Tag: Rams

Dec 4, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks on the field prior a game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Rams QB Matthew Stafford ‘ready to roll’ for OTAs, minicamp

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy and “ready to roll” this offseason.

Stafford, 35, will not be limited after having his 2022 season cut short by a spinal cord contusion and concussion symptoms.

“He’s doing real well. I think it’s been — and he’d be better equipped to answer this — but I think it’s been a long time since he’s been healthy through an offseason, where he’s been able to throw,” McVay said from Phoenix, site of the NFL owners meetings.

“I think last year there was such a unique combination and collaboration of things that prevented him from being able to play the way that he’s capable of — whether it was the things that he dealt with, some of the surrounding parts, missing a lot of time leading up into the season with some of the injuries and different things that he was working through.”

Stafford was limited during the 2022 offseason after coming off a non-surgical procedure to alleviated elbow pain that hampered him during the 2021 campaign. He didn’t throw at all until training camp and even then, he was limited.

Stafford missed the final seven games of last season after being diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion in addition to a concussion. Stafford sustained a neck injury in Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints after clearing protocol from a previous concussion.

The Rams picked up 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary for Stafford in March, giving the quarterback $62 million guaranteed.

The Rams begin OTAs in May.

He passed for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games last season. He has thrown for 52,082 yards and 333 touchdowns in 191 games in his 14-year career with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback David Long Jr. (22) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders sign CB David Long Jr.

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The Las Vegas Raiders signed free agent cornerback David Long Jr. to a contract on Wednesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, however TheScore.com reported it was a one-year contract.

Long, 25, had 21 tackles in 12 games (four starts) with the Los Angeles Rams last season.

He has totaled 77 tackles and one interception in 52 games (10 starts) since being selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles native also had 12 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown in four playoff games with the Rams.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) returns an interception against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Dolphins to acquire CB Jalen Ramsey from Rams

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The Miami Dolphins have agreed to acquire All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Los Angeles Rams, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.

Per ESPN, the Rams will acquire the Dolphins’ third-round pick (No. 77 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as tight end Hunter Long. The trade cannot become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.

“I prayed for this specifically for about a month & now it’s happening!” Ramsey wrote Sunday on Twitter while tagging the Dolphins.

A six-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro, Ramsey was acquired by the Rams from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 16, 2019 in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2020 and 2021 NFL Drafts and a fourth-round selection in 2021.

Ramsey, 28, has three seasons remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract he signed prior to the 2020 season. He has a $17 million base salary for 2023, however the trade will save the Rams $5.6 million in cap space this year.

The former fifth overall selection in the 2016 draft had 88 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 17 games (all starts) with the Rams last season. Los Angeles did not make the playoffs last season, although Ramsey helped them to a Super Bowl title the previous season.

Ramsey has 452 tackles, 19 interceptions and six forced fumbles in 108 career games (107 starts) with the Jaguars and Rams since he arrived into the NFL out of Florida State.

Long, 24, had one reception for eight yards in seven games (two starts) in 2021. He did not record a catch in nine games in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) during the second half of an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Leonard Floyd, Allen Robinson set to leave Rams

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The Los Angeles Rams are expected to release edge rusher Leonard Floyd and green-lighted wide receiver Allen Robinson’s efforts to find a trade partner, according to reports by ESPN and NFL Network on Monday.

The Rams will try to trade Floyd first, but his contract – including a $22 million cap hit in 2023 – stands as a serious hurdle. The Rams will save $3 million in cap space with a pre-June 1 release.

Floyd, 30, has 29 sacks in three seasons for the Rams, starting every game. He has 47.5 career sacks in 104 starts with the Rams and Chicago Bears (2016-19), who selected Floyd No. 9 overall in the 2016 draft.

The Rams are willing to pay a portion of Robinson’s $15.25 million guaranteed salary to help facilitate a trade, NFL Network reported.

The Rams signed Robinson to a three-year, $46.5 million contract in March 2022. He responded with 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, playing in just 10 games.

The Rams are parting ways with Bobby Wagner and weighing trading Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner (45) in the second half against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rams, LB Bobby Wagner agree to part ways

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The Los Angeles Rams and veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to part ways Thursday after just one season, ESPN reported.

The mutual parting comes after Wagner signed a five-year, $50 million deal Wagner signed with the Rams last spring. Los Angeles was looking to clear salary cap space.

Wagner, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, turns 33 in June.

Wagner recorded 140 tackles and a career-best six sacks in 17 games for Los Angeles in 2022. He also intercepted two passes.

Wagner spent his first 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and developed into a big-play captain despite being just a second-round draft pick out of Utah State in 2012.

He flourished as part of the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle, leading the league in tackles in 2016 and 2019. Wagner has topped 100 tackles in all 11 of his NFL seasons.

In his career, Wagner owns 1,523 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 13 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns in 168 games (167 starts).

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rams hiring Chase Blackburn as ST coordinator

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The Los Angeles Rams are hiring Chase Blackburn as their special teams coordinator, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Blackburn, 39, will take the position previously held by Joe DeCamillis, who was fired in January.

Blackburn spent last season as the Tennessee Titans’ assistant special teams coach. The former NFL linebacker previously worked six seasons with the Carolina Panthers, with the last four from 2018-21 as the club’s special teams coordinator.

A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants, Blackburn recorded 372 tackles, 4.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 132 career games with New York and Carolina.

The Rams went 5-12 in 2022, with a six-game losing streak at midseason all but ruining their chances of repeating as champions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jimmy Lake watches pregame warmups against the UCLA Bruins at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rams hire ex-college head coach Jimmy Lake

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The Los Angeles Rams have hired former Washington Huskies head coach Jimmy Lake for an undetermined role on Sean McVay’s staff, NFL Network reported Thursday.

Lake, 46, who has a history of coaching defense, would likely help coach the Rams’ defensive backs with the departure of Jonathan Cooley to the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday.

Lake was fired after 13 games as Huskies head coach after he pushed and struck one of his own players, Ruperake Fuavai, while trying to break up a sideline scrum. He finished with a 7-6 record from 2020-21.

Lake was an assistant DBs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions from 2006-11. He was also the assistant defensive coordinator at Washington from 2016-19.

–Field Level Media

Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on the sidelines in the second half as the New England Patriots defeated the NY Jets 25-6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on September 19, 2021. The New England Patriots Came To Play The Ny Jets At Metlife Stadium In East Rutherford Nj On September 19 2021

Report: Rams to name Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator

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The Los Angeles Rams are hiring former New York Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to the same position, NFL Network reported Friday.

LaFleur effectively replaces Liam Coen, who returned to Kentucky as that school’s offensive coordinator.

LaFleur spent the last two seasons with the Jets after previously serving as the San Francisco 49ers’ passing game coordinator from 2017-20. He also worked as an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015-16 and as an offensive intern with the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

It is not immediately known if LaFleur will be calling the offensive plays for the Rams. Head coach Sean McVay has done that since being hired by the team in 2017.

LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator in McVay’s first year with the Rams.

The Rams went 5-12 in 2022, with a six-game losing streak at midseason all but ruining their chances of repeating as champions. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was limited to nine games due to a concussion and later a spinal cord contusion.

–Field Level Media

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Rams reset coaching staff with numerous assistants out

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The Los Angeles Rams, who went from winning the Super Bowl following the 2021 season to missing the playoffs this season, are making major changes in their coaching staff.

According to multiple media reports on Wednesday, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and defensive backs coach Jonathan Cooley were all fired. ESPN and The Athletic added that assistant defensive line coach Skyler Jones and defensive assistant Lance Schulters are out, too.

Outside linebackers coach Thad Bogardus, whose contract expired following the 2022 season, won’t be retained, according to The Athletic.

Those six reported departures follow two others. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen exited to take the same position at Kentucky, and running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples left the staff in-season to become the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Arizona State.

Rams head coach Sean McVay remains on the job.

McVay said Friday, “I don’t want to run away from adversity. I want to run through it.”

The Rams went 5-12 in 2022, with a six-game losing streak at midseason all but ruining their chances of repeating as champions. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was limited to nine games due to a concussion and later a spinal cord contusion.

When backup quarterback John Wolford also was sidelined due to a neck injury, the Rams claimed Baker Mayfield off waivers from the Carolina Panthers, and the former Heisman Trophy winner went 1-3 as Los Angeles’ starter to close the season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) makes a throw in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rams to pick up QB Matthew Stafford’s 2023 option

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The Los Angeles Rams are expected to pick up the 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary for Matthew Stafford in March, giving the quarterback $62 million in guaranteed cash, ESPN reported Saturday.

The move would come by March 19, the day the guarantees kick in. Before the 2022 season, the Rams signed him to a four-year, $160 million contract extension through 2026.

Acquired by the Rams from the Detroit Lions before the 2021 season, Stafford led Los Angeles to its first-ever Super Bowl victory. But 2022 was another story.

Stafford, who will turn 35 next month, is coming off his 14th NFL season, which ended prematurely with a season-ending injury.

Stafford was diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion in addition to a concussion, but it isn’t expected to be a long-term problem. He missed the final seven games of the season for the Rams, who finished 5-12 amid injures to the team’s biggest stars — Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Stafford sustained a neck injury in Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints after clearing protocol from a previous concussion.

He passed for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2022. He has thrown for 52,082 yards and 333 touchdowns in 191 games in his 14-year career with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams.

–Field Level Media