INGLEWOOD, Calif. – As the pressure of the Rams' pass rush collapsed the pocket, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough threw a pass toward wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who had come back toward Shough after running an outbreaking rout.

Instead, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. emerged from the Rams' zone coverage and jumped in front of the ball for his first pick as a Ram.

"Feels great," Forbes said. "We always preaching getting the ball, and I finally was able to get my hands on one today."

In that play, Forbes showed why the Rams made the move to claim him off waivers from the Commanders in early December last year. They liked his production in college at Mississippi State, and head coach Sean McVay in September praised Forbes for his concept trigger, recognition and ball skills.

"The league's an imperfect game," inside linebacker Nate Landman said. "You're gonna have tough games, you can't have your best games every game. He's done nothing but go to work every day in practice, and he's getting better every day each week just like everybody. Happy for him to get his first one, it's going to be the first of many, but what a true ballplayer."

It wasn't just Forbes' comfortability in the scheme and playmaking that had been a storyline throughout the offseason, but also the positive weight added to his frame that has him playing with improved physicality. That was displayed on the open-field tackle he made against 6-foot-2, 221-pound Saints quarterback Taysom Hill early in the fourth quarter to limit Hill to a one-yard gain.

"Honestly, just doing my job," Forbes said. "The other 10 guys on the field expect me to make that tackle, so I gotta do it."

Ultimately, Forbes said getting his first one of the season marked a "big turning point" for him. And, echoing Landman, he hopes it will be the first of many.

"Hopefully, (I) continue to get more," Forbes said.