Los Angeles Rams LB Justin Hollins to have pectoral surgery, headed to IR

Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Justin Hollins will undergo surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral muscle and is expected to land on injured reserve, head coach Sean McVay said Monday.

"It's a big loss for us," McVay said of Hollins, who earned the starting job opposite Leonard Floyd this season. "Guys are going to be asked to step up."

Hollins sustained the injury during the Rams' 34-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. In three games this season, he has notched 12 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Second-year linebacker Terrell Lewis is expected to have an increased role with Hollins sidelined, along with fourth-year pro Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who is nearing a return from injured reserve. Okoronkwo has been on IR the past three games due to a shoulder injury.

Lewis, who has battled a nagging knee issue since the Rams drafted him last year, played a career-high 34 defensive snaps against the Buccaneers on Sunday and recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit.

"I thought he handled it well. He was feeling good," McVay said of Lewis. "Seeing his maturation and him continue to progress is a big deal because Justin Hollins had done such a great job really solidifying that spot opposite Leonard Floyd over these first few weeks, but to see Terrell do what he did was really encouraging.

"He's definitely going to be a big factor and you can look for him to play a lot more snaps moving forward."

The Rams (3-0) are set to begin division play next week against the Arizona Cardinals (3-0) at SoFi Stadium.