Category: Latest Rams news

Eric Weddle says he won’t return to Rams as backup in 2020

Weddle thinks it’s “set in stone” that John Johnson and Taylor Rapp will be the Rams’ starters in 2020.

Eric Weddle still has one year left on his contract with the Rams, but his time in Los Angeles could come to an end after only one season. With John Johnson set to return from injury in 2020 and Taylor Rapp looking like an obvious candidate to start opposite him at safety, there isn’t much room for Weddle in the future plans.

Fans know it and so does Weddle, and he made that very clear after Sunday’s win over the Cardinals. He told reporters in the locker room that he won’t be back with the Rams next season if he is a backup – and he’s fairly certain that’s what his role will be.

Weddle had a mediocre season for the Rams in 2019, struggling to make many big plays on defense. He didn’t have a single interception for the second year in a row and only broke up four passes. He topped 100 tackles for just the fourth time in his career and started all 16 games, but his play left something to be desired.

His intangibles and leadership on the field and in the locker room are immeasurable, though. He was a big part of Rapp’s development, also helping the Rams’ other young defensive backs in their alignment and play diagnosis.

The Rams can save $4.25 million by cutting him in the offseason.

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Twitter reacts to Rams’ win over Cardinals to cap disappointing season

Here’s how fans and media members reacted to Sunday’s season finale.

It was an up-and-down season for the Rams after two years of mostly ups. They finished the season on Sunday with a 31-24 win over the Cardinals, their sixth straight win over Arizona. With the victory, Los Angeles topped the .500 mark at 9-7, which was a goal of Sean McVay’s.

As disappointing of a season as it was for the Rams, it was also entertaining and filled with twists and turns. Ending on a high note was a good way to go into the offseason, even without a postseason appearance.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Sunday’s season finale.

 

Instant analysis of Rams’ 31-24 win over Cardinals in season finale

The Rams capped off their season with a win over the Cardinals in the last game at the Coliseum.

The Rams may not be heading to the playoffs, but they at least finished the year on a high note. In the season finale and the last game at the Coliseum, Los Angeles knocked off the Cardinals 31-24. They’ll end the 2019 campaign with a 9-7 record, the third straight winning season under Sean McVay.

The offense had a good rhythm and was balanced with the run and pass, while the defense created four turnovers – the most by the Cardinals in any game this season.

Here’s our instant analysis of the win.

Player of the Game: Jared Goff

Goff put together a great performance to finish the season, throwing for 319 yards on 29-for-45 passing. He also threw three touchdown passes, each to different receivers, and posted a passer rating of 107.5.

Stat of the Game: 424

For the sixth time this season, the Rams gained at least 400 yards. They also had 25 first downs, their fourth-most of the year.

Game notes

  • Sean McVay was true to his word about wanting to win this game and treating it like a typical regular-season game. The Rams didn’t pull their starters at any point and did everything they could to win.
  • Jared Goff put together his sixth 300-yard performance of the season, completing 29 of 45 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns. He spread the ball around nicely, hitting three different players at least seven times.
  • Todd Gurley ran hard on Sunday despite getting poor blocking out of the gate. He started the game with minus-5 yards on his first six carries but finished with 68 yards on 20 carries.
  • McVay and John Fassel got into it briefly on the sideline after the Rams’ failed fake punt from their own 17-yard line. After the play, McVay want over to Fassel and could be seen saying, “What are you doing?” and looking visibly frustrated.
  • Greg Zuerlein is making the Rams’ decision that much harder in the offseason. He’s set to be a free agent and after missing another field goal (47 yards), his ninth of the season, there are questions about whether he will be back in 2020.
  • Tyler Higbee capped off his remarkable season with another great performance, catching eight passes for 84 yards with one touchdown. He set the single-season record for receptions and yards by a tight end this year.
  • Darious Williams is making a case for a spot on the team in 2020. He picked off one pass, broke up another and nearly had a second interception on a pass that went through his hands; the play was nullified by a penalty on Clay Matthews.
  • Matthews needed a half-sack to earn a $250,000 incentive bonus, but he failed to attain it. Andrew Whitworth made $500,000, though, with the Rams finishing the year at 9-7.

Watch: Taylor Rapp picks off second pass of rookie season

This one was much easier for Rapp than his first.

Taylor Rapp’s rookie season will be remembered by some for his blown coverage in Week 16 against the 49ers, allowing San Francisco to convert on third-and-16. However, he’s been solid for the Rams this year, contributing in a big way as a rookie.

With one pick-six already on his stat line this season, Rapp added a second interception in Week 17 to give him two on the year. He picked off Kyler Murray in the fourth quarter and returned it 23 yards to set the Rams up with good field position.

Robert Woods turned the takeaway into points, scoring a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Michael Brockers carted off with apparent left leg injury

Brockers is in the final year of his contract with the Rams.

Michael Brockers is in his eighth and possibly last season with the Rams, and this isn’t the way he’s hoping to end the 2019 campaign. He suffered a left leg injury in the fourth quarter and appeared to be badly hurt.

He couldn’t put any pressure on his leg and needed to be carted off the field.

Brockers has been the Rams’ starting defensive end the last three years after moving from defensive tackle. He’s been a key cog on the left side of the defensive line, stuffing the run consistently.

Rams LB Cory Littleton suffers chest injury, doubtful to return

Littleton suffered the injury in the third quarter.

The Rams are trying to beat the Cardinals and finish with a winning record, but they also want to avoid any injuries in a game that carries no postseason implications. Unfortunately, Cory Littleton suffered a chest injury in the third quarter and is doubtful to return.

He’s set to be a free agent after this season and will almost certainly cash in with a huge contract from either the Rams or on the open market.

Prior to leaving the game, Littleton had three tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss. He leads the Rams in tackles this season.

Tyler Higbee completes best season ever by Rams TE with another record

Tyler Higbee set yet another TE record on Sunday.

Tyler Higbee has officially had the best season ever by a Rams tight end. Already holding the single-season franchise record for receptions by a tight end with 61, he just set the bar again in receiving yards.

Higbee caught a 14-yard pass in the second quarter of Sunday’s game to give him 682 on the year. That’s the most receiving yards ever by a Rams tight end in a single season, which is something no one saw coming at the beginning of the year.

The previous record was held by Jared Cook, who had 671 yards in 2013.

Higbee has four straight games with at least 100 yards receiving, and he’ll try to make it five on Sunday against the Cardinals. He’s the first tight end in the Super Bowl era with seven catches and 100 yards in four consecutive games.

Sean McVay goes at John Fassel after failed fake punt: ‘What are you doing?’

Sean McVay was not happy about John Fassel attempting a fake punt in the Rams’ own territory.

John Fassel is widely viewed as one of the best special teams coordinators in the league, being one of the few holdovers from the previous regime when Sean McVay took over.

He and McVay are almost always on the same page, but they certainly were not early in Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. On fourth-and-7 from their own 17-yard line, the Rams attempted a fake punt with rookie Nick Scott taking the snap and running toward the sticks.

He was stopped short and the Cardinals took over on downs, scoring a touchdown two plays later. McVay did not look happy after the play, asking Fassel, “What are you doing?” on the sideline.

Take a look at the exchange in the video below.

The Rams are out of playoff contention and have nothing to play for this week, so Fassel saw it as an opportunity to take a chance against an unsuspecting Cardinals team. It didn’t work and McVay was not happy with the decision.

Rams Week 17 inactives: Troy Hill, Obo Okoronkwo out

The Los Angeles Rams will play their Week 17 finale without two of their starting cornerbacks. Jalen Ramsey was previously ruled out for the game, while Troy Hill was listed as doubtful. Both players are inactive against the Cardinals, as is right …

The Los Angeles Rams will play their Week 17 finale without two of their starting cornerbacks. Jalen Ramsey was previously ruled out for the game, while Troy Hill was listed as doubtful.

Both players are inactive against the Cardinals, as is right tackle Rob Havenstein. Ogbonnia Okoronwko is also inactive as a healthy scratch.

Rams vs. Cardinals: Time, TV and streaming info for Week 17

Everything you need to know about Sunday’s season finale at the Coliseum.

In the blink of an eye, the 2019 season has reached its final week of the regular season. The year didn’t go as the Rams had planned it would, being eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16, but they hope to close out the season with one last win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday – the final game at the Coliseum.

To get you ready for the season finale, we’ve compiled all the important game day information – from streaming options to the officiating crew on Sunday afternoon. And be sure to follow along on Twitter with @TheRamsWire and @camdasilva.

You can live stream the game on fuboTV (try it free).

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals – Sunday, Dec. 29 at 4:25 p.m. ET

TV channel: FOX

Live stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: ESPN LA 710 AM

Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 59 degrees, 2 mph winds

Referee: Jerome Boger

Odds: Rams -6.5, O/U 44.5

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