Of all the Los Angeles Rams’ blockbuster offseason additions in 2018, Marcus Peters was one that many fans were most excited about. He’s widely viewed as an elite cornerback, is still on his rookie contract and makes more game-changing plays in the secondary than any defensive back in the NFL.

It’s easy to see why everyone was so thrilled to see him paired with Wade Phillips and Aqib Talib in Los Angeles. He’s a fiery player who speaks his mind and gambles on passes thrown his way – and even those not intended for receivers he’s covering.

However, through five games, the early returns have not been good in L.A. After getting off to a hot start with a game-sealing pick-six against the Raiders in Week 1, Peters’ play has slid just about every week since. It’s gotten to the point where he’s been one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL the past two games.

Pro Football Focus has him graded as the 106th-ranked cornerback out of 111 qualified players, which needless to say, is eye-popping. Everything’s been an issue, too: man coverage, zone coverage, press, off-man.

But what’s really gone wrong with Peters lately? Well, for starters, he suffered a groin injury in Week 3 against the Chargers and hasn’t been the same since. He played against the Vikings on a short week and then on Sunday against Seattle, though Sean McVay isn’t even sure he’s 100 percent healthy.

But if you put on the tape, some of his poor play goes beyond health. On this play against the Seahawks where he was beat for a touchdown, he guessed wrong on the receiver’s double-move, attempting to break on the slant route.

That’s not health, that’s poor decision-making.

Peters may not be 100 percent healthy, but don’t pin this play on his injury. This is him gambling and guessing wrong. Marcus giveth, Marcus taketh. pic.twitter.com/GQByFN1NaZ — Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) October 9, 2018

Earlier in the game, he was beat for another touchdown. This time, Tyler Lockett ran a simple post route and just used his speed to blow by Peters in the middle of the field. Peters was flat-footed and seemed to sit on an underneath route, which Lockett exploited.

This is about as badly as you’ll see a CB get beat on a simple post route. Yes, that’s Marcus Peters in coverage. pic.twitter.com/ZBN3VzpXLb — Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) October 9, 2018

It’s hard to completely pin this touchdown on Peters, but it was his man that caught the pass for the score. Starting on the outside, Peters followed David Moore along the end line in the back of the end zone. Unfortunately, he hesitated a few times and was unable to change direction quick enough to stay with the receiver.

This one could be the result of his calf not being fully healthy, preventing him from driving off his leg as he typically would.

Even when he wasn’t giving up touchdowns against Seattle, he was getting beat in coverage. On this play, you can see Lockett once again beat Peters on an in-breaking route. Peters knows he’s beat, so he grabs the receiver and tugs him backwards, drawing a holding penalty and negating Matt Longacre’s sack.

The second time he was called for holding, he was bailed out by intentional grounding on Russell Wilson, who was pressured by Aaron Donald. Peters was beat by Lockett (again), even with the Rams sending extra coverage his way. The speedy receiver was about to blow by Peters, so Marcus wrapped him up and slowed him down.

That’s an easy call to make, and if not for Donald, Lockett probably scores another touchdown.

The effort against the run hasn’t always been there, either, which was an issue that plagued Peters in Kansas City, too. This was a huge play in the game, and while the Seahawks picked up the first down anyway, Peters allowed Mike Davis to turn what could’ve been a 10-yard gain into a 37-yarder.

Lockett didn’t make much of an effort to block him, either, but Peters was simply out of position.

A similar play happened against the Vikings, where Peters was more of a spectator than a defender. On a screen pass to Stefon Diggs, Peters showed little interest in coming up and making the tackle. He didn’t get a finger on Diggs, allowing him to gain an addition 12 yards or so after running by Peters.

Peters has always been a baiter and challenges quarterbacks to throw his way, which is exactly what he did against the Vikings on Aldrick Robinson’s touchdown. Peters did a good job carrying him all the way down the field, but he stopped short and gave the receiver too much room behind him.

Cousins was fortunate to get this pass over Peters’ outstretched arm, but Peters needs to stay closer to the receiver in this instance. Not a bad play, but one he should make.

Of course, it hasn’t been all bad for Peters. He made a nice play against the Seahawks by recognizing the tight end snuck behind him, turning around quick enough and batting the pass away to cause the incompletion.

Not many cornerbacks would have that sort of awareness, nor the athleticism to turn and run before breaking up the pass.

It’s difficult to tell if Peters’ calf injury has hampered his play, and he probably won’t admit he’s not 100 percent, but he has to improve no matter the case. With Aqib Talib out, he’s taken over the left side of the defense and hasn’t stepped up like the Rams hoped he would.

Teams are challenging him with double-moves and routes deep down the field, and it’s almost as if he’s expecting help in the middle on some of those plays. Either that, or he’s relying on his speed to make up for the lost ground in trail technique, like on this play where Mike Williams – a receiver not known for his speed – runs by Peters, who’s playing with outside leverage.

Peters has to take fewer chances and do a better job staying with receivers on passes deep down the field. Otherwise, the Rams are going to continue to get gashed for big plays.

Until Talib returns, this is Peters’ secondary and he must play like the All-Pro he is.