Tag: Ochaun Mathis

6 Rams to watch in Week 6 vs. Cardinals

Here are six players from the Rams to keep an eye on in Week 6 versus the Cardinals.

The Los Angeles Rams are set to host their second straight home game in Week 6 with their first matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this season. The Rams are coming off a 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 in Cooper Kupp’s return to the field following a four-game absence because of a hamstring injury.

Entering Sunday’s showdown with the Cardinals, the Rams possess a 2-3 record, making this a must-win game against a 1-4 divisional opponent. The Cardinals lost 34-20 to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but they continue to play competitively each week under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Ahead of a Week 6 matchup versus the Cardinals, here are six players from the Rams to keep tabs on.

Ochaun Mathis impressed Sean McVay in his NFL debut vs. Eagles

Sean McVay came away impressed by Ochaun Mathis in the rookie’s debut for the Rams on Sunday versus the Eagles.

Ochaun Mathis made his debut for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing the first four games of the season because of a knee injury. Even though Mathis played limited snaps and didn’t record a stat, Sean McVay liked what he saw from the rookie pass rusher.

“I thought it was good to be able to get his feet wet,” McVay said. “He played a handful of snaps. There were some rush situations where you could see the length and the overall ability. It was obviously a great challenge with Jalen (Hurts) doing such a good job of being able to extend and create some things off schedule. I think you got to take into account that that was the first time he had even been in pads as a Ram this past week. Didn’t play in any preseason games and so thought it was a good step in the right direction. Definitely some learning opportunities, but (OLBs coach) Joe Coniglio does a great job with that room as a whole and it was good to get Ochaun back out there.”

By the end of Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, Mathis had logged only 10 defensive snaps for the Rams. Mathis did have a couple of snaps where he was able to get into the backfield, only for Jalen Hurts to extend plays for the Eagles.

The Rams are desperate for production off of the edge, with Aaron Donald and Byron Young being the only consistent pass rushers on the field. Michael Hoecht isn’t generating any pressure and the other depth options aren’t making much of a difference with their opportunities.

After missing the majority of training camp and the preseason, the Rams are going to ease Mathis into the defense. But considering that the Rams made fellow rookie edge rusher Nick Hampton inactive for Mathis in Week 5, it’s clear they want to see what they have in the sixth-round rookie moving forward.

Rams activate Cooper Kupp and Ochaun Mathis from IR

The Rams officially activated Cooper Kupp and Ochaun Mathis from IR, putting them in line to play Sunday

Cooper Kupp is officially back on the Rams’ roster. The team activated both Kupp and Ochaun Mathis from injured reserve on Saturday, adding them to the 53-man roster.

This puts both players in line to make their 2023 debuts after missing the first four games of the season. Kupp has been out since injuring his hamstring this summer, while Mathis hurt his knee at the start of training camp.

Sean McVay has already said Kupp is expected to play against the Eagles on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if Mathis will be on the game-day roster as a backup edge rusher.

Rams designate Cooper Kupp, Ochaun Mathis to return from IR

The Rams have officially designated Cooper Kupp and Ochaun Mathis to return from IR, allowing them to begin practicing this week

The Los Angeles Rams will get a couple of players back at practice this week, one of whom is an All-Pro and former Offensive Player of the Year. On Wednesday, the Rams officially designated Cooper Kupp and rookie Ochaun Mathis to return from injured reserve.

This allows them both to begin practicing immediately, opening the 21-day window for them to be activated from IR. Both players are first eligible to come off IR this week after missing the first four games of the season, but it remains to be seen if the Rams will activate them right away or wait another week or two.

If they don’t activate them in the next 21 days, they will remain on IR for the rest of the season. That’s highly unlikely to happen, though; Sean McVay has already discussed getting both players back, so they will be activated at some point.

Kupp has been sidelined since reinjuring his hamstring just before the season started, while Mathis injured his knee at the beginning of training camp in July.

Once activated, Kupp will immediately step in as the Rams’ top receiver alongside Puka Nacua, with Tutu Atwell likely remaining a starter, too. Mathis could contribute soon as an edge rusher, a position group that has been somewhat underwhelming outside of Byron Young.

Sean McVay is excited about rookie OLB Ochaun Mathis’ imminent return

Ochaun Mathis has been out since the start of training camp but he could provide some valuable depth at outside linebacker

The Rams have mostly relied on two edge rushers this season: Byron Young and Michael Hoecht. They don’t have much depth at that position, giving Zach VanValkenburg and Nick Hampton very few opportunities in the first four weeks.

Help could be on the way, though. The Rams plan to have rookie Ochaun Mathis return to practice this week in hopes that he can be activated from injured reserve when first eligible. Sean McVay said on the “Coach McVay Show” Monday that he’s excited about Mathis’ imminent return, which could be as soon as this Sunday against the Eagles.

“We’re excited to be able to get Ochaun back out on the grass,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that, he’s got the length, he’s got the athleticism, he’s got some nuances with his ability to rush and put pressure on the quarterback. He was a guy that had really taken great steps throughout the offseason program and then had the unfortunate setback in training camp where he was able to just get going and that happened in the five-day acclimation period. But he’s attacked his rehab the right way, he looks the part. I thought he had some tangible evidence of saying it’s not just looking the part, but also being able to deliver on that – with a small body of work, but something we’re excited to be able to start that window, see exactly when that’d be that he’d be ready to return to action. Certainly wouldn’t rule out Philly this week, but again, let’s get these guys out on the field, both he and Cooper, and see what that means as it relates to this coming Sunday.”

Mathis injured his knee in the beginning of training camp and has been sidelined ever since. He made the 53-man roster and was placed on IR shortly after, which allowed him to return after just four games rather than missing the entire season like he would have if the Rams put him on IR before setting the roster.

While he was only a sixth-round pick, Mathis is 6-foot-5 and has the size the Rams are looking for in an edge rusher. McVay likes his athleticism, too, which is what has helped Young get on the field so quickly.

Don’t expect Mathis to become a starter right away but with Hoecht struggling a little bit and the Rams having very little depth at the position, he could contribute sooner rather than later.

It’s time for the Rams to end the Michael Hoecht experiment at OLB

Michael Hoecht has struggled to begin the season and the Rams should consider starting someone else at OLB moving forward.

Out of pure desperation, the Los Angeles Rams had Michael Hoecht make the transition from interior defender to edge rusher during the 2022 season. Hoecht would make six starts last season, tallying 4.5 sacks (the most by an edge rusher on the Rams not named Leonard Floyd) and four tackles for loss.

After finishing last season as the starter opposite Floyd — and with Floyd departing in free agency — Hoecht has gotten the nod to start again at outside linebacker this season. Through the first three weeks, the experiment of deploying Hoecht as a starting edge rusher appears to be headed toward disaster.

In Monday night’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Hoecht was a liability against the run and as a pass rusher against a hobbled Joe Burrow. It was just more of the same of what we’ve seen from Hoecht in the first two games for the Rams.

Following the Week 3 loss to the Bengals, Hoecht has just seven total pressures on the season, according to PFF. For comparison, Aaron Donald and rookie Byron Young lead the Rams in pressures with 14 and 13, respectively. Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals finished with 10 total pressures just in Monday night’s matchup.

Missed tackles have also been a major concern for Hoecht, who has only two fewer missed tackles (5) than pressures (7) through Week 3. If Hoecht isn’t going to generate consistent pressure and he’s a liability in the run game, why should he continue to start?

At this point, Hoecht remaining a starter could be telling of the lack of trust the Rams have in their other edge rushers. Aside from Young and Hoecht, Zach VanValkenburg and Nick Hampton have seen minimal playing time.

Also, rookie Ochaun Mathis was placed on injured reserve before the season began because of a knee injury he’s been dealing with since training camp. And even after a strong showing in the preseason, the Rams haven’t shown any intentions of promoting Keir Thomas from the practice squad.

The Rams had just one edge rusher they could lean on in 2022 and it feels like that is transpiring again with Young carrying the load as a rookie. While the options in free agency and on the trade market are limited, the Rams would be wise to consider all of their options instead of continuing to start Hoecht moving forward.

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Former Husker placed on Injured Reserve by LA Rams

A former Nebraska Cornhusker football player was placed on Injured Reserve just before the start of the NFL season.

A former Nebraska Cornhusker football player was placed on Injured Reserve just before the start of the NFL season. Linebacker Ochaun Mathis has been placed on IR by the Los Angeles Rams.

Mathis was a sixth-round draft pick by LA. He has been dealing with a knee injury after missing all four preseason games.

He spent one year at Nebraska, playing in 12 games and making 48 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. The blackshirt player came to Lincoln after spending the previous four seasons at TCU.

Mathis will be eligible to return to the roster after the first four regular season games. The Rams will kick off the season.

Find a photo gallery of Ochaun Mathis’ playing career below.

Rams place Ochaun Mathis on IR, opening up a roster spot

The Rams now have a roster spot after putting Ochaun Mathis on IR, which will force him to miss at least 4 games

Sean McVay said earlier this week that only one player would be placed on injured reserve after the Rams trimmed their roster to 53. It took a few days, but on Friday, Los Angeles officially put Ochaun Mathis on IR, thus sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season.

Mathis had to make the 53-man roster before going on IR in order to be eligible to return this season, so that’s the reason for the Rams taking that approach. Otherwise, if he were put on IR before roster cuts, he would’ve been ruled out for the entire year.

Mathis has been dealing with a knee injury since early in training camp, causing him to miss all four preseason games in August. He was a sixth-round pick this year and brings talent to the outside linebacker group, which the Rams will hopefully see sooner rather than later.

With Mathis going on IR, the Rams now have 52 players on their active roster, meaning they have an open spot available. They did not announce a corresponding move with Mathis going on IR.

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Rams rookie OLB Ochaun Mathis to start season on IR

Rams rookie edge rusher Ochaun Mathis will start the year on injured reserve, causing him to miss the first four games of the season

Ochaun Mathis was one of 14 drafted rookies to make the Rams’ initial 53-man roster on Tuesday but he won’t be active for very long. Sean McVay told reporters that Mathis will start the season on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

In order for a player to be eligible to return from IR, he has to make the 53-man roster first, which is why the Rams kept Mathis instead of putting him directly on IR. Had they placed him on IR before final cuts, he’d have been ruled out for the season.

Mathis has been dealing with a knee injury for weeks, causing him to miss all three preseason games and most of training camp. The Rams would’ve loved for him to be healthy for Week 1, but by putting him on injured reserve, it’ll open up a roster spot, potentially for a kicker or another edge rusher such as Keir Thomas.

The good news is McVay said Mathis will be the only player to start on IR, so the Rams should be close to full strength for the start of the season.

Mathis was selected by the Rams in the sixth round out of Nebraska, one of three edge rushers drafted by Los Angeles this year.

Rams rookie Ochaun Mathis out a few weeks with knee injury

Rams rookie pass rusher Ochaun Mathis injured his knee in practice Monday and will miss a few weeks

The Los Angeles Rams are already pretty thin on talent at outside linebacker and it’s not going to help that rookie edge rusher Ochaun Mathis is going to miss some time in training camp. Sean McVay told reporters Tuesday that Mathis injured his knee in practice Monday and will likely miss “a few weeks.”

With the preseason beginning next weekend, that’s unfortunate news for the rookie edge rusher out of Nebraska. He’s among the young players competing for reps at outside linebacker, along with Michael Hoecht, Byron Young, Daniel Hardy and others.

Mathis was the 189th overall pick in the draft this year, going to the Rams in the sixth round.