Just as the Los Angeles Rams put the pads on in training camp, Taylor Rapp was forced to remain on the sideline with a knee injury. Though not an overly serious injury, it was terrible timing for the second-year safety.
It’s especially difficult because the Rams are transitioning from Wade Phillips to Brandon Staley on defense, and Rapp missed two-plus weeks of on-field work where Staley was installing his system.
Rapp admits it was difficult to learn Staley’s defense from afar without getting physical reps in practice, but he returned to the field this week and is ready for the start of the season.
“It’s tough. Going back to when you guys asked me how it felt being out there, I was so eager to get on the field because before I had to shut it down for a few weeks, we never really got into live practice,” he said Wednesday. “So, I never really put on the helmet or even went against our offense. We were doing jog-thrus and walk-thrus or whatever, but I never really got to strap on my pads or my helmet. It felt great being out there, definitely.”
In addition to missing the Rams’ padded practices, Rapp also had to sit out their two scrimmages at SoFi Stadium. The second scrimmage, in particular, was the most physical practice to date for the Rams, allowing some hitting and more contact.
Rapp is like most players in the fact that he likes to lay a few hits before the season begins to get a feel for contact again, but he’ll have a chance to do that in practice the next week and a half.
“Yeah, I mean, it kind of depends on the person. I’m kind of like that. I like to get my pads popping a little bit,” he said. “Whether that’s studding up a running back, obviously keeping them up, being safe, or whether that’s taking on a receiver…making your presence felt and stuff like that. So, you know, just getting that first little thud definitely feels good once you’re back in pads.”
Rapp will be the starter at safety next to John Johnson and will try to build on what was a very promising rookie season in 2019. Sean McVay has already cleared him for Week 1 and said “he’ll be ready” to go against Dallas, also adding that the young safety looked good in his return to practice.
“He did great. It was good to be able to have him out there,” McVay said. “He was excited, he looked comfortable. He said he felt good. So, it was great to be able to get Taylor back out there yesterday.”