Congress does little good, ever. The House should stay without a speaker as long as possible.

• October 21, 2023

Three weeks after a small group of House Republican rebels led by Matt Gaetz (R-FL)  removed Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker (with the assistance of a unanimous Democratic caucus), the position remains vacant.

On October 20, Republicans gave up (after three ballots) on Jim Jordan (R-OH). “Moderate” Republicans seem disinclined to either jump ship and support the Democratic pick (New York’s Hakeem Jeffries) or to put forward a “moderate” who might pick up enough Democratic votes to break the Gaetz-led logjam.

All this drama naturally has the American political class in tears. “No legislative function can occur on the House floor until a new speaker is elected,” the Washington Examiner’s Jack Birle explains. “No votes or any other basic functions can occur on the floor of the House until the election has been resolved.”

So … what’s the downside? I’m looking for a cloud around the silver lining, and failing to find one.

Hard as they may work to convince us otherwise, American politicians don’t do anything we couldn’t do for ourselves at lower cost and to a higher standard of quality — and what they do TO us massively outweighs anything they might happen to accidentally do FOR us.

As Mark Twain noted more than a century ago, “it could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”

They steal our wealth and order us around, and that’s about it — except for the part where they pompously style themselves “public servants.”

Every day the Speaker’s chair remains empty is a day off, a day of victory, for America’s long-suffering, hen-pecked, pick-pocketed, neglected, and abused public. After all, if Congress can’t do anything, Congress can’t do anything stupid, or evil, or both.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.

Sooner or later, the honorable (snort) members of the House will start worrying.

It will dawn on them that the longer they mess around doing a whole lot of nothing, the more Americans will realize how much we LIKE it.

They’ll panic at the prospect that more of us will notice how useless they are at their best (that is, when they’re doing nothing) and how actively harmful to our peace and prosperity they are in normal times (that is, when they’re doing things).

At some point they’ll choose a Speaker and get back to “work.”

Until then, enjoy this refreshing break.

Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.

​ Orange County Register 

Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: Who has the edge?

• October 21, 2023

CHARGERS (2-3) at CHIEFS (5-1)

When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday

Where: Arrowhead Stadium

TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)

Line: Chiefs by 5½

Notable injury designations

Chargers: OUT: S Alohi Gilman (heel), WR Jalen Guyton (knee), DB Deane Leonard (hamstring), DL Otito Ogbonnia (knee). QUESTIONABLE: S Derwin James Jr. (ankle), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (groin).

Chiefs: OUT: WR Justin Watson (elbow), QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaylen Waton (thigh).

What’s at stake: The Chargers need a victory to remain a viable playoff candidate. A loss would drop them to 2-4 with plenty of difficult games still to be played. Any chance of catching the AFC West-leading Chiefs would probably disappear if the Chargers were to lose. The Chargers have played nothing but close games this season, losing by two, three and three points and winning by four and seven points. So, another tight game shouldn’t faze them in the least.

Who’s better: The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are the reigning Super Bowl champions and have won five consecutive after a season-opening defeat to the Detroit Lions. Kansas City defeated the Chargers by scores of 27-24 and 30-27 last season en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chargers aren’t pleased by their record so far, but they aren’t in panic mode.

Matchup to watch: The Chargers’ goal is to contain Mahomes and keep him within arm’s reach. If he scrambles away from the Chargers’ pressure and runs out of the pocket, that’s when he’s at his most dangerous. He’s among the NFL’s most creative quarterbacks when on the run. His pairing with tight end Travis Kelce is among the best in the league, one the Chargers must contend with if they hope to win. The Chargers’ secondary, bruised as it is, will be under pressure.

Chargers win if: As in Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Chargers must play a flawless game if they expect to beat the Chiefs. The Chargers were far from perfect against the Cowboys, but still had a chance to win – or at least send the game into overtime – in the closing minutes. The Chargers’ two-minute drill failed and quarterback Justin Herbert’s second interception of the season sealed the deal for the Cowboys with a little more than a minute to play.

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Fantasy sleeper: Herbert had two strong games last season against the Chiefs, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns in one game and 280 yards and two touchdowns in the other. So, keep close tabs on him as he attempts to drive a Chargers offense that’s been disappointing over the past six quarters, including the second half of their victory over the Raiders in Week 4. However, Herbert acknowledged the difficulty of holding the ball firmly during the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys because of a fractured left middle finger on his non-throwing hand.

Prediction: The Chiefs are favored to win and the Chargers are considered underdogs, which is just as it should be. The Chargers’ injury issues at the safety position should be of concern, with Gilman ruled out and James said to be questionable to play. Expect a 24-20 victory for the Chiefs.

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County football standings: Through the Week 9 games

• October 21, 2023

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Orange County football standings through games of Friday, Oct. 20:

TRINITY LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

St. John Bosco
4-0
1.000
168
54
8-1
.889
338
139

Mater Dei
3-1
.750
146
41
8-1
.889
359
84

Orange Lutheran
2-2
.500
91
133
5-4
.556
209
241

Servite
1-3
.250
110
183
5-4
.556
320
268

Santa Margarita
1-3
.250
104
151
5-4
.556
280
278

JSerra
1-3
.250
75
132
4-5
.444
209
198

SUNSET LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Los Alamitos
4-0
1.000
243
51
7-2
.778
440
179

Edison
4-0
1.000
155
62
6-3
.667
262
169

Newport Harbor
2-2
.500
122
134
4-5
.444
238
273

Corona del Mar
1-3
.250
82
118
4-5
.444
199
222

Huntington Beach
1-3
.250
84
182
4-5
.444
218
304

Fountain Valley
0-4
.000
37
176
3-6
.333
208
315

SOUTH COAST
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

San Clemente
2-0
1.000
55
28
8-1
.889
276
114

Mission Viejo
1-1
.500
46
20
6-3
.667
293
146

Tesoro
1-1
.500
37
58
5-4
.556
204
174

Capistrano Valley
0-2
.000
40
72
7-2
.778
293
178

SEA VIEW LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Trabuco Hills
2-0
1.000
82
41
6-3
.667
257
197

San Juan Hills
1-1
.500
74
31
8-1
.889
321
137

Aliso Niguel
1-1
.500
66
72
6-3
.667
262
164

El Toro
0-2
.000
21
99
2-7
.222
132
291

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Foothill
2-0
1.000
77
21
6-3
.667
319
230

Villa Park
1-1
.500
55
55
8-1
.889
326
131

Yorba Linda
1-1
.500
91
41
6-3
.667
328
189

Brea Olinda
0-2
.000
7
113
5-4
.556
218
297

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

El Modena
2-0
1.000
79
30
5-4
.556
262
206

El Dorado
1-1
.500
51
38
4-5
.444
291
247

Esperanza
1-1
.500
54
68
4-5
.444
266
295

Canyon
0-2
.000
27
75
1-8
.111
148
336

EMPIRE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Tustin
4-0
1.000
159
7
9-0
1.000
358
137

Cypress
3-0
1.000
115
28
5-3
.625
212
128

Crean Lutheran
2-1
.667
91
56
6-2
.750
267
122

Pacifica
1-3
.250
48
162
2-7
.222
126
324

Kennedy
1-3
.250
67
112
6-3
.667
267
161

Valencia
0-4
.000
59
174
3-6
.333
252
280

FREEWAY LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Sonora
4-0
1.000
140
76
8-1
.889
275
175

Troy
3-1
.750
97
96
5-4
.556
285
257

La Habra
3-1
.750
174
60
5-4
.556
325
200

Buena Park
1-3
.250
60
139
5-4
.556
267
201

Sunny Hills
1-3
.250
54
107
4-5
.444
173
194

Fullerton
0-4
.000
104
151
2-7
.222
212
235

ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Santa Ana
5-0
1.000
257
52
7-2
.778
395
177

St. Margaret’s
4-1
.800
205
92
5-4
.556
293
221

Orange
4-1
.800
190
83
5-4
.556
285
223

Estancia
2-3
.400
122
181
5-4
.556
251
213

Calvary Chapel
2-3
.400
148
134
4-5
.444
262
242

Costa Mesa
1-4
.200
70
201
2-7
.222
118
308

Saddleback
0-6
.000
9
258
0-9
.000
25
381

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Dana Hills
2-0
1.000
73
33
7-2
.778
282
179

Laguna Hills
1-1
.500
51
49
7-1
.875
237
120

Northwood
1-1
.500
63
38
4-4
.500
188
168

Portola
0-2
.000
20
87
4-5
.444
179
211

PACIFIC HILLS LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Irvine
2-0
1.000
34
21
6-3
.667
215
158

Beckman
1-1
.500
43
27
7-2
.778
315
103

University
1-1
.500
42
44
4-5
.444
211
196

Woodbridge
0-2
.000
22
48
1-8
.111
104
225

ORANGE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Western
4-0
1.000
228
14
8-1
.889
424
104

Santa Ana Valley
3-1
.750
112
84
4-5
.444
172
282

Anaheim
3-1
.750
125
84
5-4
.556
207
190

Savanna
1-3
.250
69
146
1-8
.111
131
348

Magnolia
1-3
.250
88
186
1-8
.111
115
451

Century
0-4
.000
67
175
1-8
.111
143
340

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Rancho Alamitos
3-1
.750
75
57
6-3
.667
174
173

Los Amigos
3-1
.750
114
60
5-4
.556
206
219

La Quinta
3-1
.750
115
101
6-3
.667
251
163

Bolsa Grande
2-2
.500
113
123
5-4
.556
238
296

Santiago
1-3
.250
90
100
4-5
.444
185
230

Loara
0-4
.000
60
126
0-9
.000
94
303

BIG 4 LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Segerstrom
2-0
1.000
95
14
6-3
.667
290
179

Marina
1-0
1.000
28
21
4-4
.500
139
173

Katella
0-1
.000
0
64
1-7
.125
54
352

Garden Grove
0-2
.000
35
59
2-7
.222
153
306

PAC 4 LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Laguna Beach
2-0
1.000
114
7
8-1
.889
402
149

Westminster
2-0
1.000
75
13
7-2
.778
289
74

Ocean View
0-2
.000
0
92
4-5
.444
146
214

Godinez
0-2
.000
20
97
3-6
.333
154
230

MESQUITE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Capistrano Valley Christian
3-0
1.000
117
51
6-1
.857
226
118

Linfield Christian
3-1
.750
135
55
6-3
.667
278
141

Arrowhead Christian
3-1
.750
126
79
8-1
.889
298
147

Western Christian
1-3
.250
140
128
5-4
.556
320
249

Riverside Prep
1-3
.250
92
186
3-6
.333
200
335

Trinity Classical Academy
0-3
.000
38
149
2-6
.250
145
313

COTTONWOOD LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Whittier Christian
4-0
1.000
169
22
6-3
.667
310
156

Maranatha
4-0
1.000
149
62
8-1
.889
337
174

Santa Rosa Academy
2-2
.500
149
102
5-4
.556
335
180

Desert Christian Academy
1-3
.250
68
152
3-6
.333
160
280

Hamilton
1-3
.250
66
196
1-8
.111
138
370

Vasquez
0-4
.000
62
129
0-9
.000
89
330

PREP LEAGUE (8-man)
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Chadwick
2-0
1.000
80
47
7-0
1.000
268
139

Flintridge Prep
2-0
1.000
102
56
7-0
1.000
344
161

Sage Hill
0-2
.000
55
87
4-3
.571
320
212

Windward
0-2
.000
48
95
1-5
.167
130
190

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​ Orange County Register 

ALCS: Astros face Rangers in Game 6, one win from 3rd straight World Series

• October 21, 2023

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros return home a win from their third straight trip to the World Series.

It won’t be easy, though, considering their lackluster home record and a Texas Rangers team that will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound Sunday night in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series.

Eovaldi who is from Alvin, the Houston suburb where Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan also grew up, is 3-0 in the postseason and got the win in Game 2 of this series after also pitching Texas to victories in the Wild Card Series and Division Series. The 33-year-old right-hander is 7-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 games with nine starts in his postseason career.

“His résumé shows that he pitches well in important games, so it’s going to be a great matchup,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said.

Eovaldi is eager to face a Houston team that scored 23 runs combined in the last three games after managing just four in the two Texas wins.

“I enjoy facing the hottest teams,” he said. “I fully believe that pitching wins championships. We’re able to put teams in a funk, go out there and set the tone early.”

The Astros went 39-42 in Houston during the regular season and their home woes have continued this postseason, where they are 1-3. They swept three games in Arlington to take a 3-2 series lead, rebounding from their poor performances at Minute Maid.

Houston manager Dusty Baker has long grown tired of questions about why his team is better on the road. As the most important home game of the year for the Astros approached, Baker was again forced to address it and asked whether he planned to address his team about it.

“What can I say? If I had the magic words, I would have said them like two months ago,” Baker explained Saturday. “We’ve just got to get it done. There are no words that can describe what we have to do. Simply action.”

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Friday night to give the Astros a 5-4 win in a wild Game 5, which included a benches-clearing scuffle in the eighth inning. It began after Bryan Abreu hit Texas slugger Adolis García on the left arm with a 98.9 mph fastball. García, who punctuated a go-ahead homer in the sixth with an empathic bat spike and a slow trot, immediately turned around and got in the face of catcher Martín Maldonado, causing players from both teams to spill onto the field.

García, Abreu and Baker were all ejected. Both managers were asked if they thought emotions from that altercation would spill over into Game 6.

Baker seemed to go back-and-forth on the issue.

“Yeah, probably,” he said.

When pressed as to how he thought it would carry over, Baker continued.

“Man, I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t have no crystal ball. You don’t script that. It just happens.”

Bochy said: “I don’t see really any of this happening again, to be honest.”

While Eovaldi has been great for the Rangers this postseason, Houston starter Framber Valdez has struggled. The left-hander, who threw a no-hitter against Cleveland in August, is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in two playoff starts this season.

He allowed five runs and seven hits without getting out of the third inning in Game 2. The Rangers jumped on him for four runs in the first inning and he seemed to get rattled, committing two errors on one play that helped them build the lead.

Baker wasn’t worried about Valdez’s confidence or him getting too emotional on the mound.

“Framber has pitched big games before. I think we’re making a lot of Framber’s emotions. And the last couple of games it wasn’t as much his emotions as his location — he wasn’t sharp… we talk about emotions, but you’ve got to throw strikes and quality strikes and quality location and if he does that emotions never come into play.”

Valdez, 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in last year’s World Series, is thankful to get the chance to redeem himself and try to pitch Houston to another World Series berth after a tough start to this postseason.

“It feels good, and I thank Dusty and I thank my teammates that I’m (starting) despite the two bad outings that I had before this,” he said through a translator. “It can happen to anyone, but it feels good that I do have the opportunity to be able to go out there to show that I can do what I’ve been doing and hopefully with God and hard work (we) should be able to get there.”

The Astros wore their orange jerseys for all three wins in Arlington after losing in their white jerseys in the opener and in navy in Game 2. Valdez is a fan of the navy but was asked if he might ask to wear the orange ones again after their success in the color this week.

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“It doesn’t matter to me what jersey we use, whether it’s the navy, the white, the orange,” he said. “Just go out there and compete. “

Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien said it’s important for Texas not to get down after Friday’s difficult loss if the team hopes to force a Game 7. The Rangers opened the postseason with seven straight wins.

“We have to understand that we had the game under control yesterday until one swing happened,” he said. “So how can we figure out how to continue to control the ball game and figure out how to finish.”

​ Orange County Register 

Lab mix Casper wants to be your very best friend

• October 21, 2023

Breed: Labrador retriever mix

Age: 1 year

Sex: Neutered male

Size: About 45 pounds

Casper’s story: This beautiful boy is the perfect size – not too big, not too small. He’s a love bug who just wants to be around people. He’s deaf, but he already knows several hand signals and is a fast learner. He adores car rides, the water and other dogs.

Adoption fee: $300, includes vaccines, microchip and neutering

Adoption procedure: Fill out Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets’ online application or email fochp@yahoo.com. The website has other pets in need of homes, too.

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​ Orange County Register 

Why are eggs so expensive and which are best? Cracking the code on carton labels

• October 21, 2023

If eggs are a regular staple in your household, you’ve probably noticed that the price of a dozen eggs appears to have doubled in the last year or so. An outbreak of avian influenza – also known as bird flu – killed millions of egg-laying chickens nationwide, leading to a serious egg shortage. While grocery stores are no longer out of eggs, the higher prices remain.

The cost of a dozen grade-A eggs at a typical grocery store in Southern California can range from $3.00 to a whopping $10.00. Considering eggs cost more than ever, are the more expensive eggs worth it? What do the labels on the egg carton even mean? There are common misconceptions about egg labeling, so let’s crack the code to the meaning of common egg carton labels.

Egg Grading

Eggs are graded on a scale of AA, A or B. Eggs are graded on appearance and the firmness of the white with AA being the highest quality. Typically, supermarket eggs are graded A, which is fine for baking and cooking.

Cage-free

While cage-free may sound like an improvement in the treatment of chickens, it simply means that the chickens are not kept in cages. They may still be packed tight in confined hen houses with no access to the outdoors or daylight.

Free-range

Eggs labeled free-range are produced by chickens that must have access to the outdoors at least six hours per day and have two square feet of space per bird. There are no requirements regarding the conditions of the outdoor space.

Pasture-raised

Pasture-raised eggs are produced by chickens that have been raised in a vegetation-covered pasture with 108 square feet per chicken for a minimum of six hours per day. Chickens are fed only grains without animal byproducts and are free to eat the insects and seeds in their natural environment. Pasture-raised eggs are Humane Farm Animal Care certified, a non-profit certification organization.

Due to the superior diet of pasture-raised chickens, the eggs they produce are known to have better flavor and substantially greater nutritional value, including more vitamin D, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

Certified organic

Organic certification is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture and means that chickens have access to the outdoors and are fed a feed that does not contain genetically modified organisms, antibiotics or animal byproducts.

Antibiotic-free

As with certified organic eggs, eggs labeled antibiotic-free came from hens that haven’t received antibiotics in their feed or water according to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. However, these eggs may not qualify for an organic certification due to other factors.

Natural or Farm-fresh

Terms like “natural” and “farm fresh” are unregulated. These terms may be added to food labels, including the packaging of eggs, but do not impart any important meaning or value.

Overall, eggs are a nutrient-dense food; however, omega-3-enriched and lutein-enhanced eggs are likely the best eggs for their extra nutritional value. Nutrient enrichment and enhancement of eggs is a separate label from those related to the treatment of hens.

There are important factors to consider when choosing the best eggs for you and your family. More nutritious eggs from humanely treated hens may have the best taste, but also the highest price. These are all important factors to consider when purchasing eggs. Keep in mind that savings may be achieved when purchasing cartons of 18 eggs instead of a dozen. Shop around and compare prices at different markets and use coupons to get the best price. If any of your neighbors have chickens, you may be able to score a good deal or a barter for fresh, local eggs.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

​ Orange County Register 

Bonded German shepherd brothers are looking for a home together.

• October 21, 2023

Breed: German shepherds

Age: 2 years

Sex: Neutered males

Dillinger and Hoover’s story: These bonded brothers are extremely friendly. They can be protective of their people and property, but they turn into teddy bears when volunteers get them out of their kennels. They like dogs and lived with children. They’re crate-trained. Dillinger and Hoover are dependent on one another so need to go to a home together.

Adoption fee: Dedicated Animal Welfare Group, the volunteer arm of Mission Viejo Animal Services, is sponsoring these sweet boys’ adoption, so an approved adopter would pay just $200 to adopt them both.

Adoption procedure: Application and screening of potential adopters is required to ensure they are the right fit for Dillinger and Hoover. Visit the boys at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, 28095 Hillcrest, Mission Viejo; call 949-470-3045; or email ask-shelter@cityofmissionviejo.org. More information on Dillinger and Hoover and other dogs in need of homes can be found online.

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​ Orange County Register 

Rams’ running back plans fluid ahead of Steelers game

• October 21, 2023

THOUSAND OAKS — Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald got a call from his dad last week. Next game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he said, hometown team. He asked if his son if he was excited.

For Donald, who still spends his offseasons in Pittsburgh and bases his foundation in the city, the excitement or playing his childhood team has worn off some over his 10-year career. The first time playing the Steelers, especially in then-Heinz Field, that was a big deal.

“Now it’s just like, it’s cool to play against the team that I grew up watching and all that, but it’s just another week. Want to find a way to be successful, try to find a way to win this game,” Donald said. “I still consider myself a Steelers fan, obviously, until we got to play them.”

The matchup Sunday between the Rams (3-3) and the Steelers (3-2) will be notable as much for the back and forth between Donald and Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt as it will be for a pair of running games with a lot of questions, for very different reasons.

The Steelers’ are fairly more straightforward. The Pittsburgh offense was expected to be predicated on its run entering the season, but Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are averaging a total of 74.2 rushing yards per game.

Harris told reporters this week that he spent the bye week spending extra time looking at film to identify changes that had to be made and presenting it to the coaching staff.

“It’s going to be in this game plan,” Harris said. “It’s a lot more better looks in this stuff.”

The Rams, meanwhile, thought they had found something with an explosive run performance in the second half of last weekend’s win over Arizona. But Kyren Williams (ankle) and Ronnie Rivers (knee) both suffered injuries that will keep them out for several weeks.

Rivers was added to the injured reserve Wednesday, and Williams followed suit Saturday. Both will be eligible to return at the earliest for a Week 12 road trip to Arizona.

Myles Gaskin was added to the active roster and Darrell Henderson returned to L.A. to join the practice squad, all in an effort to reinforce rookie Zach Evans and promoted practice squad member Royce Freeman.

As of Friday, head coach Sean McVay said the Rams were still considering which running backs will be active against the Steelers. Henderson will be called up from the practice squad due to his familiarity as a former member of the offense. But whether the Rams activate all four running backs or just three – and which three – was still to be determined.

“I liked what I saw from all four of those guys,” McVay said. “Darrell came back in. He’s a guy that’s going to be up and active this week. He’s done a great job of being able to quickly re-acclimate himself back to a lot of the things that we’ve done.”

McVay did not disclose a starting running back, but Henderson’s familiarity with the Rams’ system could lend itself to an immediate role against the Steelers.

Gaskin played in similar offenses in Miami and Minnesota, but said he’s treating the Rams’ playbook like he’s starting from scratch. Freeman has yet to make a carry this year, and Evans is still learning the system, as evidenced by his first snap against Arizona following Williams’ injury.

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“Zach’s first play is this really intricate kind of motion that he’s got,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “And it’s like, ‘All right, you got to get out there,’ a little bit. So I’d spend a little extra time talking about that. He didn’t get that rep in practice and those kinds of things, but other times we just go play ball.”

But the Rams’ plans at RB could change on the fly depending on how Sunday goes.

“Sometimes with the back it is the hot hand, and you got to get in the rhythm,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “So you have your plan. Plans do change. The players do know that, but all four will be ready to go if their number is called.”

​ Orange County Register