It has been a rather busy week in the NFL. Training camp for the team has begun and the first preseason game of the season has been played. Football season is right around the corner and the defending champs, the Los Angeles Rams, have been in the tabloids this past week. Let’s get into some LA Rams news.
Rams News: Matthew Stafford Dealing With An Elbow Injury
The news came out that Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford, had abnormal tendonitis in his throwing elbow. This surprised and concerned many people. While there isn’t much information on the subject, there are a few things we do know.
Stafford is tending to it, as it seems to be similar to what baseball pitchers go through. The severity of Stafford’s case hasn’t been disclosed, but it is enough to raise concern for Rams head coach Sean McVay.
This isn’t great news, as it does seem like this will be ongoing. Backup quarterbacks John Wolford and Bryce Perkins are listed under Stafford on the depth chart. Matthew Stafford won’t be throwing nearly as much as he has in previous years. Meaning the two will have ample time to get reps in and familiarity with the offense. The Rams will be monitoring the situation.
Rams News: Van Jefferson Underwent Minor Knee Surgery
Rams’ third-year wide receiver, Van Jefferson, went under the knife Tuesday. The surgery was to get his knee right before the season. Jefferson had already undergone surgery this offseason on this knee. This surgery will be on a different area of the same knee. His status for week one is TBD, but he shouldn’t miss any significant time. Jefferson caught 50 passes for 802 yards last season. He will look to continue to trend upwards. If Odell Beckham Jr doesn’t sign back, he will have a very good chance of doing so.
McVay Mentions OBJ Once More
Rams head coach, Sean McVay, name-dropped free agent wideout in a press conference this past week. There is a theory floating around that the Rams are waiting until the season starts to sign Odell Beckham Jr so the contract isn’t fully guaranteed. This makes sense for the Rams, doing so would allow them to sign OBJ and potentially make another move before the deadline. Though he is coming off of another torn ACL, Odell could find himself in an important role come December. McVay isn’t the only Ram to mention Odell Beckham Jr.
Cooper Kupp Leaves Himself Out Of His Top 5 WRs
Ahhh, Cooper Kupp. He’s just about the humblest player in the NFL. Though he just had a historic season in 2021, he fails to make his own list. This is after Chase Claypool threw himself up there with the best in the league. Jamarr Chase just told the media he taught Justin Jefferson everything he knows. The point is wide receivers are typically very outspoken. Kupp takes a different approach. He is the definition of team-oriented and he has been throughout his whole career. Making it easier for his QB to share the love and hit multiple different targets without conflict. Another triple crown may be a bit far-fetched, but he should continue to put up steady production.
On the flip side, Vikings wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, said “Coop is good, but I’ll say he’s behind me”. Kupp responded by saying, “I respect his opinion and I can also disagree respectfully”. This pretty clearly indicates that Kupp thinks (knows) he is in the top 5 conversation. Who is your top 5?
Allen Robinson Continues To Impress
The Rams signed Allen Robinson during the free agency period. Since then, there has been a lot of momentum on Robinson having a breakout season. He had some success in Jacksonville and then struggled in Chicago. Neither place has had a premier offense in some time. Now, he has joined the defending champs. And he is turning heads right away.
His jump-ball skills make him a great pair with Stafford. He will likely be the Rams’ go-to guy in the red zone. Teams will have to single up either Robinson or Kupp, creating a nasty duo. Robert Woods was great for the Rams but was too similar to Cooper Kupp. The Rams replaced Woods with a different kind of wideout, one that excels at going up and grabbing the ball over defenders.
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