Tag: Daniel Hardy

Sean McVay revealed why the Rams haven’t brought in a veteran edge rusher

The Rams have yet to sign a veteran edge rusher this offseason and Sean McVay explained why.

The Los Angeles Rams took three edge rushers during the 2023 NFL draft and many believed they would still potentially add a veteran to round out the pass-rushing unit. The Rams reported to training camp without a veteran edge rusher on the roster this week and Sean McVay explained why the team has decided against adding an experienced outside linebacker thus far.

“I think there was,” McVay said of whether there was consideration given to adding a veteran edge rusher. “When the trajectory of the draft unfolded the way that it did that we were able to get three players that are all kind of different in their own right when you talk about Byron (Young), you talk about Nick (Hampton) and you talk about Ochaun (Mathis) from that outside linebacker position. In addition to watching Michael Hoecht continue to show himself, Daniel Hardy was a guy that did not get a lot of opportunities last year because of some health issues that really flashed in the spring. And so, because we have got so many young guys at that position that are really competing, it was something that we talked about but I think just based on the landscape of the roster and the way that we ended up drafting three players from that position you had some other young guys, did not want to go that direction and then there was some limitations in terms of alright, what are you able to do and what kind of player are you able to really bring in at a position like that?”

During this year’s draft, the Rams took Byron Young, Nick Hampton, and Ochaun Mathis in hopes to bolster their pass-rushing unit. All three of them bring different skill sets and there’s a chance that all of them get an opportunity to see meaningful snaps sooner rather than later.

Besides the rookies, McVay spoke about the emergence of Hoecht last season. He made the transition from interior defender to edge rusher in 2022, and he’s continued to take all of his snaps off of the edge this offseason.

Hardy, who was a seventh-round pick by the Rams in the 2022 NFL draft, is another name that McVay mentioned. Hardy was extremely productive in college, but injuries prevented him from seeing the field much as a rookie last season.

There are still some solid veterans available at the edge rusher position like Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue, Justin Houston, and Melvin Ingram. Even though the Rams could use experience at the edge rusher spot, McVay believes in the young guys the team currently has.

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Grading every rookie from Rams’ 2022 draft class

We handed out grades for each rookie from the Rams’ 2022 draft class.

With the Los Angeles Rams taking an aggressive approach to acquire star players in exchange for early-round picks, the draft becomes even more important when it comes to finding depth and potential starters. The Rams made eight selections in the 2022 NFL draft at a variety of positions and they didn’t make their first pick until No. 104 overall.

After going 5-12 in the regular season in 2022, ESPN ranked the Rams’ draft class from a year ago as the second-least productive group of rookies in the NFL. The 2022 class for Los Angeles was comprised of Logan Bruss, Cobie Durant, Kyren Williams, Quentin Lake, Derion Kendrick, Daniel Hardy, Russ Yeast, and AJ Arcuri.

After getting a chance to watch the first-year players this season, here are our grades for each rookie in the Rams’ 2022 draft class.

Rams activate Daniel Hardy, make 4 other roster moves

Daniel Hardy has been activated from IR and could make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams made a handful of roster moves on Saturday before their game against the Seattle Seahawks, including the placement of Matthew Stafford on injured reserve. Additionally, they activated rookie edge rusher Daniel Hardy off injured reserve, putting him in line to make his season debut this weekend.

They also added four players to the active roster, with two being temporary promotions. They elevated Malcolm Brown and T.J. Carter from the practice squad for this week and signed Keir Thomas and Austin Trammell to the 53-man roster.

The Rams desperately needed pass-rush help after cutting Justin Hollins and ruling out Terrell Lewis this week with a back injury. Hardy and possibly Thomas should get immediate playing time alongside Leonard Floyd and Michael Hoecht.

Carter provides defensive line depth with A’Shawn Robinson out, and Trammell can help fill in at wide receiver after the team lost Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson to injuries.

Rams place Daniel Hardy on IR, sidelining him for at least 4 games

The Rams put Daniel Hardy on IR, sidelining him for at least 4 games. They now have a spot open on their 53-man roster.

Daniel Hardy will officially miss at least the first four games of the season. The Los Angeles Rams placed him on injured reserve Thursday, a move Les Snead said would be coming after the team set its initial 53-man roster.

Hardy had to make the team first before going on IR because had he been placed on IR beforehand, he would be forced to miss the entire season like Logan Bruss. The Rams now have a spot open on their 53-man roster, which has not been filled yet.

Hardy suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 of the preseason and has been out since. The Rams can activate him as early as Week 5 when they host the Cowboys.

Hardy, a seventh-round rookie out of Montana State, impressed in the preseason before getting hurt. When he does return to the field, he’ll have a chance to be the fourth edge rusher.

For now, the Rams have Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis and Keir Thomas on the 53-man roster at outside linebacker.

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Daniel Hardy to be placed on IR, miss first 4 games of the season

Rookie pass rusher Daniel Hardy made the 53-man roster, but he’ll go on injured reserve and miss the first 4 games of the season

Rams rookie outside linebacker Daniel Hardy suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s second preseason game, sidelining him for at least a few weeks. Hardy made the 53-man roster, but that was only a formality. He won’t be playing for a little while.

Les Snead confirmed on a conference call with reporters that Hardy will be placed on injured reserve, causing him to miss the first four games of the season. In order for Hardy to return this season, he had to make the 53-man roster before going on IR. Had he gone on IR before making the team, he would’ve been out for the year like Logan Bruss.

With Hardy going on IR, that not only will open up a roster spot, but it will give Keir Thomas a chance to contribute on game days as the No. 4 OLB.

“What we will end up doing with him, is we will end up putting him on an IR-to-return-type situation, so Keir is a player who has a chance to be active on game day,” Snead said.

Hardy impressed in the preseason and was active on the edge, so it’s unfortunate he got hurt in Week 2. He can return as early as Week 5, however, and the Rams could certainly use his rushing ability with only four other OLBs on the team.

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Rams rookie Daniel Hardy likely to start season on IR with ankle injury

Daniel Hardy suffered a high ankle sprain Friday and could start the year on injured reserve as a result

There’s a reason Sean McVay doesn’t play his starters in the preseason, and it’s because of the risk of injury. The Rams were reminded of that this weekend when they lost two rookies to injuries.

Logan Bruss tore his ACL and MCL in the loss and will miss his rookie season. Edge rusher Daniel Hardy suffered a high ankle sprain and will need a procedure to fix the injury.

McVay said Hardy is a candidate to likely start the year on IR, but it’s not a season-ending injury. In order to play this season, Hardy will need to make the 53-man roster before going on IR.

“Won’t affect his whole season, but he’s a guy that’s a candidate to probably start the season on designated IR,” McVay said.

Hardy’s playing time was limited Friday and it was unclear why. The injury is obviously the reason for that, exiting in the first quarter.

With Hardy out, players such as Keir Thomas, Chris Garrett and Brayden Thomas will get more opportunities.

5 Rams to watch in preseason opener vs. Chargers

The Rams kick off their preseason schedule on Saturday vs. the Chargers and these are five players fans should have their eyes on.

It’s officially the first week of the NFL preseason as every team in the league will have an exhibition game this week. The Los Angeles Rams will kick off their preseason schedule versus the Los Angeles Chargers, the team they share SoFi Stadium with.

This will be the first time the Rams will take the field since defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl back in February. That being said, Sean McVay has avoided having starters play in the preseason, so backups and other players will have opportunities to showcase their talent.

Ahead of Saturday’s preseason contest against the Chargers, here are five players to watch on the Rams.

Watch: Rams rookie Daniel Hardy jumped out of a pool and made it look easy

Daniel Hardy made this jump out of a pool look way too easy

The Los Angeles Rams drafted Daniel Hardy in the seventh round this year, selecting the Montana State product 235th overall. He was a lesser-known prospect from a small school, but his athleticism makes him a very intriguing pass rusher.

He put some of that explosiveness on display in a recent video, which showed Hardy jumping clean out of a pool. It’s essentially a much harder version of a box jump, and certainly not something every athlete can do.

But Hardy made it look easy – and thankfully, he didn’t get hurt trying it.

Hardy isn’t a lock to make the Rams’ 53-man roster this year, but he’ll definitely be a player they want to keep around on the practice squad if he does wind up getting cut.

Despite being undersized, his ceiling as a pass rusher is high.

Rams sign all 8 rookies from their 2022 draft class

The Rams have signed all 8 of their rookies from the 2022 draft class to contracts ahead of mandatory minicamp.

It’s been a busy Monday for Tony Pastoors and the other people that handle the financial side of things for the Los Angeles Rams. Besides agreeing on a reworked deal with Aaron Donald, the Rams have officially signed all eight rookies from the 2022 draft class.

The eight incoming rookies for the Rams are Logan Bruss, Decobie Durant, Kyren Williams, Quentin Lake, Derion Kendrick, Daniel Hardy, Russ Yeast, and AJ Arcuri. With mandatory minicamp beginning this week, it’s a positive development for Los Angeles to have all of their rookies signed.

There weren’t any indications that the Rams would be unable to agree to deals with all of their rookies, so Monday’s news shouldn’t come as a surprise. Contract talks with rookies are likely easier for Los Angeles due to them not having any first or second-round picks, making it simpler to navigate salaries and bonuses.

Along with No. 99, the Rams will have all eight of their first-year players from the 2022 NFL draft present for minicamp this week.

Jersey numbers of Rams’ 2022 rookies revealed

The jersey numbers of each of the rookies on the Rams have been revealed via the team’s official Twitter account.

It’s been a few weeks since the Los Angeles Rams made eight selections during the 2022 NFL draft. Rookie minicamps recently took place across the NFL, and after the Rams got an opportunity to see their new rookies in action, we now know what numbers they’ll be wearing in 2022.

Logan Bruss will be wearing No. 60 next season, keeping the same number he wore at Wisconsin. Decobie Durant will also be sporting the same number he wore in college at South Carolina State, electing to stay with No. 14.

Kyren Williams is going to be rocking No. 23 with the Rams next season, which is the same number he wore at Notre Dame and the number that Cam Akers wore in his first two years. Akers has since changed his number to No. 3 — to the dismay of Odell Beckham Jr. — which was something he had planned last season until he discovered he’d have to pay a hefty price to alter it.

Among the other defensive backs the Rams took in this year’s draft, Quentin Lake was also able to keep his number from college, choosing to wear No. 37. Derion Kendrick has chosen to make the switch from No. 11 at Georgia to No. 6 in the NFL, potentially picking the number of the round he was chosen in. It could also simply be the fact that single-digit numbers are elite for defensive backs.

For the final three picks that the Rams made, Russ Yeast will be going from sporting No. 2 to No. 43 in Los Angeles. Daniel Hardy will keep his No. 44 from Montana State while AJ Arcuri will be wearing No. 61 in the NFL instead of keeping No. 76 from his time at Michigan State.

While it’s going to be nearly impossible to find any authentic jerseys for any of the rookies on the Rams, fans can now create custom jerseys with their names and numbers if they desire.