Rams' Jared Verse has to be helped off the field at practice with an apparent knee injury
Coach Sean McVay wasn't immediately certain of the severity of the injury for Verse, the NFL defensive rookie of the year last season and one of the NFL's top young pass rushers. Verse stayed down on the turf on his hands and knees for a long moment after walking off with assistance from training staff.
Although Verse joined the growing list of Rams injury concerns, McVay had encouraging news on quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is expected to practice with his teammates Monday for the first time this summer.
Verse had 4 1/2 sacks during the regular season and two more in the playoffs for the Rams, along with a 57-yard fumble return for a touchdown. An aggressive rusher and versatile all-around defender, the Rams' only first-round draft pick since 2016 is the heart of Los Angeles' rebuilt defensive front alongside Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Fiske, his college teammate at Florida State.
Turner is also week to week with a back injury, McVay said after the Rams' final practice before their first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Stafford has an aggravated disc that gave him a sore back, McVay confirmed, forcing him to miss the Rams' entire training camp at Loyola Marymount University. The 37-year-old quarterback had an epidural injection 'to allow him to be as healthy as possible,' McVay said.
The rest and injections appear to be working: Stafford will do a full workout Saturday while his teammates play their preseason opener. He will return to practice in individual drills next week, although he won't travel to El Segundo for the Rams' joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers.
'We're looking at it like he's got an acclimation period that starts on Saturday,' McVay said.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Juli Inkster wanted a tune-up for Senior Open. She nearly set an LPGA record
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Juli Inkster went to The Standard Portland Classic to face some competition ahead of the U.S. Senior Women's Open. The 65-year-old Hall of Famer nearly wound up setting an LPGA record. Inkster opened with a 69 and was poised to become the oldest player in LPGA history to make a 36-hole cut until consecutive bogeys on her back nine led to a 74. She was at 1-under 143, and it was looking unlikely for her to be among the top 65 and ties to make the weekend. JoAnne Carner was 64 when she made the cut in the 2004 Chick Fil-A Charity Championship. 'I frigging love JoAnne Carner,' Inkster said. "Yeah, just kind of means that I have a passion for the game. I love the game. You know, I'm really happy I played this week. Kind of when I signed up was kind of like, `What are you doing?' 'I was free, I was out there with Hannah Green and Stacy (Lewis) and had a great time,' she said. 'Just love watching the young kids swing. It's so impressive. I think the game is in a really good shape and happy to be here.' Inkster was competing at an LPGA event for the first time since 2022. She was asked what it was like when players recognized her. 'Most of them think I am Joanne Carner,' Inkster said. She was disappointed at her finish, especially the way she struggled off the tee toward the end. Along with the two bogeys, she said she played the final two par 5s sloppily. Still, there were few regrets. The U.S. Senior Women's Open is next week at San Diego Country Club. 'I think it was really good for me to play, whether I win or lose next week, whatever,' Inkster said. 'I'm glad I put myself out there.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: NFL initially proposed double-digit Rashee Rice suspension, open to a settlement
This season is up in the air for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is awaiting punishment for his involvement in a multi-car crash in Dallas last year. But earlier in the process, the NFL initially proposed an lengthy punishment, suggesting that Rice be suspended for double-digit games, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. In July, Rice pled guilty to two felony charges related to the crash, and was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail. The sentencing gave the NFL the opening to hand down an additional punishment, with a multi-game suspension expected. Per Pelissero, Rice's representation — including the NFLPA, his agents and his attorney — argued against the NFL's proposal, asking for a much shorter suspension that better reflects the precedent for a case like this. A hearing to determine Rice's suspension has been set for Sept. 30, likely making the receiver available for the start of the season. But Pelissero also reported that it was still possible for a settlement to be reached before the start of the season. If a settlement is reached, Rice may be able to sit out at the start of the season, rather than let the hearing stretch on into appeals and threaten the receiver's long-term availability. A double-digit suspension would be an unexpectedly harsh punishment for Rice in terms of this incident, keeping him off the field for more than half of the 2025 season. To put things in perspective, former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season for a pattern of sexual misconduct with massage therapists in the Baltimore area; in 2022, Deshaun Watson was suspended 11 games for a similar conduct policy violation. Rice's plea deal with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office gave him deferred probation, meaning that his case will be dismissed if he successfully completes his five years of probation. Rice can reportedly serve the 30 days of jail time at any point during his probation. Rice was also required to pay the medical expenses of the victims, totaling $115,481.91, as part of the deal. In addition to his sentence, Rice was sued for $1 million by the two people who were injured in the crash; that lawsuit was settled the day before he received his sentence. Despite the uncertainty, Rice has not been limited in training camp with the Chiefs, and has been playing in the team's typical rotation. "We're going to progress as normal with him," Kansas City head coach Andy Reid told reporters in July. "He'll go in and take all the reps that he'd normally take. We always rotate that position. So depending on what happens here in the future, whoever needs to play will be able step in, and they'll know what they are doing and be in good shape to do it." If Rice and the NFL do not reach a settlement before his Sept. 30 hearing, Rice will be available for the first four games of the season, including the Chiefs' opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 5 and the home opener (and Super Bowl rematch) against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 14.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-run homer (21)
Jazz Chisholm Jr. rips a two-run homer to right, extending the Yankees' lead to 3-0 in the 1st
