Sean McVay has been saying it for what seems to be weeks, but it finally sounds like Lamarcus Joyner will be back on the field for the Rams on Sunday. He was a full participant in the first practice of the week Sunday as he’s been recovering from a hamstring injury since Week 3.

It’s the first time Joyner has been a full-go since prior to the injury. McVay feels confident his stud free safety will be on the field against the Cardinals.

“Yes, if everything goes according to plan,” McVay said of whether Joyner is on track to play in London. “He said he felt good today. It was a little bit modified tempo just dealing with the atmosphere, but he felt good and the anticipation is that he’ll be ready to go and start for us.”

Cody Davis, who’s filled in for Joyner the past three games, was held out of Wednesday’s practice with a thigh injury. His status for this week is unclear, but it’ll be less of a concern if Joyner is able to go.

This could be the first time we get a good look at the Rams’ starting safety duo for years to come. John Johnson, who took over the strong safety job when Maurice Alexander was released, has played extremely well. He had a near-pick-six against the Seahawks and rebounded nicely after taking a poor angle on Leonard Fournette’s first carry Sunday.

He and Joyner give Wade Phillips a versatile combo on the back end, one that could roam the secondary for many years to come. They’re both young and rangy in the middle of the field, showing the ability to play free and strong safety interchangeably.

Prior to injuring his hamstring in Week 3, Joyner was playing like one of the best free safeties in the game. He currently has an overall grade of 88.7 from Pro Football Focus, good for the No. 4 safety in football this season.

He can come down into the slot while Johnson plays a more traditional free safety role, or Phillips can install a three-safety set with Davis in the middle, Johnson at strong safety and Joyner in the slot.

Every Rams fan should be thrilled to see how Phillips deploys his new safety duo on Sunday against the Cardinals because it could truly become one of the best a few years down the line. That’s the sort of potential Joyner and Johnson have.