LOS ANGELES — Jared Verse leaned over the microphone during his Thursday press conference, dripping sweat from the Rams’ first full practice ahead of their NFC championship game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Still catching his breath, the outside linebacker admitted, “The energy’s just different this week.”
“I think everyone’s taking the same approach,” he continued. “Every step you take is a lot more mindful. If you make a mistake on the field, people that beforehand weren’t calling it out are calling it out saying, ‘Hey, let me get that play again. Let me get that one more time. Let me get this rep again.’ Seeing that just makes me want to get to another level.”
But Verse wasn’t ready to share his thoughts about this week’s opponent, turning to look at his public relations handler and repeating the message he had received prior to the presser: “I’m not supposed to give any bulletin board material.”
It had to be the Seahawks this week, right? These two teams have circled each other since the Rams won the NFC West last winter based off a tiebreaker, denying Seattle the opportunity to play for a postseason spot before their Week 18 matchup.
Since then, the teams have squared off in two heavyweight bouts. The first was a Rams win in Inglewood that required a last-second missed field goal by the Seahawks. The second was a Seahawks win in Seattle that shifted on a punt return for a touchdown and a two-point conversion on an incomplete backwards pass.
And now they meet for the third time this season, a trip to Super LX at stake, and the league’s best-scoring offense and best-scoring defense to settle it.
Mike Macdonald’s arrival as the Seahawks’ coach was a fitting foil for Rams head coach Sean McVay. Macdonald’s five-defensive back scheme was designed to attack the way McVay’s offense – proliferated around the NFL as it has been – attacks space.
So as these past two years have unfolded, the Rams’ coaching staff has learned what it takes to plan between games against Macdonald.
“Like I’ve told you guys before, when you talk about offensive play-callers and you can watch the film and see an ownership and an understanding from an all-22 perspective and intent behind what they’re trying to get done, that’s how I feel about him,” McVay said. “They do a great job of accentuating their personnel and being able to adjust and adapt. I think he’s got a great feel for the flow of a game as a play-caller too.”
Then you get more granular and you get the fun stuff within the matchup. Quarterback Matthew Stafford against former Rams linebacker Ernest Jones IV, former dueling partners in practice now leading their units against each other. Receiver Cooper Kupp trying to get revenge against the Rams, the team for whom he was Super Bowl LVI MVP.
And the Rams’ defense in their fifth game against Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the past two years.
It was last postseason that the Rams sacked Darnold – then with the Vikings – eight times in a wild-card round victory. The former USC star followed that up with a four-interception game in November in which he rushed the ball out into bad situations rather than take a sack.
He did seem to find something though in the second meeting between the Rams and Seahawks in December. He still threw two interceptions and was sacked four times, but he made the necessary plays to help the Seahawks down the field for the game-winning overtime drive.
Still, if the Rams’ pass rush can get to Darnold and get to him early, they have reason to believe they can make him uncomfortable.
“The quarterback’s job is to throw the ball so they’re going to look at where they have to throw the ball,” Verse said. “If us on the edge, the D-line or the D-tackles up front can get through there and get a good hit on him, make him feel that no matter what it is, whether he gets the ball off, whether it’s just a QB hit, whether you get a sack, he knows that we’re coming.”
And Rams-Seahawks Part 3 is coming, too, with glory on the line.
“They understand the stakes,” McVay said. “You don’t need to overcommunicate what is at stake, but what I want is I want our guys to be able to be courageous in terms of our ability to go cut it loose.”
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Who: Rams at Seahawks
When: 3:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lumen Field, Seattle
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 226, 228
The Los Angeles Rams scored 31 points in the first half of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resulting in a 34-7 victory, moving them into the No.1 seed in the NFC
This is the first time the Rams have held sole possession of the NFC lead since Week 13 of the 2018 season, according to ESPN.
Coach Sean McVay said it’s a “good thing” to have the No. 1 seed with only six games to go, though he emphasizes the only thing the Rams can control “is to have a great week of preparation.”
“I love the way we’ve responded from some setbacks,” McVay said. “I love the way that we’ve handled a little bit of success. And through 11 weeks, I’m proud of them. Now, let’s see what we can do through 12.”
He adds, “And I’m very confident that we’re going to give ourselves the best chance to do that because I’m betting on the people in that locker room.”
Here are some highlights that allowed the Rams to have such a blowout against the Buccaneers, earning them their sixth consecutive win.
Cobie Durant ignited the stadium with a 50-yard interception return, flipping momentum, giving the Rams excellent field position to score a touchdown. Puka Nacua was equally electric on offense, pulling down 7 receptions for 97 yards and proving once again why he’s one of the most reliable playmakers in the league.
The Rams’ offense was driven by the steady play of Matthew Stafford, who threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He showed complete command of the offense, spreading the ball efficiently and delivering two of his touchdown passes to Davante Adams, who proved to be a reliable red-zone and big-play target throughout the night.
The Rams are now Super Bowl favorites. With his amazing performance during this game and the rest of the season, fans at SoFi Stadium chanted MVP after Stafford’s second and third touchdown passes. Stafford completed 25 of 35 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns in a game that was largely decided by halftime.
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If Stafford is named the league’s most valuable player, he would be the oldest ever player to win his first MVP, and the third oldest player to win it, period.
With the support of Angel City Sports, the event was full of fun football action and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime
This past Veterans Day, the Rams, The Hartford, and L.A.-based nonprofit for adaptive sports programming, Angel City Sports, invited members of the Rams Wheelchair Football Team into the gorgeous Rams Practice Facility nestled in Woodland Hills to unite through the glorious sport of football and celebrate the brave veterans who’ve served our proud country. As a massive token of gratitude, The Hartford, a chief disability insurer who has voiced support towards adaptive sports movement for over 30 years, has donated six custom-designed wheelchairs to members of the Rams Wheelchair Football Team, which consists of several U.S. military veterans, as a huge “thank you” for their immeasurable services both on active duty and here at home impacting our daily lives.
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
The event also featured a thrilling youth sports clinic where young athletes took center stage in the exciting action, honing their football skills with members of the Rams Wheelchair Football Team in an encouraging and nurturing environment. And once the Rams concluded their practice session, members of the team joined in the entertainment too.
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
Heartwarming appearances were made by star Rams running back Kyren Williams, as well as Jared Verse, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace, Jake McQuaide, Terrance Ferguson, Josaiah Stewart, Bill Norton, Shaun Dolac, and Brennan Presley, who all made a splash in the adaptive youth football clinic.
Head Coach Sean McVay, and Coaches Nate Scheelhaase, Eric Yarber, Chase Blackburn, Ben Kotwica, Drew Wilkins, Carter Crutchfield, and Ron Gould stopped by to lend their kindness and football wisdom. Along with members of the Rams Wheelchair Football Team, the young athletes were taught the valuable lesson of inclusive play and the positive impact of teamwork.
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
“Being part of the event was really special,” Williams explained. “Seeing the passion and competitiveness of the Rams Wheelchair Football Team and getting to share the field with the kids reminded me what this game is all about. It’s about teamwork, resilience, and bringing people together through football—no matter how you play.”
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Molly Higgins, Los Angeles Rams executive vice president of Community Impact and Engagement, said “This partnership continues to embody what the Rams stand for – teamwork, inclusion, and giving back,” before continuing, “We’re proud to work alongside The Hartford and Angel City Sports to support our veterans and create opportunities for athletes of all abilities.”
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
“At The Hartford, we believe sports have the power to unite and transform lives,” said Claire Burns, chief marketing and customer officer at The Hartford. “Adaptive sports are a powerful catalyst to support veterans and athletes of all abilities on the field and beyond. This collaboration reflects our longstanding commitment to inclusion and our mission to ensure more people can experience the joy and community that sports bring.”
“Our collaboration with the Rams and The Hartford demonstrates what’s possible when organizations come together to invest in access and inclusion,” said Clayton Frech, Founder of Angel City Sports. “Honoring our veterans through the LA Rams Wheelchair Football Team and introducing youth to adaptive sports is a powerful way to build community and awareness.”
The 49ers caught the Rams slipping and took full advantage with Mac Jones at the helm
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
What was supposed to be a very winnable game for the Rams during Thursday’s divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers turned into a nonstop uphill battle thanks to a few mishaps that ultimately sealed LA’s fate.
Right from the opening kick-off of the match, the 49ers showed a higher intensity than the Rams, setting the tone in their favor immediately. Back-up QB Mac Jones stepped in after starting QB Brock Purdy was officially deemed unable to play due to a lingering toe injury. The Rams were unable to find their way into the end zone with a touchdown or a field goal in the first quarter, while the 49ers scored a touchdown thanks to a short pass to TE Jake Tonges and hijacked control of the momentum early on.
Upon the start of the second quarter, the 49ers picked up where they left off, scoring yet another touchdown via a 1-yard pass to RB Christian McCaffrey, jumping the score to 14-0. Things were looking extremely dire for the Rams. Despite a fumble from Stafford, the Rams were eventually able to get things rolling with a touchdown from RB Kyran Williams, who caught a 14-yard short pass to finally put LA on the scoreboard. However, the 49ers inched out an additional field goal, leaving the score at 17-7 at halftime.
The Rams’ woes followed them into the 3rd quarter with kicker Joshua Karty missing a crucial field goal, further cementing the despairing energy found in the first half. The 49ers responded with a made field goal from kicker Eddy Pineiro, upping the score to 20-7. The energy around the Rams began to shift a bit, and the offense started to lock in and pick up the pace. Stafford was able to connect with WR Puka Nacua for a 1-yard short pass leading to another touchdown, climbing the score to 20-14, and giving the Horns a glimmer of hope.
The Rams came out guns blazing in the 4th, with RB Kyren Williams finding the end zone once more for six points thanks to an 8-yard pass from Stafford. However, terror struck again when kicker Joshua Karty missed the extra point, leaving the score tied at 20-20. The Rams’ defense also began playing with a fiercer desire to win, containing the 49ers to only a field goal rather than a TD, putting the score at 23-20.
LA could smell the blood in the water, the opportunity to take the lead was here. Making their way down the field, the Rams arrived at the end zone, practically smelling victory. What should’ve been a routine goal-line penetration for RB Kyren Williams blew up in the Rams’ face due to a timely move by 49ers DT Alfred Collins, who was able to knock the ball out of RB Kyren Williams’ fingertips just inches from the end zone, completely shutting down the Rams’ drive.
You could feel the air being sucked out of SoFi. But thanks to a relentless effort from the defense, the 49ers were unable to put any more points on the scoreboard, while the Rams earned three points thanks to a vital field goal, tying the game at 23-23.
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Overtime was here, and along with it was a chance of possible redemption for the Rams. The 49ers got their hands on the ball initially, and thanks to the stellar Rams defense, had to resort to kicking a field goal for three points, gaining a 23-20 lead.
It was time for Stafford and company to close the game, to march into the end zone for a TD and move to a 4-1 record. But, head coach Sean McVay showed a little too much boldness that ended up costing the game. While in field goal range and having the chance to tie the game again on 4th and 1, McVay’s play calling took a questionable turn, opting to run the ball with RB Kyren Williams for the 1st down instead. It didn’t work, losing the game for the Rams. After the match, head coach McVay took responsibility for the loss and for putting his players in such a difficult position.
Now sitting at a 3-2 record, the Rams have some self-reflection to do. Despite solid individual performances from WR Puka Nacua (85 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 10 catches), WR Davante Adams (88 receiving yards on 5 catches, RB Kyren Williams (65 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns), and QB Matthew Stafford (389 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions on 30/47 throws), the team as a whole did not seem like their usual selves. Whether it was due to it being a Thursday night game or the 49ers simply catching them off guard, the Rams will need to be much more careful with protecting the football from fumbles.
Next week, the Rams travel to Baltimore to face a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens, and it should be the perfect opportunity for LA to get its mojo back. We’ll see how the Rams rebound in week 6 and find their way back on track to total dominance.
The Rams Felt That They Should Have Been In the NFC Championship. It Did Not Turn Out That Way.
Granted, when you possess the ball last in an NFL Playoff Game— you probably can bet that you’ve got a chance to win. Games like that always come dow to the last possession.
But not in a January Snowstorm. Not in Philadelphia. And certainly not against these Eagles.
Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams have had eleven months to forget what happened at Lincoln Financial Field in January 2025. For this weekend’s Eagles and Rams matchup featuring two of the youngest NFL Head Coaches — it’s the Rams — like most other NFL franchises can learn from the Eagles. Last weekend — the Eagles did the unthinkable — utilizing against the Kansas City Chiefs what has made them great— now becoming the team that waits an and capitalizes on opposing teams’ miscues and turns them into points.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Lose the turnover battle and you’ll surely lose to these Eagles.
And although McVay and the Rams may still think thatthey (really?) should have been the team that should have advanced last year to the NFC Title Game instead of this group of Eagles who had one of the most magical post-season runs in NFL history — Los Angeles can indeed take some things from these Eagles.
The Rams have been trying to climb back into prominence ever since winning Super Bowl LVI over the Bengals 20–17. Since that point they have been 5–12, 10–7, and 10–7 respectively. Unlike the Eagles who bounced back from a 38–35 loss in Super Bowl LVII to win Super Bowl LIX — the Rams have been trying to relive that glory of a last-minute Super Bowl win that included MVP Cooper Kupp’s ninety-two yards and two scores — a player who is now gone.
The Eagles and Rams have a long history of tough matchups — going all the way back to their original existence as the Cleveland Rams during World War II. Five years later in 1949— the Eagles claimed their second World Championship at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s muddy field 14–0.
Sunday’s Eagles vs. Rams matchup on Sunday is between one team who is at the top of their game — and one who could be again. Unless of course — the Rams face the Eagles in Philadelphia in the cold conditions of January NFC Playoff Football.
In any rebuilding football program, college or pro, they say that the third season is really the harbinger of what things will look like, moving forward. By the third season, the thought is that the head coach and GM have filled the building with “their guys” and the program is in place. If it doesn’t look so hot, that’s a bad sign. If it looks good, then HURRAY!
So far, for DeMeco Ryans, his first two seasons as Texans head coach have probably exceeded the expectations that most fans would have had when he took over in January 2023. Two 10-win seasons, two division titles, two wild card round wins. I think most Texan fans would have signed up for that on the day Ryans was hired.
However, the success in 2023 seemed to recalibrate expectations in 2024, and despite a nearly identical outcome as 2023, 2024 left a bad taste in Texans fans’ mouths, largely because the offense took a huge step backwards. So, as the Texans travel to Los Angeles on Friday for Sunday’s season opener against the Rams, the Texans’ offense sits front of mind in things to watch for:
4. New era for the offensive line and C.J. Stroud The Texans’ new offensive scheme, under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, features four new starting offensive linemen, all being coached by new offensive line coach Cole Popovich. That’s a LOT of new! Add in the injury to starting running back Joe Mixon, and NEW starter Nick Chubb gets his first action as a Texan! The one constant is quarterback C.J. Stroud, who will be getting more control pre-snap, at the line of scrimmage, before plays, something he’s been dying to get. The fly in the ointment for all of this is the Rams’ DEFENSIVE line, which is one of the best in the sport. The Texans have to keep Stroud clean on Sunday, if the offense is going to lead the Texans to victory.
3. Texans corners vs Rams wide receivers Ultimately, it’ll be the two defenses that probably decide this game, and the juiciest matchup between one team’s offensive players and the other’s defensive players, is the matchup of the Rams top two wide receivers against the Texans’ top two cornerbacks. DeMeco Ryans loves to use his corners in man coverage, and Stingley and Lassiter are good enough to take on that assignment. It will be interesting to see if Ryans has Stingley tail the Rams’ top wide receiver, because I’m not sure who that is, between Nadia and Adams. This will be the best matchup of the day, though.
2. Matthew Stafford Staying with the Texans’ defensive theme, it is absolutely incumbent upon Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter to remind Rams QB Matthew Stafford that he is playing with a ragged disc in his lower back. Supposedly, Stafford has been taking epidurals throughout the offseason, but I’m guessing one Will Anderson car crash hit can overcome whatever medicine Stafford has injected into his back. My hope is that Hunter and Anderson wear out Stafford to where we see Rams backup QB JJimmy Garoppolo at some point.
1. Head coaching matchup Ryans and McVay have yet to face off as head coaches in the NFL, other than a preseason game last year. In the regular season, they’ve not faced off. Ryans, however, has gone up against McVay as the Niners defensive coordinator five times, back in 2021 and 2022, four in the regular season and one in the postseason. Here’s how it went:
Sean McVay has gone up against a Demeco Ryans defense 5 times in 2021-22.
In those 5 games, the Rams are 1-4 and score an average of 15.4 ppg. The Texans defense ranked 6th in EPA/play last season.
These are two head coaches who call plays on their respective side of the ball. As fun as the physical matchup will be between the Texans’ corners and Rams’ receivers, the chess game between the two head coaches should be phenomenal.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee, Cam Akers rushed for 118 yards and three more scores, and the Los Angeles Rams routed the Denver Broncos 51-14 Sunday for their second victory since mid-October.
Mayfield went 24 of 28 for 230 yards in another standout performance for his second win in three starts with the Rams (5-10), who produced the best game of their dismal season on Christmas.
Rookie Cobie Durant returned his second interception 85 yards for a touchdown with 4:08 left to cap the Rams’ first 50-point performance under Sean McVay since their famed 54-51 victory over Kansas City in 2018.
For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL’s 32nd-ranked offense coming in, Los Angeles became just the second team to score 50 points in the NFL this season, joining Dallas earlier this month, and put together a comprehensively dominant performance.
In his Los Angeles debut, Larrell Murchison made 2 1/2 of the Rams’ six sacks of Russell Wilson, who passed for 214 yards with three interceptions for Denver (4-11).
The beleaguered Wilson was not sharp in his return from a one-game absence with a concussion, throwing interceptions to end Denver’s first two drives. The second pick was by Bobby Wagner, who faced his longtime teammate and friend for the first time after spending a full decade together in Seattle.
Wagner also sacked Wilson during the first half, when the Rams improbably racked up 261 of their 388 yards before halftime and eventually scored on their first eight drives against Denver’s above-average defense, already matching their full-game season high in points with their 31-6 halftime lead.
Denver trailed 41-6 before Wilson hit Greg Dulcich for the Broncos’ only touchdown with 8:30 to play.
Akers continued his late-season surge by producing the Rams’ first 100-yard rushing game of the season, while Higbee led the passing attack with 94 yards receiving for an offense missing its top three wideouts due to injury.
The Rams led by double digits less than nine minutes in when Durant picked off Wilson’s second pass and Mayfield hit Higbee for a 9-yard TD three plays later. Higbee became the Rams’ career franchise leader in touchdown catches by a tight end with his 19th score.
Wagner then poached a pass from Wilson across the middle of the field and made a long return, and the Rams scored two snaps later on Akers’ 3-yard run. Los Angeles had scored just one touchdown off a takeaway all season long before doing it twice more in the first quarter.
The Rams’ 17-point first quarter was their highest-scoring opening period since Week 6 of McVay’s first season in 2017. They subsequently scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives for the first time in McVay’s tenure.
Higbee made his second TD catch early in the second quarter after a smooth 75-yard drive by the Rams’ long-struggling offense. Akers then punched it in again 1:06 before halftime for a 31-3 lead.
Ramsey picked off Wilson’s long heave to the end zone on Denver’s opening drive of the second half. The Rams’ pressure on Wilson improbably was led by Murchison, who signed with LA 13 days ago after Tennessee cut him.
INJURIES
Murchison left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. … Dulcich was ruled out with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Broncos: At Chiefs on Sunday.
Rams: “At” Chargers on Sunday.
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Set on 1.4 acres, the two-story home is draped in glass and white oak.
Berlyn Photography
Sean McVay is as much a superstar as the team he coached through this year’s Super Bowl win. At the age of just 36, having such success in the field is a record-breaking achievement. One of the NFL’s best coaches, McVay led the Los Angeles Rams out of 12 straight years of missing the postseason and pole-vaulted them to the 2022 Super Bowl championship. Soon after the win, he rewarded himself by buying a farmhouse-style home for a little over $14 million.
The open-concept kitchen is an obvious place to entertain.
Compass
Outdoor kitchen
Compass
Behind the guarded gates of celebrity-laden Hidden Hills in Los Angeles, the 9,000-square-foot home is on almost 1.5 acres in one of LA’s most celebrity-studded communities. Immediately struck by the feeling of space and light upon entering, the width and height of the grand contemporary foyer have sunlight cascading down from skylights with additional light from the front and back. This allows for light-toned white oak paneling and minimalist design details in the staircase and room.
Family room with a smooth matched-stone fireplace
Berlyn Photography
Home office
Berlyn Photography
The formal rooms are bright, sunny, white, airy and spacious, giving a man the size of a football player plenty of elbow room throughout. The kitchen has huge amounts of storage hidden by a seamless wall of cabinets and opens into a large family room with a smooth matched stone fireplace and views of the terrace, lawn, trees and rolling hills.
Formal dining room
Compass
Primary suite
Compass
Hosting overnight guests is not a problem considering there are six bedrooms, seven baths and a primary suite with dual walk-in closets, a fireplace, breakfast bar, soaking tub and a balcony. There is also space for a gym with a full bath and a home theater. For entertaining, there are dual wine walls and a bar. Outside is a built-in barbecue grill, infinity-edge pool, spa and a firepit.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay poses with the Vince Lombardi trophy during the Super Bowl … [+] LVI MVP press conference at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 14, 2022.
Getty Images
McVay isn’t the only member of the Los Angeles Rams who scored real estate deals after the Super Bowl, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com. Likely the safest place to store their big earnings, quarterback Matthew Stafford bought two homes from Canadian rapper Drake, along with several other team members who bought high-end LA homes.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Running back Cam Akers will not play for the Los Angeles Rams against Carolina on Sunday after missing two days of practice this week for what coach Sean McVay called personal reasons.
McVay would not give further details Friday when asked about Akers’ circumstances, though he did say the Rams’ leading rusher was not away from the team for the past two days because he was injured.
When asked whether Akers would be part of the Rams going forward, McVay replied: “We’re working through some different things right now, so hopefully you guys understand and respect that.”
McVay also said the team wanted to keep it “in-house,” later adding that the personal reasons cited for Akers’ absence are “more like we’re dealing with things internally. This is kind of uncharted territory. … He’s going to be OK.”
Akers practiced with the defending Super Bowl champions Wednesday, but wasn’t with the team Thursday or Friday.
“He’s good,” said running back Darrell Henderson, who is likely to get most of the Rams’ workload in Akers’ absence. “We trust that he’s going to be good. So he’ll be all right. We’re going to do this for him.”
Henderson claimed he doesn’t know much about the issues keeping Akers away from the Rams.
“That’s on Coach and Cam to talk,” Henderson said. “I don’t know what’s going on. … You all probably know more than I know. I just come in and go to work.”
But when asked if he thinks Akers will be back with the Rams this season, Henderson replied: “Oh yeah.”
Akers has rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown this season for the Rams, who have the NFL’s worst rushing offense at just 62.4 yards per game. Akers has been unproductive in the ground game by most statistical measures while running behind an offensive line missing three starters and two backups due to injury.
McVay publicly called for a better effort earlier this season from Akers, who responded with mild surprise and acceptance. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said Thursday that the Rams need more “creativity” from their running backs, particularly when obvious running lanes aren’t available.
Akers played in each of the Rams’ first five games this season, but is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry after gaining 33 yards on 13 attempts last week against Dallas. He has acknowledged he is still attempting to recover his peak explosiveness after tearing his Achilles tendon during preseason workouts last year.
Henderson didn’t get a carry against the Cowboys, but was used extensively as a receiver. He has only 138 yards rushing this season.
The Rams (2-3) have lost back-to-back games. Los Angeles’ bye is next week, and when asked if the Rams expect to be in the market for a running back over the break, McVay replied: “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say no, ever. We’ll always explore our options if there’s chances to upgrade. That’s probably not something that’s at the forefront.”
The Rams’ other active running backs Sunday are likely to be veteran Malcolm Brown and recent practice squad signee Ronnie Rivers.
Brown spent six seasons with the Rams from 2015-20, and he scored the first touchdown in SoFi Stadium history. After a one-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, he returned to LA last month.
Akers rushed for 625 yards as a rookie out of Florida State in 2020 after the Rams selected him with their highest pick in any of the past five drafts. He recovered remarkably quickly from the Achilles injury to rejoin Los Angeles for the regular-season finale and its playoff run to a championship.
According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Akers has minus-0.98 rush yards over expected per attempt this season, which is the second-worst performance in the league. He has just 86 yards after contact and has broken only one tackle all season.
NOTES: LG David Edwards will visit with concussion specialists in Pittsburgh, McVay said. Edwards is on injured reserve after returning last Sunday from a one-week absence with an apparent concussion, only to take another hit to the head against the Cowboys. … WR Cooper Kupp, DT Aaron Donald and TE Tyler Higbee are all expected to play Sunday despite being questionable with minor injuries. Rookie DB Cobie Durant (hamstring) and backup QB John Wolford (neck) are also questionable.
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Credit: Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
