2021 Rams players Injury odds

I hate for any NFL team to get injuries because I like to see all of the NFL teams compete against each other at full strength.

Sadly, we all know (key players) and solid backups will get injured prior to and during training camp before the season opener.

Even if players survive training camp and preseason, (key players) and depended on (backups) will be injured in the early, middle and later parts of the regular season.

Players also get injured in the postseason..

Lost for the 2021 season Cam Akers (2020 Ribs, 2021 Achilles)


Rams players injury odds for 2021

Keep an eye on these players...


QB Matthew Stafford (back, thumb)

QB John Wolford (neck)

WR DeSean Jackson (multiple injuries)

WR Cooper Kupp (knee)

ILB Micha Kiser (knee & torn pectoral muscle)

ILB Travin Howard (knee)

OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (foot, elbow)

OLB Terrell Lewis (knee)

OLB Justin Lawler (foot)

OC Brian Allen (knee)

SS Taylor Rapp (knee)

S Terrell Burgess (ankle)

SS Jordan Fuller (shoulder)

RB Darrell Henderson (hamstring, ankle)

RB Jake Funk (knee)

TE Jacob Harris (core)

DT Bobby Brown III (thumb)

CB Robert Rochell (wrist)


I probably left out some often injured players over the last 2 seasons but these players surfaced for me.

Q&A: Ram‘s Reggie Scott is more than a ‘trainer’​

Reggie Scott, the Rams’ vice president of sports medicine and performance, has wider responsibilities than he might have in the old days when, as he puts it, teams had “a trainer with a roll of tape and a water bottle.” His name comes up anytime coaches and players talk about injury recovery, COVID-19 issues and much more. Scott, 42, a Dover, Delaware native with degrees from West Virginia and California University of Pennsylvania, is president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. As he nears his 12th season with the Rams, managing about 20 people, Scott spoke with Rams beat writer Kevin Modesti on a patio at the team’s training-camp hotel in Newport Beach. The conversation is edited for brevity.

How has your job changed — from the days of a trainer with ankle tape — to what you do now?

It’s amazing. It has advanced so much. I always tell people we’re pretty much running a health-care facility on site, from the rehabilitation we do, to all the medical stuff, now in taking on a pandemic. All the emerging sciences, even the performance world, strength and conditioning. Everything from a head cold to a torn ACL, we’re managing. It’s a big, big undertaking.

The Rams’ medical issue of the moment is Cam Akers. What kind of recovery can be expected for a running back in his early 20s from an Achilles tear?

You expect a great recovery for a young guy like that. He’s got that going for him. We’ve got a great surgeon in Dr. Neal ElAttrache. And you’ve got a kid who’s super-committed and works his tail off. So that’s just a great combination for a guy to come back and be as strong if not better than before.

The Rams have a 39-year-old left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, a 34-year-old wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, a 33-year-old quarterback, Matthew Stafford. Aaron Donald, hard to believe, just turned 30. Can you do more than in years past to help players extend their careers? Are we going to see more Tom Bradys, playing well into their 40s?

Yes, I think modern medicine and innovation and what we’re learning about performance and joint preservation has improved. Life expectancy gets better. It’s very similar in football. I think we’ve got very proactive in how we take care of guys, and I think guys have gotten more educated about how to take care of themselves. There’s a lot of things that have to go your way, too, to play long in this game. That’s a really elite group of people you’re talking about, and it’s a credit to who they are.

Speaking of Aaron Donald, the best defensive lineman going: Players and coaches talk about what makes him great. What stands out about him to someone in sports medicine?

For someone who’s so elite at what he does, he attacks the weight room every day as if he has to earn it. He prepares like no other. He’s gotten so much better over the years at learning how to take care of his body. I love the way, over the past few years, that he’s starting to learn how to rein back and be smart with recover strategies. A lot of guys, you’ve got to push them to prepare. With him, total opposite. You’ve got to pull this guy back.

Fans look at Tutu Atwell and assume a 5-foot-9, 160(ish)-pound rookie wide receiver is bound to get hurt. What can you tell them?

We haven’t found any predictor of injuries. We can do a lot of things to mitigate risk, but I just don’t we can predict injuries. Tutu Atwell, the way he approaches the game and takes care of himself, can be very successful in this league.

Are the Rams doing anything different to prepare a team for the increase from 16 to 17 regular-season games, presenting one more chance to get fatigued or hurt?

I don’t think our approach has changed much for one more game. Obviously, we did lose a preseason game (going from four to three) and our starters don’t play much or at all in the preseason. It think we’ll stick to our process, and that extra game will take care of itself.

How well have the NFL and the Rams handled COVID-19?

Well, in the midst of the biggest pandemic of our lifetimes, we missed no football games. I would grade that pretty well. The league really did an excellent job of creating an environment for us to be healthy and safe. That’s been the North Star in all this. People that are getting sick are getting early treatment. There’s been a preventative approach within the ecosystem that we’re living in that’s kept it contained the best it can be. It’s a great committee approach by Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, getting experts across the world and a lot of athletic trainers and a lot of members from our Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society involved. Here it is, we’re going into another season confident.

In talking with players about whether they should get vaccinated, have you learned anything that could apply to the efforts to persuade everyday folks to get their shots?

I think the key component to our approach to vaccinations is really just to get good informative education, accurate information. That’s the approach I think all us need to take. Get informed so you can make the best decision for your health and safety.

With your experience as a Black man in an important role in the NFL, what do you tell players about how they should address and handle racial issues, both inside and outside the sport?

One of the biggest things is to be a listener. Make sure that we’re creating an environment to listen. I feel, with a lot of the young African American men on this team, to be able to listen to them and be able to guide them a little bit is probably one of the biggest things I can do. It’s been a blessing to be able to be there with them and listen and help guide.

How well is the NFL dealing with head injuries and improving protection?

I think the advancement has been awesome. You look at Biocore, the bio-engineering company that the league hired, and look at helmet-wear. When I first got in this business, a lot of helmets were not really qualified for the game. We know that helmets obviously do not eliminate concussions, but there’s been reduction of it by producing better equipment, better fitting. All of the money the NFL has put into research, you’re starting to feel the fruit of that. We’ve got a ways to go, but it’s been a great change and I’m really excited about that.

We see coaches like the Rams’ Sean McVay routinely hold key players out of pre-season games, reflecting the inherent danger of playing football. If a parent looks at that and wonders, “Is football safe for my child?”, what can you tell them?

We have three preseason games, we have a 17-game season. Strategizing on reducing exposure is kind of our approach. From a health-and-safety perspective, I think our game has continued to show improvement. I would say it goes back to people educating themselves, researching things. It’s really promising to see how much we’re doing to keep our game healthy and safe for the longevity of everybody.

How safe was the artificial turf at SoFi Stadium last season? How will it be now that more and more events will be held there?

We know artificial turf has about a 45% increase in injury rate compared to natural grass. That’s just a fact. The NFL has researched how we can reduce that gap. There are a lot of variables. I said, let’s make sure we have the best turf that we can have to mitigate risk. We found one of the best companies, in Hellas, that we’re really excited to work with. Then we hired full-time staff for SoFi that manage the infill exactly how we need it. I think last year we did really well with it.

Simone Biles, on the heels of Naomi Osaka, has focused attention on athletes’ mental health. Do you, or could you, see similar cases with football players struggling with the mental stresses of the sport?

A lot of athletes, even football players, have come out and talked about their mental health and some of the things they’ve done to help their mental health. I think that’s awesome. I think that awareness is important.

What would make this a successful season for the VP of sports medicine and performance?

How do I measure success? I kind of take this from Aaron Donald: I put my head down and focus on my process. When you look up and look at the success, that’s when things go wrong.

If the Rams win the Super Bowl, you will have contributed in a lot of ways.

There’s a lot of moving parts for us to win the Super Bowl, and I’d be just a little fraction of it. But if we win the Super Bowl, that would be a pretty darned successful year.

Ranking the NFL's top 25 prospects: Young players who could level up in 2021​

Every year, Football Outsiders puts together a list of the NFL's best and brightest young players. Eighty percent of draft-day discussion is about first-round picks, and 10% is about the players who should have been first-round picks but instead went in the second round, particularly if they were quarterbacks.

This list is about that last 10%. It's a stab in the dark at players who may just come out of the woodwork and surprise you this year.

Methodology

This is the 15th anniversary of the list. We're still relying on the same things we always do: scouting, statistics, measurables, context, ceiling, expected role and what we hear from other sources. The goal is to bring your attention to players who are still developing in their second and third seasons, even after the draftniks have forgotten them. It's important to note that this list is not strictly about fantasy football (otherwise, there would be no offensive linemen on it) and career potential matters. It's not just a list for the 2021 season.

Here's our full criteria:

Drafted in the third round or later, or signed as an undrafted free agent

Entered the NFL between 2018 and 2020

Fewer than 500 career offensive or defensive snaps (except running backs, who are allowed just 300 offensive snaps)

Have not signed a contract extension (players who have bounced around the league looking for the right spot, however, still qualify for the list)

Age 26 or younger as of September 1, 2021

You'll see a number of references to Football Outsiders stats on our list, in particular DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), which takes every play and compares its success to the NFL average based on situation and opponent. You can read more about DVOA and other FO stats on this page. Many of the other stats, including blown blocks and success rate in coverage, come from Sports Info Solutions and can be found in our new book, Football Outsiders Almanac 2021.

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FULL LIST

18. David Long, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Age: 23 | Drafted: 2019, pick 79 | 225 defensive snaps

Long's 2020 opportunity for playing time was swallowed whole by an impressive run from Darious Williams. Not only did Williams take the third corner job, he ran away with it, getting a huge payday in the process. Long started just one game, a 28-17 loss to the Dolphins in Week 8, and allowed a three-yard touchdown to Devante Parker. Still, winning a ball from Parker in tight coverage isn't easy for anybody, and Long was not kept off the field by schlubs -- the Rams had one of the best pass defenses in the NFL last year.

On pedigree, Long came out of Michigan as a true outside corner with his most ridiculous calling card being the 6.45-second three-cone drill time at the 2019 combine. Long had three picks and 12 passes defensed in two years with the Wolverines, with Big 10 quarterbacks all but avoiding him if they could.

Troy Hill fled to the Browns in free agency, and the Rams didn't make any real stabs at replacing him beyond using a fourth-rounder on Central Arkansas corner Robert Rochell. "He's done a great job," Sean McVay said in May. "I think he's really done a nice job elevating his game at the outside location. He has been a guy with some position flex inside, but I think he's really, really done a nice job of growing. He's gotten a lot of really valuable, beneficial reps where you've seen him tangibly improve throughout the course of the offseason because the one thing that we have done full-speed is 7-on-7. He's taken to Coach Evero, Coach Cooley and Coach Morris' teaching progression, understanding concepts better and I've been really pleased with David and he's a guy we're going to count on and we're expecting him to be a big-time contributor for us." Long certainly appears to have the inside track on playing time this year.

What do you think? Where do you stand on the DH in the National League?

Are the 'holdouts' simply imagining pre-mid 80's baseball still exists? Or how much strategy will be taken from the game? Like those very difficult double switches? Or that bunting? Oh, that all important #8 hitter getting on base with 2 outs is exciting!!! Isn't it time to acknowledge pitching and how managers use the bullpen has made the DH in the NL lineup a necessity? I could see keeping it and giving blind people a chance to participate, or high school players a chance to face major league pitching. But pitchers batting? It's ridiculous.

Previous to the mid 80's, relief pitchers, particularly closers, were asked to pitch multiple innings. Back then, closers averaged almost 2 innings per appearance. Gossage, Fingers, Marshall.....take a look at their numbers. Marshall's last year with the Expos and first year with the Dodgers saw him pitch in 192 games, throwing 387.1 innings for 52 saves!!! Gossage used to pitch 3 and 4 innings almost as much as an inning and a third. So that "strategy" was more prevalent back then. Now? No.

Sure there are pitchers who actually like to hit and some even excel from time to time. Bumgartner and Greinke come to mind. But for the most part the others are an easy out. Plus a guy pitching in the National League can boast a better ERA than an AL pitcher because he only has to face 8 hitters out of every 9 spots. 2 or 3 easy outs a game. And let's not even talk about how ridiculous it is for a World Series to hamstring an AL lineup in a National League park. I wonder how "national league purists" will feel if the Angels and Ohtani ever make it to a World Series!!! But more importantly, why should I pay a guy millions of dollars to pitch (Ohtani aside) and risk him injuring himself at the plate or running the bases if he gets lucky enough to get on?

It's time to bite the bullet and do it. Make the DH universal and do something to save baseball a little with less boredom.

This post is not meant to create any type of arguments or divisiveness.

The NFL has made pretty strict rules in regards to the players and vaccines.

I am just curious if anyone knows if the NFL is going to have rules around the fans in the stands. Like mask requirements in stadiums?

Since Cam Akers was lost for the season and Aaron Rodgers is back in the mix, Vegas has adjusted their SB odds.


Vegas Insider

2021-22 AFC NORTH ODDS​

2021-22 NFC NORTH ODDS​

2021-22 AFC SOUTH ODDS​

2021-22 NFC SOUTH ODDS​

2021-22 AFC EAST ODDS​

2021-22 NFC EAST ODDS​

2021-22 AFC WEST ODDS​

2021-22 NFC WEST ODDS​

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2023-24 NFL Win Totals Odds | Team Over Under Wins Odds

2023-24 NFL Win Total betting odds and lines for the upcoming regular season provided by VegasInsider.com.

www.vegasinsider.com

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What an exciting couple of days, eh? According to some the Dodgers, Yankees and Giants made out the best. The Padres, Rockies and Cub fans made out the worst.

The Dodgers getting Scherzer and Turner have definitely improved the team. They are 3 games behind the division leading Giants, 4 in the loss column. And the Giants picked up Chris Bryant. After losing 2 of 3 to the Giants before the trade, they have a chance to win 2 of 3 over the D'Backs with a win Sunday. They just got Cory Seager back and if they can get Trevor Bauer out of his situation, their starting 5 should be extremely tough. Buhler, Arias, Kershaw, Scherzer and Bauer. Some rotation, eh?

The Giants adding Bryant is huge. He can immediately replace injured Evan Longoria. Longoria was supposed to return soon after the all star break but that hasn't happened. He might not be back until late August. And once Longoria returns, Bryant versatility will allow him to move to the outfield. Despite losing 2 of 3 to the Pirates and Cardinals, the Giants have beaten the Dodgers 11 of their last 17 meetings. And they only have to play them 3 more times the remainder of the season.

The Yankees needed left handed hitters and defensive help. They couldn't have done better than Gallo and Rizzo. Though Gallo has gone 0-fer 8 (with 2 walks) in his first two games with NY, Rizzo has gone 4 for 5 with 2 walks, 2 homers, 2 rbi and 5 runs scored. Of course they are not nearly in the same position as the Dodgers and Giants but they've already leaped over Seattle in the wild card chase and trail Oakland by just 1 game in the loss column. Most believe the division is out of reach with first place Tampa and Boston in a virtual tie on any given day but the Yankees are just 6 games behind TB and 5 behind Boston in the loss column. They play Boston 6 more times and Tampa 3. By adding those two lefties, their lineup has become much more difficult to navigate with a diversity of left and right-handers. But even more importantly, it lights a fire under guys who stand to lose playing time because of the trades. Rougned Odor, the only decent left hander before the trade, has gone 3 for 6 with 3 rbi (of the 7) the last 2 games.

The losers like San Diego, Colorado and Cub fans are obvious. San Diego was rumored to be getting Scherzer, then Berrios. Neither happened. The Rockies were supposed to get a haul for Trevor Story. That didn't happen either. I feel for Cub fans. There's nothing worse than watching the core of your team traded away. Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel. First it takes 108 years to win another Championship, then that team is dismantled just 5 years later.

The Mets should be considered another "winner" if it weren't for deGrom's problems.

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a pretty good video on the reasons for the trade.

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10 things with Terrell Burgess​

1: Health update

Sarina: Let's get an update on your health. How's that ankle feeling?

Terrell: Feeling great, feeling really well. I'm excited for the season to start.

2: Tough to stop when you just got started

Sarina: What was the hardest part of getting through this whole process?

Terrell: I think knowing that the season was like over for me. Not the team, but like that I wasn't going to be able to play the rest of the season kind of sucked because I really felt like I was just starting to get my feet under me, and the season was going well for the team. I've never sat out that many games.

3: Cheer for everyone

Sarina: A lot of people are cheering for you to have a breakout/comeback season. Who are you cheering for on the team?

Terrell: I hope everybody has a breakout season. Then that means we're going to win the Super Bowl! (Laughs) So, I hope everybody plays well. I hope Matthew Stafford comes in and plays well. I believe he will. And maybe they'll finally give AD [Aaron Donald] MVP.

4: Sea him swim

Sarina: You were born in Oceanside, CA and lived near San Diego County much of your life. So, are you a good swimmer? A good surfer?

Terrell: Definitely not a surfer, I can swim pretty well, but I wouldn't consider myself a surfer. Far from surfer, I've never surfed before. I don't even know if I've ever stood on a surfboard before.

5: Rings and things

Sarina: Goals for the 2021 season?

Terrell: I don't know if I have any individual goals. I kind of just want to do what I can to help the team win. I want a chance to get out there and play more, more than I did last year obviously with the injury, but I mean everyone always wants to win the Super Bowl so let's roll with that one.

6: Who is the hype man?

Sarina: You get to work with one of the best corners in the league. What is something surprising about Jalen Ramsey, that maybe people aren't aware of?

Terrell: I think everyone like depicts him as some like huge trash talker but there's like a good balance in my opinion. I don't think it gets in the middle of him playing. He's a healthy trash talker. You want a little bit of that [in games], It makes it more fun and it just kind of hypes you up.

7: Some things can't change

Sarina: What is the movie you always watch when it's on television?

Terrell: Friday Night Lights. That's one movie that I always watch and every time I watch it, I hope they're going to win at the end. (Spoiler Alert) I hate it every time.

8: Three days in a row

Sarina: Would you rather have unlimited sushi for life or unlimited tacos?

Terrell: Tacos because I feel like I could eat tacos three days in a row. I don't know if I can eat sushi three days in a row.

9: What a combo

Sarina: What is your most prized possession?

Terrell: My college degree and my Rubik's Cube.

10: Hello neighbor!

Sarina: People are always yelling at the TV when they watch Rams games, do you also yell at the television when you watch?

Terrell: Oh, one hundred percent. I know my neighbors hated me from games eight through 19. Oh my goodness, I even had the windows open. Every Sunday. They definitely heard me.

Andy Benoit of SI has been a consistent presence on the field. I thought he’d be doing video review or analytics in some back office, but he’s in the field with a clipboard. Interesting.

Jake Funk always out early, stretching and getting ready for practice.

OT Max Pircher #66 is constantly being coached up by Havenstein, Whit, or a coach. I hope he makes the team or practice squad.

Punter #16 is pretty good. Not sure if he’s JUST a camp leg or a real option. Our special teams just doesn’t seem interested in doing any fakes, so I wonder if that limits our desire to keep Hekker. Hekker looks good and consistent though.

Today is family fun day, which ironically means you do NOT want to bring your children today.

More to come.

Thought that pick was John Holmes. Now Rams have 2 porn stars on the roster?

Big Year 2 in store for Jordan Fuller​

IRVINE, Calif. – When Jordan Fuller started alongside John Johnson III last season at safety, Johnson's calm demeanor stood out.

"I feel like I'm similar in that way," Fuller said after Friday's practice. "So, I guess I kind of take that from him. He was never rattled. The moment never seemed too big for him."

That key learning for Fuller is as important heading into his second season as it was during his rookie, because after earning a starting role as a rookie, the 2020 sixth-round pick could potentially be taking over for Johnson as the Rams' next defensive signal-caller this year.

The opening came about after Johnson departed and signed with the Browns this offseason. Fuller said he and the coaching staff had some preliminary conversations prior to organized team activities in the spring about taking on the role, then he got to "play around with it" during those practices.

The Rams are still experimenting with candidates for the role in training camp – head coach Sean McVay said there were a few guys they were looking at, including some linebackers – but Fuller is firmly in the mix to wear the green dot on his helmet.

"You do know that Jordan is more than likely, if he continues to just get better and do what he has done since he has gotten here, he's probably going to be a guy that's going to be on the field all three downs," McVay, who also praised Fuller's versatility and understanding of the big picture, said after Los Angeles' first training camp practice. "That's something that John Johnson did a great job, even going back a couple years, (former safety) Eric Weddle did a great job having the green dot."

Fuller made 60 total tackles and three interceptions in 12 games last season, highlighted by eight in a season-opening win over the Cowboys which tied for second in franchise history for total tackles by a Rams rookie in his NFL debut.

His overall performance by the end of the season earned him the team's Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award, given to the team's rookie of the year. Over the course of the season, individual plays like the momentum-changing, fourth-down stop in the redzone early in the fourth quarter where he tackled Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb short of the line to gain in the Rams' 20-17 season-opening win last year also helped establish trust with his teammates.

"It's more of a leadership role for him this year," Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald said, when asked about Fuller's growth. "He's the guy that's getting us huddled up and giving us the plays now. The year he had last year, he's going to build off that and now growing into a leadership role, he got a lot more pressure, a little bit more on the shoulders, but I think he can handle it. We trust what he can do, his abilities and his leadership. Expecting big things from him."

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey shared similar sentiments. While it's still early in training camp, Ramsey said what Fuller has shown so far are the same things he saw out of the Ohio State product last year.

"I've had a lot of faith in Jordan from the jump, even last training camp," Ramsey said after Thursday's practice. "I love what he brought to the team and I think he's just building on that. He's going to take over a role of leadership, not only for our secondary, but I think for our team and I think he deserves it."

Unsurprisingly, a two-time team captain for the Buckeyes thrice named All-Big Ten during his four-year collegiate career doesn't view such expectations as a burden.

"It's a big honor," Fuller said. "They look to me as somebody who could hold his own and make plays for this team and also be a leader is I mean, it's a it's a huge honor. I just look at it as a way for me to prove people right, honestly. I like those expectations."

Rams’ Darrell Henderson greets new role with healthy perspective​

IRVINE — Darrell Henderson will finally get his chance to be the Rams’ No. 1 running back because someone else got hurt.

But instead of a twinge of relief, Henderson says he felt only sympathy pain when he heard about Cam Akers’ Achilles tendon injury in mid-July.

He has been in Akers’ walking boot.

“I never want to see a player get hurt. Me, coming off two ankle surgeries, it was horrible (to hear),” said Henderson, whose 2019 and 2020 seasons ended with injuries. “When I heard that (about Akers), I immediately looked down at mine to make sure mine’s still good.”

Henderson was speaking Friday after practice at Rams training camp at UC Irvine, his first chat with reporters since Akers’ injury.

He sounded selfless in talking about his fallen teammate and about his own patience in the two years since the Rams drafted Henderson out of Memphis in the third round of the 2019 draft.

It seemed then that he was the chosen successor to Todd Gurley. But after releasing Gurley in early 2020, the Rams turned around and drafted Akers from Florida State in that year’s second round. By the end of the 2020 season, Akers was the leader of a Rams running back group that then included veteran Malcolm Brown, even if Akers took the regular-season team rushing title by only a 625-624 margin over Henderson.

Before Akers tore an Achilles in an offseason workout, it was generally accepted that his surge to 645 yards and four touchdowns rushing in his last seven regular-season and playoff games had established him as the Rams’ No. 1 back going into this year.

This, even though by some measures Henderson was the Rams’ leading back over the whole of last season.

He made 11 regular-season starts, to Akers’ five. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry, to Akers’ 4.3. His 81 yards rushing plus 40 receiving against the Eagles in Week 2 and 114 plus 6 against the Bills in Week 3 were the best back-to-back production by a Rams back since Gurley in 2018.

Did Henderson intend to beat out Akers in training camp?

“We don’t think like that here,” Henderson said Friday at UCI. “We’re all a big family. We’re all ready for our opportunity, but we don’t look at it that way, that it’s all about competition.

“I was competing to be a better me, that’s it.”

What might Henderson be thinking, especially with the possibility of a trade or signing for reinforcements?

Steven Jackson, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher (10,138 yards from 2004-12), gave his impression during a break from signing autographs at Rams camp.

“In this opportunity he has right now, he not only has something to prove to himself, but he can prove to the organization that ‘You don’t need to look any further. I’m here,’” Jackson said.

The selfless tone from Henderson, who will turn 24 on Aug. 19, might reflect a change Rams coach Sean McVay says he has seen in the running back.

“He’s really maturing,” said McVay, who sees the requisite ball-carrying, pass-catching and blocking skills in that 5-foot-8, 208-pound package. “In year three, you can feel a nice confidence in himself.”

The challenge might be to keep Henderson healthy after last year was chopped up by hamstring, quadriceps and ankle problems.

“I think he’s got the ability, there’s no doubt about,” said McVay, who, barring an acquisition, must choose a No. 2 back from the untested group of Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais and rookie Jake Funk. “It’s really about figuring out what’s going to be, I don’t want to say pitch count, but the best way to utilize him and have the big picture in mind.”

In practice Friday, Henderson’s every successful run or reception drew cheers from fans at UCI who recognized the long hair that tickles down the “27” on his jersey and recognized his importance to the 2021 Rams.

Not since high school in Mississippi has Henderson been his team’s workhorse, since he split carries with other backs even at Memphis.

“At the next level it’s all about keeping running backs fresh,” Henderson said. “You get hit every play. You’ve got to be ready for it. You’ve got to prepare mentally.

“It’s on me, I’m ready for it.”

NOTES

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald and left tackle Andrew Whitworth didn’t practice Friday, the first this year of the “veteran days off” they have many weeks throughout training camp and the regular season. … The Rams had a shorter-than-usual jog-through practice. They’ll practice in pads for the first time Saturday. … Steven Jackson was one in a daily series of former Rams signing autographs at camp. Scheduled the next few practice days are Jackie Slater and Dennis Harrah (Saturday), Ivory Sully (Monday), Harold Jackson (Tuesday), and Fred Dryer and LeRoy Irvin (Wednesday).

Sean McVay likes what he's seen from Ernest Jones and Travin Howard​

The Rams haven’t gotten great play from their linebackers since Cory Littleton left in free agency after the 2019 season, struggling to find consistency at the position last season. Troy Reeder, Micah Kiser and Kenny Young all played meaningful snaps, but none of them truly established themselves as high-end starters.

After selecting Ernest Jones in the third round, the Rams hope he can solve some of the issues they’ve had at that spot. It’s early, but Jones has impressed Sean McVay already in camp, just as he did in OTAs and minicamp.

“It’s exciting,” McVay said of Jones batting passes in practice Thursday. “I think anytime that you see good plays right now, that’s the beauty of being a head coach, you can be excited on both sides. But for Ernest, he’s a guy that’s an instinctual player. There’s a lot of information for these young guys to absorb, whether you’re on offense of defense, but I’ve been really pleased with his progression. (LBs coach) Chris Shula has done an excellent job with him. I think the more he feels comfortable, the more reps, the more that he can just kind of play fast and not worry about thinking so much. I think you’re starting to see that show itself out here.”

Jones isn’t the rangiest linebacker or the most athletic guy, which were some of his noted weaknesses out of South Carolina. However, he’s instinctual and always finds the ball, especially in the run game.

He still has to earn a starting job, which could be tough with the number of players the Rams have competing at inside linebacker. McVay noted the return of Travin Howard after he missed the 2020 season, calling it “big time.”

“I’ve been really pleased with him,” McVay said. “You felt so bad for him last year because he was doing so many good things. Really liked the look in his eye. He’s out here, he’s got a good bounce in his step. I think he’s really done a nice job of continuing to progress. As a whole, that group, you look at the experience. ‘T-Howard’ is doing a great job, I want him to stay healthy. You’ve got Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder played a lot of ball, really love what Kenny Young’s done. He’s got a great energy. The confidence that he gained from last year and all the success that he had. Ernest was asked about earlier, and we’re excited about him as well. A lot of good depth, these guys are positively pushing one another and it’s going to be exciting to see how it shakes out.”

There’s still more than a month to go until Week 1, but the Rams don’t lack options at linebacker. It’s just a matter of sorting through the best ones.

Rams’ secondary deflects worries early in training camp​

IRVINE — After free-agent departures last winter, trouble loomed over the Rams’ defensive secondary like a Tom Brady pass spiraling toward the end zone.

Safety John Johnson and cornerback Troy Hill signed with the Browns three days apart in March. Johnson had led the 2020 Rams in tackles, Hill in takeaways. Johnson also called the team’s defensive signals.

For the L.A. pass defense to bat away the concerns Johnson and Hill left behind, a lot has to go right.

So far, it has.

“We’ve got guys who are capable of filling in those roles,” cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the All-Pro of the group, said Thursday. “We’ll have new starters, new role players this year, and we’ll figure it out. I think we have the right group of guys to get it done.”

In two days of practice at UC Irvine, the Rams have confirmed their confidence in second-year safety Jordan Fuller’s ability to fill Johnson’s leadership role, seen second-year safety Terrell Burgess flash his talent with a pass interception and breakup in offense-vs.-defense drills, and watched Darious Williams continue to make big plays with a back-of-the-end-zone interception against Matthew Stafford on Thursday.

They’ve also been satisfied that 2019 third-round draft pick David Long, who has started one NFL game, can step into Hill’s spot.

Those four and safety Taylor Rapp would be the primary members of the secondary if the season started today instead of Sept. 12.

Fourth-round draft pick Robert Rochell, whom Williams called “explosive,” is the rookie most likely to work his way into the mix.

Can the secondary rated No. 1 in the NFL by Pro Football Focus at the end of last season stay anywhere close to that?

Much might depend on Fuller, who got the first tryout at calling defensive signals Wednesday and won over Ramsey and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, no less.

“He’s going to take over a role of leadership, not only for our secondary but I think for our team,” Ramsey said. “I think he deserves it. I think he’s earned it.”

Coach Sean McVay said making Fuller the signal-caller is “an experimental thing right now,” but noted one reason to give him that job is “he’s probably going to be a guy that’s going to be on the field all three downs.”

McVay said he’s “encouraged” but stated the caveat to all this: The secondary’s success could hinge on players who are unproven in a full season, or even a pro game.

“Those are guys that you have a lot of confidence in what they can do,” McVay said, mentioning Long, Rapp, Fuller and Burgess. “But then actually getting that tangible experience where now you’re playing in these meaningful games that count, that’s going to be the thing that I’m excited to see from those guys.”

NOTES

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp showed no concern about his right knee, which kept him out of the Rams’ last three games: “Knee’s great. No issues,” he said. …

Ramsey explained how he ended up switching jersey numbers from 20 to 5: He wanted 2 as a reminder to put himself second, with 5 the backup plan. Rams receiver Robert Woods also wanted 2, and Ramsey let him take it. “I just started to think, ‘Hey, this is one of my reasons for wanting No. 2, to put other people before myself,’” Ramsey said of his magnanimity. …

Jacob Harris suffers offseason setback, out 2-3 weeks​

No time off is “good time off” for an NFL rookie and Jacob Harris has had a little time off recently. It is expected to continue for a few more weeks.

The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported Wednesday that Harris, a fourth round tight end/wide receiver out of UCF, will be out at least a couple of weeks as he recovers from a core injury that he suffered recently and had surgery on.

Rodrigue says that for now, the Rams are just being “cautious” with the rookie and at the moment there is nobody on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

There is a lot of optimism surrounding the athletic tight end, thanks not only to his unique physical traits but thanks to some nifty plays he made in OTAs this summer. Los Angeles likely isn’t going to count on much from Harris this season anyway as he is working to become a tight end for the first time in his football career.

This could allow more time to study the playbook.

Camp pics day three

Not much to talk about this practice. Was basically a walk through. Tomorrow they will be in pads. I won't be able to make it as I'm having car (truck really) issue and I need to get it fixed. Almost couldn't get it started after todays practice.

Not many pics but a few of the coaches and some players of interest.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

VRF

Aaron Donald on A'Shawn Robinson: 'He knows we need him to step up big time'​

Cameron DaSilva

July 30, 2021 4:30 am PT


A’Shawn Robinson was one of the Rams’ big free-agent additions last offseason, signing him to a two-year contract worth $17 million. His first season in L.A. didn’t go according to plan, however, as he missed the first eight games while on the non-football injury list.
Hopefully he can bounce back with a better 2021 campaign now that he’s fully healthy and even slimmed down, playing at 308 pounds. He’s expected to step in as the starting defensive end after Michael Brockers was traded, and those in Los Angeles know how important a player he is.
Aaron Donald said this week that Robinson knows the Rams are counting on him to come through.
“He knows we need him to step up big time for us this year, it’s that leadership role for him now. So, he’s got to be ready, he’s got to be pure because we’re depending on him. He put the body of work and it’s going to pay off this year for himself,” Donald said.
Not only does Donald believe Robinson must step up, but he’s confident the former Lions defensive lineman will hold his own in place of Brockers.
“Him being gone, there is definitely going to be a void,” Donald said of Brockers. “But A’Shawn is going to step up big time for us and hold it down and make a lot of plays for us.”
Losing weight was a goal of Robinson’s this offseason after talking to his coaches and trainers, and he’s shed about 22 pounds. He feels lighter and more explosive, which is a great thing for the Rams.
Donald doesn’t really care what weight Robinson is playing at as long as he can do his job and hold up against double teams.
“As long as you can still hold your double team, do what you need to do,” Donald said. “You might play a three-(technique), you might play a shade, you might play a four-(technique), might play a five-(technique). You just got to be able to transition to wherever they put you and be able to hold your own.”
Robinson doesn’t have to be a Pro Bowler next to Donald and Sebastian Joseph-Day. He just has to help fill the shoes of Brockers as a run defender and offer some help as a pass rusher. There’s no reason to believe he can’t do that.


****************************************************************************************************************************************************

Aaron Donald admits he's beginning to feel older as he enters 8th season​

Skyler Carlin

July 29, 2021 7:41 am PT


Aaron Donald is coming off a season in which he won his third Defensive Player of the Year award (second in the past three seasons) and has long been considered the most dominant defensive player in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams are grateful to have a freak of nature like Donald on the interior of their defense as they intend to compete for a Super Bowl in 2021.
Despite Donald not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon, the All-Pro interior defender admitted that he’s beginning to feel his age catching up to him with training camp getting underway.
“Yeah, I’m getting older. I feel it. My aches and pains last a little longer, so I definitely feel it,” he said.
Donald, who turned 30 back in May, has been the definition of reliable for the Rams as he’s missed just two games in his entire career. The veteran interior lineman is known for taking good care of his body during the offseason, but he shared that his recovery takes a bit longer now than it did earlier in his career.
Even though Donald uttered that he’s feeling different at this point in his career, Sean McVay isn’t concerned with a possible decline in Donald’s explosiveness entering the 2021 campaign.
“No, I do not. He looks pretty damn good to me,” McVay said with a laugh. “He has got that same look in his eye. He looks good. He had a good first day. We know that he’s working hard. I think he’s going to pick up right where he left off and what he has done since I’ve been fortunate enough to be around him has been pretty spectacular. He is one-of-one.”
As Donald continues to strengthen his resume for the Hall of Fame, he’s the odds-on favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year again in 2021. Barring an unforeseen massive drop-off in his performance, there shouldn’t be any worries with Donald as he takes the field for the first time in his 30s this year.

Getting ready to head to training camp!

I think I'll let the team come to me as far as whom I'll be focusing on. What I mean by that is there is limited places you can go to get good photos and observations. Yesterday we were close to the action but maybe too close. So I'll pick a spot near the field that will give me the best vantage point and however the Rams form up from there, I'll roll with it.

Or maybe not. We'll see.

More to follow, stay tuned to the same bat channel, same bat time! (showing my age there!)

Dude just can’t seem to stay healthy.



Carson Wentz 's new start in Indianapolis has met an interruption that might last longer than a few days.
The Colts quarterback is set to see noted foot specialist Robert Anderson in the near future, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. A further timeline for Wentz's return will be established following the quarterback's visit with Anderson, Garafolo added, with minor surgery being a possibility, per Rapoport.
Backup Jacob Eason took Wentz's reps with the first team Friday.
Wentz's first camp barely got off the ground before he suffered the foot injury, which Indianapolis initially hoped was minor, but appears to be growing more concerned about the seriousness of it. The hope is to avoid a surgical procedure, but if Wentz is required to undergo an operation, his time away from the field could stretch into the regular season. The latter scenario isn't expected to involve many games, Rapoport added.
For now, the Colts are thankful the start of the season is six weeks away. But with Wentz still being new to the team, it seems he'll miss valuable training camp time due to the ailment, if not more.
Wentz is in his first training camp with the Colts, who sent two draft picks to Philadelphia for the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 draft. The quarterback is attempting to reclaim a future that was once very bright in Philadelphia before a disastrous 2020 season led to the end of his time with the Eagles.

Maybe this belongs in the camp thread, But I wanted everyone to hear this. It made chills go down my back.


Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/unY6_CDxNYE



Mods i understand if you want to move it, Just give a little time before doing so Thank YOU.

I saw a gif that @Neil039 posted about everyone having something special that he/she can do. List the non-porongraphic things which is one of your funky skills.

I'll start....I have always been able to wiggle my ears.

I also had the ability, at times, to make an athletic move that appeared like I was showing off (those days are long gone....lol)

Training Camp Photos Day 2s

I've noticed that Google doesn't always place the pics in the correct order so if you're looking at a sequence of events such as I've done here, you may be scratching your head! Don't know how to fix it.

BTW, in the opening pics, you'll see a guy punting. I have no idea who that is, no jersey on but he was horrible! Always and I mean always kicking it to the right even when the return men were in the middle of the field. Most times it would go out of bounds. Almost had me a practice ball!

Enjoy the pics.

VRF