Tag: Taylor Rapp

Taylor Rapp launching NFT, will donate proceeds to fight anti-Asian hate

Taylor Rapp is launching his own NFT collection and will donate funds to fight anti-Asian hate.

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have become the hottest thing on the internet lately, and Los Angeles Rams safety Taylor Rapp is getting in on the fun. Only, he’s launching a collection of NFTs for a good cause, not to make a quick buck.

Rapp told CNBC in an interview Tuesday that he’s launching six NFT collections to help fight anti-Asian hate by donating “a large chunk” of the proceeds to the #StopAsianHate GoFundMe campaign, which has raised nearly $5 million to date.

Rapp’s NFTs will go live on Thursday and will feature 90 different digital pieces across six collections, which celebrate his Asian heritage. The set is called Taylor Rapp-Year of the Ox NFT Collection.

Since being a second-round pick by the Rams in 2019, Rapp has been active in the Asian-American community and has tried to blaze a trail for younger Chinese-American athletes like himself to make it in the NFL. This is his latest effort to support the community, raising money to combat the recent violence against it.

“I am Asian American, and this community means a lot to me,” Rapp told CNBC. “I wanted to help my people, and what better way to raise money right now to donate than through creating an NFT collection and using my platform.

“I felt like it was a responsibility for me to go out there and do what I can using my platform and my name to try to help out my community and bring more awareness to what is going on right now.”

If you haven’t become aware of the NFT craze recently, collections are being launched by athletes, celebrities and artists everywhere. Essentially, NFTs are digital pieces of art and function similar to virtual trading cards. NBA’s TopShot has become a wildly popular platform, with fans buying and selling highlights of NBA players. Some are worth a few bucks, while others sell for several thousands.

Rapp joins Patrick Mahomes and Rob Gronkowski as NFL players who have launched their own NFT collections, and they certainly won’t be the last to do so.

“I believe the NFTs are here to stay, and they will eventually take over sports trading cards,” Rapp said. “I wouldn’t be surprised in the next three to four years if every player had their own NFT collection.”

Rapp’s collection will be released Thursday on OpenSea, if you’re interested in buying one of his pieces for a good cause.

Taylor Rapp likely to miss final two games, Micah Kiser doubtful for Week 16

Sean McVay doesn’t think either player will return this week, and Taylor Rapp may not play at all this season.

Sean McVay shared some disappointing news on the injury front Monday, ruling out Cam Akers for at least the next game against the Seahawks due to a high ankle sprain. But the Rams will also be without two other key defenders once again, too.

McVay said he doesn’t expect Micah Kiser or Taylor Rapp to be activated off injured reserve this week, meaning they’ll miss yet another game. Kiser has a chance to return for the season finale against Arizona, but Rapp will likely stay on IR for the next two weeks.

“We might have a chance with Micah. Probably not with Taylor,” McVay said.

Troy Reeder and Nick Scott have both played well in place of Kiser and Rapp, but they’re still key contributors on defense who the Rams would love to have back for the final postseason push.

Kiser has been out since Week 11 with a knee injury, while Rapp hasn’t played since Week 10 due to a knee sprain.

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Rams won’t have Kiser or Rapp vs. Jets, unsure about Lewis

Micah Kiser and Taylor Rapp are both expected to remain on IR this week against the Jets.

The Los Angeles Rams are still awaiting the returns of Micah Kiser and Taylor Rapp, who are both on injured reserve with knee issues, but it doesn’t sound like either player will be back this week against the Jets.

Sean McVay spoke to the media on Monday to open Week 15 and he indicated that their statuses aren’t going to change. Both are expected to remain on IR for another week. Kiser and Rapp have each missed the minimum three games since landing on IR, so they could be activated as soon as they’re healthy.

McVay also shared an update on Terrell Lewis, who has missed the last two weeks with a knee injury. He’s unsure whether the rookie will be available against New York despite Lewis going into Week 14 against the Patriots without an injury designation.

In Kiser’s place, Troy Reeder has played well, as has Kenny Young in the last two games. At safety, Jordan Fuller and John Johnson never come off the field and won’t even when Rapp returns, but Rapp would likely supplant Nick Scott as the top backup.

Taylor Rapp not expected to be activated off IR this week

Rapp has been on IR since injuring his knee in Week 10 against the Seahawks.

Taylor Rapp has battled through multiple knee injuries this season, setting him back in his second year as an NFL safety. After missing time in training camp, he injured his knee again in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks and landed on injured reserve.

He’s eligible to be activated this week, having missed the last three games, but it doesn’t sound like that’s in the cards for the Rams. Sean McVay said on Monday that no players on short-term injured reserve are expected to be activated in time for Thursday’s game against the Patriots.

That list includes Kai Forbath and Andrew Whitworth, too, but Matt Gay is firmly entrenched as the team’s kicker and Whitworth isn’t expected to return until the end of the season, best-case scenario. Micah Kiser is also on injured reserve, but he has to wait at least one more week before he can be activated.

Nick Scott has stepped into Rapp’s role as the third safety, playing meaningful snaps in recent weeks. His emergence as a solid option on the Rams defense has lessened the urgency for Rapp to return, allowing him to take his time in recovering from this latest knee injury.

Rapp is a quality player who’s one of the better tacklers on defense, but the Rams are surviving without him right now thanks to Scott.

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Rams place Whitworth and 2 others on IR, sign K Matt Gay

The Rams made a handful of expected moves official on Tuesday.

The expected have now become official. On Tuesday, the Rams announced that they have placed Andrew Whitworth, Taylor Rapp and Kai Forbath on injured reserve.

The moves come just one day after Sean McVay said they were all expected to land on IR, following the injuries they suffered in Sunday’s win over the Seahawks. Each player will be forced to miss at least three games, though Whitworth is expected to be sidelined for about 6-8 weeks, according to McVay.

Additionally, the Rams have signed kicker Matt Gay, who was most recently on the Colts’ practice squad before being released earlier this month. He’ll compete with Austin MacGinnis at kicker as the Rams once again search for consistency at kicker.

Gay was a fifth-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2019 but struggled as a rookie. He went 27-for-35 on field goals last season and missed five of his 48 PATs.

Sean McVay shares injury updates on Taylor Rapp, Kai Forbath

The Rams came out of Sunday’s win banged up with three players likely heading to injured reserve.

The Los Angeles Rams came away with a win over the Seahawks on Sunday, but they paid the price in the process. Three players are heading to injured reserve after getting hurt in the game, including Andrew Whitworth.

Taylor Rapp and Kai Forbath will join Whitworth on IR, Sean McVay said Monday. Rapp injured his knee in the first half of Sunday’s win, while Forbath hurt his ankle in the second half.

Rapp’s injury is a Grade 2 MCL sprain, which is expected to keep him out 3-4 weeks. Forbath has a lateral sprain, though it’s unclear how long he’ll be out.

Additionally, Samson Ebukam has ankle inflammation but it sounds like a minor issue.

The Rams are already without Terrell Burgess for the rest of the year after he broke his ankle, but fortunately Jordan Fuller is back. He was activated off IR prior to Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.

The depth at safety will certainly be tested, with Nick Scott likely to get more playing time as a result.

Report: Taylor Rapp is believed to have suffered MCL sprain

Rapp has already returned from one knee injury this season.

A lot of good came out of Sunday’s game for the Rams, as they beat the Seahawks 23-16 and moved into a tie for first in the NFC West. However, they suffered a few injuries in the process.

Taylor Rapp left the game in the first half with a knee injury and was unable to return. Sean McVay didn’t have an update on his status after the game, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared a report Sunday night.

According to Pelissero, Rapp is believed to have suffered a sprained MCL, though he’s undergoing an MRI, as expected. This is the second knee injury Rapp has suffered this year, the first of which happened in training camp.

Rapp’s injury came in the same game that Jordan Fuller returned for after he was on IR with a shoulder/neck injury. Rapp has come on in recent weeks after struggling early, playing much better in place of Fuller.

The Rams already lost Terrell Burgess for the year with a broken ankle, so going without Rapp for an extended period of time would be difficult.

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Taylor Rapp injures knee, is doubtful to return vs. Seahawks

Just as the Rams get Jordan Fuller back, Taylor Rapp goes out with an injury

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The Los Angeles Rams got Jordan Fuller back from injury on Sunday afternoon after he missed three games in a row with a shoulder/neck injury, but just as he returned, Taylor Rapp exited. In the first half against the Seahawks, Taylor Rapp suffered a knee injury and was quickly ruled doubtful to return.

That’s bad news for the Rams, who are getting thin at safety after suffering several injuries at the position. Rapp was filling in for Fuller while the rookie was out.

He made one tackle before exiting the game with the injury.

Rapp missed just about all of training camp with a knee injury this summer, which caused him to fall behind a bit and thrust Fuller into the starting lineup.

Assuming he doesn’t return to the game, Sean McVay should have an update on Rapp’s status afterwards.

6 takeaways from Rams’ sloppy 28-17 loss to Dolphins

The Los Angeles Rams’ offense was a disaster in Miami. Their defense wasn’t. Here are a few key takeaways from the team’s Week 8 loss.

The Los Angeles Rams may have physically traveled to Miami for a Week 8 matchup against the Dolphins, but only the defense seemed to show up to the game. The Rams suffered a 28-17 loss to the Dolphins in their final game before their Week 9 bye.

It felt like their Week 6 loss to the 49ers would be the most embarrassing loss by the Rams this season, but alas, they found a way to top it in Miami.

Here are six takeaways from a frustrating Week 8 defeat.

Watch: Rams’ DBs combine for dazzling interception in end zone

Troy Hill deflected the pass into the hands of fellow DB Taylor Rapp for a Rams interception.

Teamwork came into play for the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary as the Chicago Bears got inside their foe’s 10-yard line for the first time Monday night at SoFi Stadium.

Watch as Taylor Rapp comes down with the pick of Nick Foles after Troy Hills breaks up the pass and deflects the ball to his fellow defensive back.

The play set up the Rams for a drive that went 80 yards in eight plays and 80 yards with Jared Goff hitting tight end Gerald Everett for a 12-yard TD. After the PAT, it was 24-3.