When Rams do-it-all safety Quentin Lake left Sunday's game against Seattle with a shoulder injury, the rest of his position group felt like they owed it to their captain to get a win. And second-year defensive back [Josh Wallace](/team/players-roster/josh-wallace/) was tasked with stepping into Lake's role, which is no small assignment.
"Q Lake (is) a brother to me," Wallace said on Rams Revealed. "Since I got here last year, he's (been like) an older brother to me and just seeing him go down kind of shakes us up mentally. But I was glad we was able to perform and get the win for him. The DB unit was just saying 'We gotta get this (win) for Q, we gotta get this for Q.'"
They did pull out the victory for Lake, 21-19, and intercepted four passes in the process. Wallace played a season-high 27 defensive snaps, 20 of which came in the slot according to Pro Football Focus, and recorded three tackles in the win.
The former undrafted free agent out of Michigan was signed as a corner last year, then played safety in the 2025 preseason, and filled in at nickel (or star as the Rams call it) last week. He's a nomad of sorts, finding a new home wherever and whenever the Rams need him to.
The key for Wallace has been to prepare for every opportunity to play in the defensive backfield, regardless of position.
"My role's just staying ready, wherever it is," Wallace said. "Star, safety, corner, just whenever there's an opportunity for yourself, just do your job… It's very different, challenging at times, but that's what we do for a living, challenge ourselves and do the best of ourselves for our role."
Wallace said he had never played safety prior to this preseason. He also played minimal snaps in the slot during his five years of college ball. When safety Kam Kinchens saw limited playing time over a three-week span last year, Wallace was placed in the slot as Lake moved back deep. He reprised that role on Sunday after Lake's injury.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula praised Wallace's tackling and communication when he entered the game.
"Josh is so smart," said head coach Sean McVay. "He can play star, he can play outside corner, he can play safety for us. Just a guy that's so valuable and so versatile and he came in and almost played 30 snaps and did a phenomenal job. What we ask of Q is amazing, especially at the star position, and I think it's such a credit to, we mention (assistant head coach/pass game coordinator) Aubrey (Pleasant), but it's also Josh (who) deserves a lot of credit."
"It's almost like, what can't Josh do?" Pleasant said.
Wallace has done everything that Pleasant has ever asked him to do, whether he's playing safety, corner or star. Seeing the game from all those different perspectives has slowed everything down for him and helped him improve in each of those roles.
"He's got great instincts, great overall awareness and great physical and mental toughness," McVay said. "I thought against an excellent outfit, he came in and really didn't miss a beat. His ability to communicate, to understand big picture wise, not exclusive to one spot, but the concept of everything that we're trying to get done, specifically on the back end, is a tremendous credit."
At the trade deadline, the Rams brought in cornerback Roger McCreary from the Titans, who also has extensive experience playing in the slot, and Shula said they added him "not just to sit on the bench." Wallace and McCreary have developed a strong bond, as they both play on the inside, and often joke around together.
However, McVay and Shula both indicated that there could be somewhat of a committee approach to replacing Lake leading into the Rams' Week 12 matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.
"It's something that we will continue to evaluate throughout the course of the week," McVay said. "... This week will be really important for those two guys in particular."