was third-and-medium, so when Lockett appeared to go into a break in his route, Kendrick bit. Before he knew it, Lockett had burst past him downfield.

The ball didn’t go Lockett’s way on that play, but Kendrick noted the trick the receiver had tried to pull for later.

So when Lockett made the same move on a third-and-long in the fourth quarter, Kendrick was ready. He didn’t jump on the fake and instead stayed step for step with Lockett.

“He gave me the stutter, but I didn’t believe it,” Kendrick said.

When the pass arrived, Kendrick was in front of the receiver and jumped up for his first career interception. It led to the Rams’ game-winning field goal, and in Coach Sean McVay’s eyes, it was the capper to the best game in Kendrick’s two-year NFL career.

And it came on the heels of one of the most challenging stretches of Kendrick’s career. Both off the field, where he was arrested on a weapons charge following a Week 6 win against Arizona, and on, where he had lost his starting role.

After missing two practices following his arrest, Kendrick was in a reserve role in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started again the following Sunday, but he lost several battles with Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Following that game, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris informed Kendrick that Cobie Durant would be taking his job as the starting outside corner. Morris told Kendrick he would be needed again at some point, but against the Green Bay Packers the next weekend Kendrick only played three snaps.

It was like his rookie year all over again, when he went from 72 snaps one week to two the next. The repetition of the setback could have been discouraging for Kendrick, but he didn’t view it that way.

“I’ve done been through way worse. It ain’t nothing,” Kendrick said. “We had communications between me and the coaches, it wasn’t nothing major. Just little things, just staying tapped in to the important moments of the game.”

Kendrick kept his same approach in meetings and practices even as he prepared for a reduced role. When he got his limited opportunities in Green Bay, he provided an energy that caught Morris’ and McVay’s attention.

And with his teammates, he was still his usual, boisterous self instead of retreating into himself.

“He wasn’t down about it, just went to work and grinding. Didn’t change how he was in the locker room,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “And then when we needed him, he stepped up for us and made some plays.”

“The competitor that I am, I can be like, ‘(expletive) everybody,’ and just not talk to nobody and just go about my business. But that’s not the type of guy I am,” Kendrick said. “Be a great teammate all the time, even though I’m not up. See me jumping around, having fun with the guys even though I’m not on the field. That’s just the type of bond we’ve got, as well. Next man up, no matter how it comes.”