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znModeratorPhiladelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio took a couple of shots at Dr. Anthony Fauci
Another reason to beat the Eagles this year.
znModeratorNo. 3 wide receiver
This is one of the most important position battles because of A) how wide open it is and B) how crucial the WR3 spot is in Los Angeles’ offense. Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield and CJ Daniels are the primary competitors in this competition, but it’s possible all four will contribute at some point this season.
As of now, it appears Whittington is leading the race because of how experienced and versatile he is, but Daniels is making noise in practice and drawing attention from fans and coaches. McVay called him a “mature rookie” once again and said he’s excited to watch Daniels in the preseason.
znModeratorznModeratorPuka Nacua is again the star of Rams camp. Now, can he earn their trust?
Nate Atkins
LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford dropped back, faked a handoff, turned back around and went looking for Puka Nacua again.
He found him down the left sideline, with a touch of separation on new Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson. So the reigning MVP lofted a deep ball that whipped through the sun-drenched sky and ocean breeze of the Loyola Marymount University practice field, each rotation of the ball causing the crowd to rise in anticipation a little more. And there was Nacua, gliding underneath the pass and taking it to the end zone to a roar of cheers.
This is the Nacua the Rams have known and loved for three seasons now, but it also felt a little new. He was gliding faster downfield than he has before.
In a blue Rams practice jersey, he looked a little closer to a traditional vertical outside receiver than the rugged across-the-middle force he’s proven to be at such an unstoppable level.
Except that guy is in there, too.
Nacua has become the star of Rams camp through the first four practices. He’s by far the leading receiver in volume of catches, as he was last season as the NFL’s leader in receptions.
However, he’s also been the leader in explosive plays. Some of that is due to the lack of full pads, which removes the defense’s advantage, but it’s also lived in his separation and movement across the middle with the ball in his hands.
And those hands are still working — both of them, as he proved by hauling in a one-handed catch on a slant route before taking it to the end zone in one practice, earning a point and high five from coach Sean McVay.
“I think I’m still working on it,” Nacua said of his game shape, which he helped build in workouts with former Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp this offseason. “I would say my eating habits definitely have changed. I might say I still dabble in some McDonald’s every once in a while, but it’s not as common as it used to be.
“I’m trying to watch where I’m at and make sure that I can continue to put my foot in the ground when I need to.”
As exciting as it is to watch a fourth-year superstar chase another athletic gear, this is only secondary to the transformation the Rams are looking for from their go-to receiver.
The first set roots in a holistic care facility this spring, right in the heat of the drama and building noise. Nacua was facing a lawsuit and a potential suspension from the NFL, and he was searching for himself.
He’d just finished his most prolific season by leading the league with 129 catches and 107.2 receiving yards per game while going toe-to-toe with Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba for NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba won that award and cashed in with a four-year, $168.6 million contract. Meanwhile, Nacua searched for a way to save himself from himself.
The events had piled up quickly in the second half of the 2025 season: There was the livestream incident where he attempted to sneak streamers into a practice during the biggest week of the regular season, then acted out a dance with antisemitic undertones and released an apology, then doubled down on criticism of NFL officiating with a postgame tweet that cost him a $25,000 fine.
A few weeks later, he allegedly bit a woman while intoxicated on New Year’s Eve, leading to a lawsuit he’s battling.
The Rams made it clear to Nacua then: They love his play and his soul, but they don’t condone his actions. Becoming the face of a franchise soon entering a post-Stafford world would require more than broken tackles and touchdown dances. It meant squaring a prolific player with some troubled moments that were starting to define his personality.
It’s a critical job, especially since Davante Adams won’t be around as he ages out of his contract. Young quarterback Ty Simpson will need a veteran rock to rely on soon. It’s all there for Nacua, if he can reach out and grab it.
Nacua isn’t the only Rams player trying to earn an extension right now. He joins defensive tackle Kobie Turner, guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, and outside linebacker Byron Young. So many of them want to stay, but opportunities have become fewer as the team has made blockbuster trades for two of the league’s highest-paid players: All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. In some ways, the chase for contract extensions has become a game of musical chairs.
None of them are as established, as young or as valuable in a premium position as Nacua. His case to the team is inherently different from all of theirs: It isn’t about the play. It’s about making the play feel sustainable, free of costs and burdens.
And so this offseason, Nacua got real with himself and his inner circle. He made a promise to his mother. He took harsh criticism from his brothers. He whittled the circle down, so small at times that it’s him and a team therapist talking, months and emotional stratospheres away from the livestream.
Through four camp practices, Nacua has shown how much the game means to him. He’s not only practicing rather than holding out as stars of his caliber sometimes will, but he’s leading the offense in ways no other skill player can for a team with Super Bowl expectations.
“The game of football is a safe place for me,” Nacua said. “… It never crossed my mind that I don’t want to be out here with these guys.”
The moments have to stack right now. It’s not a running count of catches, scores or accolades that will land Nacua the contract in the Smith-Njigba neighborhood that his play says he deserves. It’ll be a combination of that elite play with a pattern of stable behavior to erase the memories of those times he veered off course.
“You know how much I love him and the heart that he has,” McVay said. “I’ve been really proud of what he’s been doing and how he’s taken accountability for some of the things that we can learn from. I want to just be able to see him continue to be that positive influence, both on the field and off the field. He’s taken those steps, and I am hopeful that we’ll be together for a really long time.
“I don’t know that I can really say this timeline or stuff like that because I don’t think you want to dangle a carrot that way. I think he’s inspired to do right because his heart is right. I think the contract and things like that will take care of itself.”
There is work to be done. Nacua has the lawsuit to resolve, and he might need a payday beyond his fifth-round rookie contract to do so. He and the Rams are waiting to see whether he’ll face discipline from the league under its personal conduct policy, which identifies harmful treatment of women as a factor for review and does not have to wait for or rely on any criminal or civil proceedings to issue a ruling.
Nacua can’t undo the past, but he can learn and grow from it. After all, for what he’s accomplished — like holding the highest average of receiving yards per game (95.3) in NFL history — he is still only 25. He’s learning what it takes to be a Gen-Z superstar in an attention-demanding world for a franchise that requires something more calculated than a livestream.
All of that begins with a promise — to his team, his mother and himself — to make moments like the deep touchdown in practice the ones fans associate with the name Puka Nacua.
“I think continuing some of the things that I was able to establish into my routine, trusting and enclosing my circle of trust, and allowing the people that I feel like have the inside parts of my life to continue to communicate and trust the people who are around me,” Nacua said.
“There have been things that obviously have happened this offseason that haven’t been the truest reflection of the person I feel like I am and how my mother raised me.”
As he exited the practice field Wednesday, the crescendo returned. One by one, the children lining the fences by the stands in Rams jerseys started to shout over each other to grab his attention: “Puuuuka!”
They’re watching his every move. Everyone around the team is these days.
znModeratorFrom The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Rams WR Puka Nacua is focused on improving off the field, which is one reason why a contract extension is more likely to be a discussion for next offseason — not this training camp. pic.twitter.com/yBAuW2rsLo
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 29, 2026
…
…NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that the Rams and Nacua are unlikely to get a deal done before the regular season begins and that it’s more probable that Nacua and the team will amp up talks next offseason. The reason is that the Rams want to see improvement from Nacua in his personal behavior.
“The Los Angeles Rams, really what they want to see from Puka Nacua is that he is in a better place this year than he was at any point last year,” said Rapoport. “Not even talking about on the field. On the field, he is a superstar. He’s one of the best, if not the best receiver in the NFL and certainly, just based on his play, deserves a huge contract.
“That’s not really what this is about. This is about off the field. This is about him personally, and Puka Nacua mentioned some of it. His work with a therapist, going to rehab, taking accountability for some of the actions that he very well did last year in very public manner. That really is what the Rams want to see, and that is why my understanding of the situation.
“(I) do not expect a Puka Nacua contract extension before the season. Do not. He has one more year left on his deal. The Rams have spent a lot of money in a lot of different places on a lot of different players. I expect that to sort of be the focus this year, and we will see after this year if he ends up getting tagged or a new extension and deal from the Rams.”
znModeratorPARAM
I really like what DraftBuzz had to say about CJ Daniels leading up to the draft: https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/CJ-Daniels-WR-Liberty#google_vignette
It might be if you listed the skills that McVay looks for in a WR, Daniels would have most of them. He sounds like a Ram WR.
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
When Davante Adams first joined the Rams last year, he described the camaraderie amongst teammates as a college-like atmosphere. I asked Myles Garrett today if he sees it the same way:“It is kind of like that. You hope to have those relationships like you had in college. You had a lot of people coming from a lot of different places for the first time. The culture was set by the head coach and it feels like that now with (head Coach) Sean (McVay). He’s so passionate about the game. He’s so involved in everything from offense, defense to special teams. That kind of thing is infectious. It just feels natural to want to be around the guys and get to know each other because he is that same way.”
znModeratorWarren Sharp@SharpFootball
Seahawks vs Rams aggregate score last 2 years138 points – Seahawks
136 points – Ramsgame scores of:
38-37 (OT)
26-20 (OT)
21-19
31-27
30-25every game decided by 6 or fewer points
best rivalry going in the NFL
znModerator10 Observations from Day 4 of 2026 Rams Training Camp: Practice absence updates; working in situational football; wide receiver core shining
by Stu Jackson & Zach Edwards
LOS ANGELES – The Rams held their fourth and final practice of the first block of training camp on Wednesday. After practice, head coach Sean McVay gave updates on a couple players not participating on Day 4. Wide receivers Puka Nacua and CJ Daniels continued to impress and Jordan Whittington also displayed a solid showing as quarterback Matthew Stafford led the first-team offense and quarterback Stetson Bennett IV continued to lead most of the second-team offense reps. While Stafford remained sharp as he was on Monday, the defense still had some noteworthy moments led the outside linebackers, inside linebacker Nate Landman and cornerback Jaylen Watson.
Senior staff writer Stu Jackson spent the afternoon watching the defense, while staff writer Zach Edwards watched the offense. Here are 10 things that stood out:
Updates on offensive linemen Alaric Jackson and Justin Dedich not participating in practice on Wednesday: Following practice, McVay provided an update on Jackson and Dedich not practicing. “It was nothing to do with fireworks or anything like that with his hand,” McVay said about Dedich. “We’re expecting him to be back in a little bit of time, but it wasn’t anything like that, it was a true accident where something fell on his hand, and so it’s kind of a blunt trauma injury.” As for Jackson, he was “just taking his medicine for some of the stuff with blood clots, so just managing that like what we’ve always been able to do, and this was just part of kind of just how the block situated,” McVay said. “He’s in good shape. It was exclusively just managing, you know, the medicine for the situation he’s dealt with.”
Wide receivers Puka Nacua and CJ Daniels continue to impress, Jordan Whittington nice series as well: After a strong practice on Day 2, Nacua and Daniels both continued to shine with their respective offenses on Day 4. Although Nacua didn’t have the same caliber highlight plays, quarterback Matthew Stafford found him all over the field. Whittington also made a three-play series of catches along the left sideline, the final was a leaping grab over a defender that brought applause from the training camp crowd.
Second-team offensive quarterback reps still led by Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson getting some: Through two practices with Stafford leading the first-team offense, Bennett has taken the majority of the snaps with the second-team, and Simpson has had his fair share as well. “I’ve been really pleased with Stetson Bennett through this first block,” McVay said. “He’s playing the position at a high level. Ty hasn’t gotten quite as many reps, but he’s really improved a lot from the spring until now.”
Two running backs capitalize on drives with receiving touchdowns: It was Déjà vu. Running back Kyren Williams scored on a reception across the middle with the first-team offense. On the ensuing drive with the second-team offense, running back Ronnie Rivers scored in a near identical way. Early on, the running back room has shown their ability to get involved in the pass game, and these two touchdowns were emblematic of that.
Offense in the early phase of implementing situational football: Wednesday was the first practice the Rams implemented some two-minute drill and other situations. It’s something McVay is looking to implement more as training camp moves along. “Today was the first day that we added two-minute,” McVay said. “It’s hard to call sacks, things like that. But I think the overall operation has been pretty good. … We try to be able to just incrementally introduce those types of things so that we, as coaches and players, can think alike in these situations.”
Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart’s speed off the edge stands out: Both outside linebackers were already known for being fast, so while it’s not a new revelation, it is worth nothing because of how they will be able to use that to their advantage when Myles Garrett draws attention and creates 1-on-1 matchups for the rest of the defensive front.
Nate Landman’s signature turnover creator makes an appearance: The inside linebacker punched the football out of Nacua’s grasp as he caught it and turned upfield to cause the incompletion.
A near-interception for cornerback Jaylen Watson: Defending Davante Adams, Watson almost came down with an impressive pick near the sideline, but the closest official ruled it incomplete. (Presumably he had only one feet inbounds instead of two, but was hard to tell from my vantage point.)
Sometimes there’s nothing more you can do: Landman leapt and reached his right arm high to try to deflect a Stafford pass, but Stafford placed the ball just high enough to be inches above Landman’s fingertips to fit into the window for a completion to Nacua.
Defensive end Desjuan Johnson applying pressure: Johnson also deserves a mention for the pressure he generated off the edge on one play that caused a Bennett incompletion. This is a deep and experienced defensive front, and that moment from Johnson reinforces it.
znModeratorNFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
Offensive 3 and out punt rate in 2025…Best
1. Cowboys – 13.0%
2. Panthers – 15.2%
3. 49ers – 15.3%
4. Rams – 15.5%
5. Falcons – 16.4%Those are offenses that stay on the field. Glad the Rams are one, but…during the regular season the Rams played 4 games against 3 teams on that list, and went 1-3 in those games.
Defense. I wonder if the Rams thought about improving their defense. It could make a big difference.
…
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
Spent today primarily watching the defense. Kept writing down the speed off the edge from Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart when each was in.The whole defensive front will benefit from the attention Myles Garrett draws, obviously, but that combined with 1-on-1 matchups for BY and Stewart and their speed will be fun to watch
znModeratorNFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
Offensive 3 and out punt rate in 2025…Best
1. Cowboys – 13.0%
2. Panthers – 15.2%
3. 49ers – 15.3%
4. Rams – 15.5%
5. Falcons – 16.4%znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Alaric Jackson took the day off to manage his medicine with his blood clots issue. Just preventative.Justin Dedich’s hand injury wasn’t related to fireworks, Sean McVay said. Something fell on his hand. It’s in a wrap now.
Greg Beacham@gregbeacham
Rams LT Alaric Jackson wasn’t at practice today because he’s taking the medication for his blood clots, Sean McVay says. The timing and pacing of the meds are all part of the team’s plan, the coach says.znModeratorStetson Bennett to CJ Daniels!! #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/2IM05KC2Oi
— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 29, 2026
znModeratorSpotlighting the “Blond Bull” on his Birthday
The late Les Josephson was a key piece of the Rams backfield for a decade between 1964-74
The undrafted runner played in 129 games with 65 starts. A sure handed runner for his time and a pro bowler in 1967
Josephson Vs Dallas 1967 pic.twitter.com/PKvxElVIBU
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) July 29, 2026
znModeratorMatthew Stafford just threw a beautiful no look pass to Davante Adams😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/RN3g2tL3T9
— Ethan Shirazi (@Ethanshirazi24) July 29, 2026
znModerator.@RamsNFL @BradenFiske_ @TurnerKobie you drill dril drill on your techniques until they become habits and when it pays off in a game…well there is no better feeling!!! @AlPoodie #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/KgTbePRsra
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 29, 2026
znModeratorScott Covington. Martz benched him in 2002 after just 5 attempts. He was sacked twice and completed 2 for 7 yards.
Brock Berlin made it through a whole game in 2007. Though, with a qb rating of 60.6.
You’ve always been a Berlin-sniffer. Brock Sterling Berlin was CUT by the Hamburg Sea Devils.
Covington, who, for three years, was third string behind Akili Smith and Scott Mitchell in Cincy, appeared in three whole games. Completing FOUR of FIVE passes. For 23 yards. He also ran the ball twice for minus 4 yards.
And that is totally ignoring his time as an Argo-naut.
w
vPeople flinch at reminders of the old Harris v. Jaworski, Ferragamo v. Haden, and Warner v. Bulger debates.
But those pale in comparison to the devasatation and horror wrought by the old Berlin v. Covington wars.
The humanity….
znModeratorI am not sure…but i think Brock Berlin may have been the worst of all of em
Scott Covington. Martz benched him in 2002 after just 5 attempts. He was sacked twice and completed 2 for 7 yards.
Brock Berlin made it through a whole game in 2007. Though, with a qb rating of 60.6.
znModerator.@RamsNFL @Panthers @AsapPuka the Puka Show to start this game. 3 passes; 3 completions and a TD…Looks too easy. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/sxTtyi9V85
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 28, 2026
znModeratorGreg Beacham@gregbeacham
Stafford on Year 6 in McVay’s offense: “There’s some new stuff & there’s some old stuff that’s called something different, or an old word means something new. He’s always keeping me on my toes. Give that guy too much time in the offseason, there’s gonna be tweaks & fun stuff.”znModeratorRams RB1b Blake Corum pic.twitter.com/QWCCBlOW0v
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 27, 2026
znModeratorfrom PFF, Ranking the NFL’s highest-graded players in primetime: https://www.pff.com/news/ranking-the-nfls-highest-graded-players-in-primetime?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null
In recent seasons, the NFL has continued to diversify its regular-season schedule, creating new game and time slots that can blur the lines between what counts as primetime and not. However, for this exercise, the games included were those starting at 6:30 p.m. ET or later from 2023-25, including both the regular season and playoffs.
Out of that 198-game sample, which players have separated themselves? Let’s dig in.
1. WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – 94.0
Since his debut in 2023, Nacua has been the NFL’s highest-graded receiver in virtually every category, from overall to the playoffs and beyond. That sentiment extends to primetime, where he’s performed like the league’s best on 802 such snaps.
Nacua’s 93.8 PFF receiving grade is the highest in night windows over the last three seasons, which is extra impressive considering he’s faced several high-quality cornerbacks in that stretch. His 168 targets lead all players, while his 3.22 yards per route run are the most among anyone with at least 35 such targets. Further, Nacua’s 74 first downs rank third behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown and CeeDee Lamb.
znModeratorCoach McVay speaking about Warren McClendon #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/l2oigSuH4y
— 1st & Tuna 🏈 (@1standtuna) July 28, 2026
znModeratorKDot with nothing but praise for Coleman Shelton. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/CCI7phdYxk
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 28, 2026
znModeratorfrom PFF Tackle Rankings: The top 32 players ahead of the 2026 NFL season — https://www.pff.com/news/pff-tackle-rankings-the-top-32-players-ahead-of-the-2026-nfl-season?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null
13. Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
Entering his fourth season as the Rams’ starting left tackle, Jackson continues to improve and prove himself a stalwart on the team’s offensive line. In 2025, Jackson ranked eighth among qualified tackles with a career-high 84.2 PFF grade. A big reason for that was improvement in the run game, as his 86.1 PFF run-blocking grade ranked fifth among that same group. Jackson is a star on one of the best offensive lines in the league.
znModeratorCB Cam Lampkin
There’s no questioning the Rams’ talent atop the cornerback group with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, but they could use some depth. Lampkin is someone who could step up and earn a spot on the 53-man roster, which he was close to doing last year.
Beat reporters complimented Lampkin’s play on Monday, the second straight day he’s shined in the Rams secondary. He had an “impressive interception,” as Jackson described it, on Monday, after also breaking up a pass in practice on Sunday.
He’s certainly becoming a sleeper in the secondary behind McDuffie, Watson and Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
***
from the wiki:
Listed height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight 174 lb (79 kg)Cam Lampkin (born July 31, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies and Washington State Cougars.
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Lampkin signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 27, 2024, then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On September 14, prior to the Rams’ Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Lampkin was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. He was waived on October 1, and re-signed to the practice squad.[13] Lampkin signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on January 20, 2025.
On August 26, 2025, Lampkin was waived by the Rams as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. On January 27, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Los Angeles.[17]
znModerator‘Freddy F—ing Kruger is back,’ Matthew Stafford puts on a show
Vincent Bonsignore
With the pocket collapsing and a defensive tackle bearing down, Matthew Stafford didn’t flinch. He slid left, bought a sliver of space, and unleashed a 50-yard strike to Puka Nacua for a big gain during the Rams training camp practice on Monday.
As the reigning NFL MVP jogged to the sideline, an assistant coach greeted him with two emphatic hand slaps and a yell: “Freddy F— Kruger is back!”
Stafford just smiled and nodded.
“It was fun to be back out here today,” Stafford said after making his camp debut.
And just like that, the rest of the NFL felt it.
If this is what Stafford looks like on his first day of camp, what’s it going to look like in December and January?
Honestly, the day could’ve ended right there, and it would’ve qualified as a win. Stafford, Nacua and the Rams offense looked far closer to midseason form than a group still installing a Sean McVay playbook that probably grew by a hundred plays since last year.
“You give that guy too much time in the offseason, there’s going to be some tweaks and some fun stuff to come back to,” Stafford said, laughing.
Turns out, it was only the opening act.
In front of a packed crowd at Loyola Marymount University, the Rams put on a star-studded show that had fans buzzing from start to finish.
It all flowed through Stafford, who carved up the field with an efficiency and rhythm that felt more October than late July.
And while his 50-yard connection with Nacua turned heads, it wasn’t even his best moment. That belonged to Nacua’s spectacular one-handed snag on a crossing route that he turned into a long touchdown.
Not to be outdone, Davante Adams added his own highlight-reel moments, hauling in multiple catches and rounding out a receiver duo that already looks in sync with its quarterback.
“I’m surrounded by great players,” Stafford said in one of the understatements of the early season.
Lost in the offensive fireworks, the defense had its say, too.
A few snaps after Nacua’s one-handed grab, new Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie ran stride-for-stride with him on a post and broke up a would-be completion from Stafford.
Later, in the red zone, Myles Garrett blew through a double team for what would’ve been a sack.
The competitor in Stafford wants to win every rep, no exceptions. But the football player in him understands the give-and-take, because soon enough, it won’t be teammates pushing back. It’ll be opponents trying to survive a Rams defense that got a whole lot nastier this offseason.
“It would be concerning if we were out there just launching it over our defense,” Stafford said. “It’s so competitive out there and that’s so fun, right?”
And it was a reminder: this roster is loaded on both sides of the ball, and the possibilities are obvious.
Which makes McVay’s biggest challenge something most coaches don’t have: managing expectations, not masking flaws.
On a day like Monday, with stars flashing everywhere, it was easy to fast-forward to the fall.
McVay knows that.
“I think what’s great is people care about this game,” he said. “But I respectfully say that your guys’ opinions don’t mean S— to us.”
He smiled, but the message landed.
“I think you acknowledge it, but you also talk about how that doesn’t do anything,” McVay said. “In all seriousness, we’ve got to be inside-out. There’s going to be adversity that inevitably we hit. How we handle that will be key.”
McVay is right.
In a long season, it’s a given that unforeseen bumps in the road will rear their ugly head.
But on a spectacular late July afternoon in Los Angeles on Monday, and Freddy Kruger throwing daggers and a loaded Rams team putting on a show, you had to squint pretty hard through the sunshine to see any semblance of trouble.
znModeratorCJ Daniels turned in a terrific practice on Monday, working primarily with Stetson Bennett and the second-team offense. The sixth-round rookie out of Miami was Bennett’s go-to option and while it’s early, he’s starting to show glimpses of why the Rams traded up for him. He’s strong, tough, competitive and confident as both a run blocker and a receiver in traffic. The confidence with which he attacks the ball at the catch point is something Sean McVay has long looked for in a receiver.
But Daniels is not a burner, making how he’ll look in more difficult matchups an open question. But he’ll be insulated, with Nacua and Adams drawing top outside cornerbacks, and Daniels could find matchups where his 6-foot-2 size is enough of an advantage to mitigate the lack of speed.
Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
The RamsNFL may have found a keeper in Miami WR CJ Daniels. The rookie is putting on a show todayDaniels had that vibe when they drafted him. Hope he keeps it up and turns out to be the real thing.
Here’s more:
Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Rams HC Sean McVay on rookie WR CJ Daniels, who had a strong practice today:“I’m excited about CJ, and he’ll be another guy, when you talk about the importance of the preseason, he’ll be a guy I’m looking forward to watching play and obviously in these practice settings as well.”
Gary Klein@LATimesklein
Rookie receiver CJ Daniels caught just about everything thrown his way from Stetson Bennett with the second team offense.ThatRamsGuy@nickthatramsguy
CJ Daniels was today’s standout.LAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
CJ Daniels has been one of the early standouts of Rams training camp.The sixth-round rookie has flashed throughout camp, continuing the Rams’ recent trend of finding contributors late in the draft.
Have the Rams found another late-round gem?
Maybe Daniels can pull this off.
znModeratorEight thoughts from Rams training camp
Nate Atkins
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are two training camp practices into a journey they hope can carry them all the way to a final game at SoFi Stadium in February.
The work starts on the grass fields at Loyola Marymount University. Here are eight thoughts on what we’ve seen through the first two sessions:
1. This was Matthew Stafford’s first time throwing passes in training camp in two years. A year after missing camp to manage a degenerative back issue that threatened the start of the season, it feels like he and the passing game are in a different place. The back issue hasn’t gone anywhere, and he’ll still miss every other practice to manage it. But there’s no longer the threat, the wonder or the fear.
That was on display Monday, when Stafford threw at will to Davante Adams on crossers and deep dig routes that showcased great timing and spatial awareness, and when he let it rip downfield to Puka Nacua. It took them just a couple snaps to create the highlight of the practice, with Nacua going deep down the left sideline on a fade route and Stafford lofting it for a smooth catch-and-run touchdown that got the crowd roaring.
Nacua came back shortly after that on a slant route across the middle. Stafford had to adjust the ball to fit it into a tight window, and Nacua reached up one hand to reel it in without breaking stride before taking it to the house.
Adams isn’t new anymore, Stafford can play and Nacua is simply Nacua. It’s arguably the highest-ceiling foundation of any unit in the NFL, and the reason the Rams were willing to get as aggressive as they’ve been on defense to maximize this group.
2. If Nacua has been the flashiest through two practices, the most under-the-radar has been the Rams’ newest receiver.
CJ Daniels turned in a terrific practice on Monday, working primarily with Stetson Bennett and the second-team offense. The sixth-round rookie out of Miami was Bennett’s go-to option and while it’s early, he’s starting to show glimpses of why the Rams traded up for him. He’s strong, tough, competitive and confident as both a run blocker and a receiver in traffic. The confidence with which he attacks the ball at the catch point is something Sean McVay has long looked for in a receiver.
But Daniels is not a burner, making how he’ll look in more difficult matchups an open question. But he’ll be insulated, with Nacua and Adams drawing top outside cornerbacks, and Daniels could find matchups where his 6-foot-2 size is enough of an advantage to mitigate the lack of speed.
Looking across the Rams’ skill positions, they don’t have a true burner with Tutu Atwell gone. In fact, the only player who could truly run away from defenders is running back Blake Corum. And yet that’s still the model the Rams carried to the No. 1 scoring offense last season.
3. The offense does have one new and important element and that’s coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who got a promotion from passing game coordinator when Mike LaFleur left to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. It could be a short stint for Scheelhaase as one of the hot head-coaching candidates entering next year’s cycle.
Scheelhaase is walking into a great infrastructure, complete with McVay’s system and oversight, balance in the offense, and versatility in the personnel. He has an MVP quarterback and two star receivers.
But perhaps what helps a 35-year-old first-time coordinator most is essentially having two coaches on the field in Stafford and Adams. The Stafford piece goes without explanation, but Adams may be equally as important because, unlike Stafford, he’s not on a pitch count or maintenance schedule. He’s the consistent rock right now.
“He’s a guy that, second to none, cares about his craft and what it looks like to be the best receiver he possibly can be,” Scheelhaase said of Adams. “And you just see over the course of years why he’s been successful. Him coming out here on the first day of a training camp in 10-plus seasons in the league, he’s got the same mentality. He’s trying to figure out small ways to get better, things he can do with his releases, things he can do at the top of his breaks. That’s the type of guy you love being around as a coach.”
4. That helps explain why the Rams did not pull the trigger on trading Adams for A.J. Brown this offseason. The idea was tantalizing, as Brown is the better player at this stage of their respective careers and could offer a cost-controlled No. 1 receiver in the event that the Rams don’t extend Nacua. But as they constantly preach, names on paper don’t win football games. It would have been messing with something that is far from broken — and the biggest effect might be in the steady, even-keeled way Adams has taken to a veteran No. 2 role.
His story will be a fascinating one to document, as Adams can feel the end closing in, but it’s the most unresolved of anyone’s. Adams is 0-5 in conference championship games. While every player hungers to hoist a Lombardi Trophy, Adams has a little more on the line with his attempt to win one. If he does and is a major piece, that could be his final argument for the Hall of Fame.
“I’ve given it some thought,” Adams said on retirement. “It wasn’t until the past couple of years where, for different reasons, that you start to think about when the end is going to come. Right now, I’m just enjoying it. I can’t tell you if it’s going to be after this year or after next year. I truly don’t know.”
5. Nacua did have one fade route he couldn’t win because Trent McDuffie was in good position. The two-time All-Pro cornerback matched him stride-for-stride and beat him to a Stafford deep pass to knock it away.
McDuffie will be at his best moving across a secondary trying to live in dime personnel as often as possible. He’s most effective in the slot due to his mix of toughness, tackling, communication and instincts. But reps like that against the NFL’s reigning leader in receptions showcase why he’s such a critical addition. The Rams didn’t have anyone who could reliably do it from an outside cornerback spot last season, freezing their creativity in the playoffs.
6. The most impressive play in Sunday’s practice Kam Kinchens’ diving interception along the sideline off a tipped pass from Cam Lampkin. The ability to see the ball off the ricochet, track it into his arms while falling and stay inbounds shows why Kinchens is one of the Rams’ three biggest breakout candidates.
Last season, Kinchens was left trying to play eraser at free safety behind the mistakes in run defense and coverage of the outside cornerbacks. That cut into his playing time, with the Rams leaning more on veterans like Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, which also spoiled a bit of that duo’s versatility and playmaking. Kinchens can be impactful in making plays on the ball, as his four interceptions, forced fumble, fumble recovery and defensive touchdown as a rookie in 2024 proved.
7. Stafford’s maintenance schedule is going to serve two purposes: keeping him fresh and ready for Week 1 in Melbourne against the San Francisco 49ers, and opening up reps for one of the Rams’ only position battles in camp — backup quarterback.
With Jimmy Garoppolo gone, that’s fallen on Bennett and No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson. Bennett, who is getting the first crack, has the lead with the playbook and scheme after spending the past three seasons here. He’s demonstrated a good command of the offense, but between offseason practices and the two training camp sessions, he’s also fallen victim to a couple of greedy mistakes.
Simpson also showed solid command in his limited reps. He isn’t going downfield much, but the Rams are working on small steps with him, and he’s displaying some solid accuracy and decision-making.
There is risk with Stafford’s back, and the expectations are so high and the schedule so challenging that the Rams can’t afford to take games off if their MVP does miss time.
Should Simpson be unable to rise to that level, it isn’t an indictment on him long term. He was a developmental pick. But it could set up a situation where Garoppolo is seen as an emergency option. The Rams viewed him as a starting-caliber quarterback these past two years, and though he doesn’t appear interested in going through a full training camp and backup routine, he did tell NFL Network he’s open to playing again in the right situation.
8. It was interesting to ask Byron Young about his offseason and hear most about managing his knee injury. It’s the same knee he hurt in the playoffs last season, which led him to wear an ice pack and sit out most of the later practices, and he just didn’t look like his normal speedy self in the NFC Championship Game. That, along with a lack of finishing from the rest of the pass rush, exposed the leak in the secondary and set up what this offseason was ultimately about for the Rams — finding weapons like McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and a true pass-rush closer in two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Young is healthy again, and he could be primed for a big season in a contract year. The ends opposite Garrett in Cleveland got to feast on one-on-one opportunities, which is what Jared Verse set Young up with last year for his 12-sack breakout. But if Aaron Donald returns — still an if, but a real one — Young could force opponents to plan for a third pass rusher.
That’s where the versatility of Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, plus a step from Josaiah Stewart, would help. Young played 76 percent of the snaps for a second straight season last year, but dialing that back just a bit could pay dividends for the Rams’ Super Bowl push — and for his market value as a free agent at such a coveted position.
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