Bucky Brooks@BuckyBrooks
Every NFL coach, scout or personnel executive that I’ve worked with loves multi-sport players. Other sports build skills that translate well to the football field. Whether it is wrestling (strength, power and leverage), basketball (hand-eye coordination, agility and footwork), baseball (hand-eye coordination, ball skills and tracking) and track (speed, explosiveness, strength and power), a player benefits immensely from participation. That doesn’t include the competitiveness and/or toughness (mental and physical) that’s also revealed when playing other sports.

"They do a lot of things lousy franchises do. And they did it again last night."@colincowherd reacts to the Eagles undisciplined performance in the win over the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/28ipJqfIQK

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 5, 2025

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Texans WR Christian Kirk has a strained hamstring that is expected to sideline him for at least Sunday’s opener vs. the Rams and possibly longer, per sources. One source estimated it to be a two-week injury for Kirk, but the Texans will be “cautious” with him.

…

from https://ramblinfan.com/things-just-got-tougher-for-c-j-stroud-week-1-face-off-with-rams-christian-kirk-texans-01k4b67rbp3d

On Thursday, it was reported that veteran receiver Christian Kirk is expected to be sidelined for the Texans on Sunday with a strained hamstring. That means Stroud and the Houston offense will be coming to Los Angeles without one of the team’s top pass catchers.

Unfortunately for Houston, this is just the latest of numerous injuries to important offensive playmakers. At the end of training camp, the Texans made the decision to place running back Joe Mixon on the reserve/non-football injury list, sidelining him for at least the first four weeks of the season. That means he won’t be available to help out on Sunday either. The same goes for [WR] Tank Dell, who is still recovering from a late-season knee injury.

In addition to the health concerns, Houston has a revamped offensive line that it is desperately hoping is better than last season’s line. The new group will be put right to the test, because the Rams have a deep, young defensive line group that is relentless in getting after quarterbacks. If this line has any weaknesses, Los Angeles’ defensive linemen will exploit them, and C.J. Stroud will pay.

Brock Vierra@BrockVierra
Per Sean McVay: Ahkello Witherspoon is okay and expected to play on Sunday

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay said he doesn’t expect Ahkello Witherspoon’s knee injury that popped up on yesterday’s injury report to affect his availability for Sunday vs. Texans. Ahkello not practicing yesterday was just team taking cautious approach

They cover the Rams at 14:05 in.

nittany ram wrote:

True.

Nittany. Check messages in twitter.

Brock Vierra@BrockVierra
It’s been a pleasure to watch what this team has talked about wanting to accomplish in OTAs come to fruition. This is a strong football product and I think Rams fans aren’t prepared for what this team rolls out on Sunday. Great times.

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Why Rams Appear Game Ready After Thursday’s Practice
The Los Angeles Rams continued their work as they finalize their plans for the NFL’s opening weekend

Brock Vierra

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-steve-avila-alaric-jackson-jared-verse-houston-texans

WOODLAND HILLS, Ca. The Los Angeles Rams got back after it on Thursday, finalizing their plans before Sunday’s game against the Texans. Here is what you need to know.

Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford made it clear on Thursday, if the Texans fail to get adequate pressure on him, they’re toast. The man was throwing dimes against air. Obviously, one would expect an NFL quarterback to do that but I’m talking elite consistency. Hitting receivers in the hands, in stride, where a defender would be unable to make a play, 30+ yards downfield if not more.

A connection that really intrigued me was Stafford to Konata Mumpfield. We don’t know what Mumpfield’s usage looks like but his feet are ballerina smooth and he possesses a game-changing ability to change direction on a dime.

The Offensive Line

Alaric Jackson was back and he looked solid. I like where his pad level is at and his kick step looks as good as always. However, it was Steve Avila who shined. I think he has taken that third year stride and his ability to advance to the second level could pave the path to the Lombardi.

Jared Verse

Jared Verse put in another solid day of work and after a deeper dive into his sessions, it’s clear his game-changing ability to bend the corner has taken on a new level with more explosive movements coming out of his turn.

His ability to limit the space means that C.J. Stroud will not get a back door or side lane to escape out of without exposing himself to other defenders. His only move is up and that’s with the interior defensive line coming down on him.

Sean McVay

Sean McVay was all smiles on Tuesday, even involving himself in drills as a defensive back. While his backpedal did enough to satisfy the needs of the exercise, we probably won’t see him on the field anytime soon. However, it’s clear that with such a direct involvement in preparations, he must toe the line of fun and function.

He does that beautifully. After talking to coaches and players, if there’s one thing this organization does better than the NFL, it’s establishing comradery. It’s a hard thing to do at this level and it takes respect, patience, and high character to achieve. It’s a good thing everyone in this building has those traits.

1st & Tuna@1standtuna
Texans defense will be a tougher test for McVay than I think people are talking about.

Demeco Ryans’ defense in SF gave McVay fits in ‘21-22, he knows the Shanny/McVay tree very well, and has the personnel to completely ruin schemes.

Tough test for McVay, but he’ll win tho!

Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Texans issue will be their tackles … and not having 1-2 punch at RB … but Rams should win, guessing 24-17 — something like that. Houston has good defense…Rams won’t run up score on them.

But I don’t think Texans offense will move ball with ease.

from The Athletic, NFL execs rank NFC teams: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6592419/2025/09/03/nfc-rankings-eagles-packers-cowboys-lions-executives/

5. Los Angeles Rams
Votes: 6-9-6-10-6-3-5-8 | Avg: 6.6 | Median: 6 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-5th)

The wide distribution of votes for the Rams (third to 10th) reflects uncertainty over quarterback Matthew Stafford’s ability to make it through a full season with back problems at age 37.

“I trust Stafford’s back more than (Brandon) Aiyuk’s knee,” an exec ranking the Rams sixth said, explaining one reason why he had the Rams over Aiyuk’s San Francisco 49ers.

An AFC exec was the voter highest on the Rams, ranking them third, contingent on Stafford being healthy.

“That defense is very impressive,” this exec said. “They have a lot of youth. They get after guys. They challenge your offense. They force the issue. They’ll create turnovers. They have a good athletic front four. And then, unlike the Giants, they have complementary play from their secondary. Then you add Davante Adams to a quarterback like Matt Stafford, and a coordinator/head coach that they have (Sean McVay), with two really good running backs, and that makes it very interesting.”

wv wrote:

Mina: “…rams secondary is not good…”

If the front 7 holds up, and there;s obvious reasons to believe they will, then the secondary is good enough. This is the first time Witherspoon has been through a camp with them. The secondary is not flashy shutdown guys, it’s heady veteran zone guys who also know how to play disguised coverages. The strength of the secondary is with the safeties, who all play multiple roles, which allows them to field multiple defensive fronts.

IMO she’s overstating, based on some concept she has of an ideal coverage secondary. This secondary doesn’t have to be that. As is, like I said, it’s good enough. ‘

But then we hear noise like this–Verse says he realizes now that he has the time when pass rushing to use more elaborate moves which might take a second longer, because he trusts the secondary to give him that time. This was said, I think, as him indicating a contrast with last year.

It may not be as good as I claim–we’ll see– but then I really doubt it’s as bad as she claims.

from Brock Vierra [S.I.], mailbag: https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-sean-mcvay-von-miller-jalen-ramsey-matthew-stafford-alaric-jackson

Hey Brock! What is your level of confidence, compared to other seasons, that the team will be able to adjust to injuries at certain positions? Also what do you feel are the greatest strengths and weaknesses of the team so far?

Very confident. Looking back at last season, the Rams’ pursuit of a title was almost derailed week one with injuries to the wide receiver and offensive line rooms. The Rams in response have kept six receivers, four tight ends, and ten offensive linemen on their roster. Unlike last season where the center position was just a revolving door of odd events, the Rams have stability with Coleman Shelton.’

The strengths are the defense’s dominance at the line of scrimmage, the versatile passing offense, and the depth of the roster.

The weaknesses are secondary depth, the lack of a one-hitter type of running back, and a true lockdown corner.

Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP
My NFL power rankings heading into Week 1:

1. Rams
2. Don’t care

from The Athletic, NFL Hope-O-Meter 2025 results: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6589330/2025/09/03/nfl-fan-predictions-rankings-hope-meter-2025/?campaign=14831386&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=603890

7. Los Angeles Rams: 93.3 percent optimism

Pessimist: Even before Matthew Stafford’s back started flaring — and I’ve no doubt he’ll play through it, for good and ill — this felt like a year we’d take a step back. We’ve been a team coached up, our flaws wallpapered over by misdirection and over-performance. Then again, we have good coaches and that’s what they do. I thought the same going into last year. Maybe this is our year, after all.

Optimist: If they can keep Matt Stafford upright, they’ve got a decent chance of making noise. Nobody played the Eagles tougher down the stretch last season.

Optimist: The Rams’ defensive front should only improve. Having Puka Nacua and Davante Adams for Stafford to throw to along with Kyren Williams should mean the Rams are in every game. Coach Sean McVay is one of the best in his profession.

Optimist: Despite the concern about Stafford’s health, which is a big factor, I like the rest of the team and I have a lot of faith in McVay. I think they’ll be a solid contender.