There’s a lot of excitement about the Los Angeles Rams starting organized team activities, or OTAs, this week. Players aren’t hitting yet, but they’ve put on their helmets and begun running drills on the field – the first big step in the offseason workout program.
Two notable members of the Rams were absent from the first two days of practice, however: Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
If you’re not aware, OTAs are completely voluntary. There’s no obligation for any player to attend these practice sessions, and they can’t be fined or suspended by the team for missing them.
That alone makes the absences of Donald and Ramsey no concern whatsoever. They’re two of the primary leaders of this team, and their decision not to attend OTAs isn’t anything to be worried about.
Sean McVay said on the first day of OTAs that he’s had great conversations with Donald and has been in communication with him – so it’s not as if Donald skipping the start of OTAs caught the Rams by surprise. Coincidentally, OTAs began on Donald’s birthday, and he was celebrating with his family, seemingly on vacation somewhere nice.
The best defensive player in the world isn’t suddenly going to drop off because he skipped a few OTA sessions.
As for Ramsey, he usually works out on his own during the offseason. That doesn’t mean he misses every single practice and workout the Rams hold, but he prefers to train alone and get ready for the season in his own way.
I don’t workout with any1 in the off-season, I focus in by myself. That’s how I lock in personally. It’s nothing against anyone else, it’s just my thing & what I found I like. If you see me working with anybody, it’s the team, my brother or pops wit RPT to get back to the basics
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) June 29, 2021
And, in fact, Ramsey was at some of the Rams’ workouts last week when Troy Hill arrived. So it’s not like he’s staying far away from the team and their on-field workouts at the facility. He’s attended those.
Reunited. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/inn4YIoRHm
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 19, 2022
That didn’t stop “Good Morning Football” from debating whether it’s a concern that Donald and Ramsey haven’t been at OTAs yet. DeAngelo Hall doesn’t see a problem with it, saying “they are proven commodities, they understand the system, they know what’s going on.”
“More importantly, guys in that locker room trust those guys,” he said. “They know that they are going to come and be about their business when they step on the football field. … I ain’t worried about AD and Jalen Ramsey. They can go have fun. Just show up on game day.”
Schrager wasn’t as convinced, saying he is actually concerned about Donald skipping OTAs because of his flirtation with retirement and the new contract he’s seeking from the Rams.
Yes, Donald wants a new deal in order to continue his reign as the leader of their defense, but missing the start of OTAs isn’t his way of holding out. The Rams already plan to give him a raise, something they’ve been working on this offseason.
Should the Rams be concerned Jalen Ramsey & Aaron Donald have been absent from voluntary OTAs??
2-point Conversing is back and @PSchrags and @DeAngeloHall23 are getting into it! pic.twitter.com/9pLxGJg8d7
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 25, 2022
Would the Rams love to have Donald and Ramsey running around on the field during OTAs with their teammates? Of course. Is McVay going to lose sleep over it? Absolutely not.
There’s nothing to be concerned about. Donald and Ramsey will almost certainly be there for the mandatory portion of minicamp, and they’ll show up to training camp in excellent shape like always.