Latest news with #LosAngelesRams
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jimmy Garoppolo named one of the best backup QBs in NFL for 2025 season
Jimmy Garoppolo named one of the best backup QBs in NFL for 2025 season Matthew Stafford's job will never be in doubt for the Los Angeles Rams so long as he's healthy and able to play. But if something were to happen to him, the Rams have a great backup solution for someone to step in for the star quarterback. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who enters his second season with L.A., was named the second-best backup quarterback by Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano ahead of the 2025 season. Only the Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins ranked higher. "It doesn't get much safer at quarterback than Garoppolo, who racked up 38 wins and made a Super Bowl appearance with the 49ers," Manzano wrote. "Garoppolo can keep teams afloat amid injuries and has the skill set to run offenses smoothly. He lacks arm strength and is sometimes slow to react, but he has a nice gig in Los Angeles as Matthew Stafford's backup. If Garoppolo is needed to play, he can lean on Puka Nacua and Davante Adams." Garoppolo was solid in one start this past season — a meaningless Week 18 loss where the Rams benched all their starters ahead of the playoffs. He completed 65.9% of his passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. And that was with backups. If Garoppolo needed to play for Stafford, he'd likely get the full complement of weapons. He's also played with Adams, albeit in an awful season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Obviously, the Rams' season would change dramatically without Stafford. But Garoppolo's signing in 2024 and subsequent re-signing this offseason are corrections from the 2022 season, which saw a cavalcade of bad quarterbacks play with Stafford sidelined. Players like John Wolford, Bryce Perkins and even Baker Mayfield (pre-Buccaneers glow-up) combined for eight starts and went 2-6. Garoppolo likely won't be that bad in a pinch.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rams have made 'positive progress' with Williams
The Los Angeles Rams have reportedly made "positive progress" in contract talks with Kyren Williams, and Kyle Dvorchak dives into the fantasy outlook for the Pro Bowl running back in 2025.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' interior defensive linemen both make PFF's top-32 list
Rams' interior defensive linemen both make PFF's top-32 list The Los Angeles Rams have two of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, at least. Poona Ford and Kobie Turner both ranked inside PFF's top-32 list for the 2025 season. Ford finished No. 15, while Turner reached No. 17. "Ford didn't crack PFF's top interior defenders list last season, but he jumps all the way into the top 15 ahead of the 2025 campaign. His 85.3 PFF overall grade in 2024 ranked fifth among interior defenders," Trevor Sikkema wrote. "Ford has been a good starting defensive tackle throughout his career, but he seemed to put it all together as a run defender and a pass rusher this past season. "Turner followed up a fantastic rookie season with a solid Year 2. His 74.8 PFF overall grade was good for 11th among interior defenders, and his grade as a run defender improved from 68.8 to 74.8. He recorded nine sacks in 2023 and eight in 2024." Turner has been a great interior defensive lineman since he joined the Rams as a third-round pick in 2023, but the addition of Ford this offseason has turned one of L.A.'s biggest weaknesses in 2024 into one of its strengths in 2025. Ford is a great run-stopper, while Turner can get to the quarterback. That combination of strength and production will go far against opponents with good offenses, like the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford still ranked among NFL's elite duos entering 2025
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford still ranked among NFL's elite duos entering 2025 Despite aging questions and a modest 2024 stat line, Stafford and McVay remain one of the NFL's most respected and productive partnerships. The Los Angeles Rams have been among the NFC's best teams in each of the last two seasons, and it's no surprise considering they have one of the best head coach-quarterback partnerships the league has seen since 2021. Head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford have been ranked the No. 3 coach-quarterback duo in the NFL entering the 2025 season, according to Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame. It's the same spot they held in last year's rankings, but this time, the context feels different. The Rams are no longer a team trying to reclaim past glory—they're actively building on it. The Rams are back to being Super Bowl favorites after a few seasons as fringe contenders. Matthew Stafford is 37 years old but still one of the NFL's top signal-callers despite having only thrown for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns across 16 starts in 2024. McVay is one of the best tacticians in the league, having already won a Super Bowl in the 2021 season. Stafford, now 37, continues to defy the typical quarterback aging curve. While his 2024 stats (3,762 passing yards, 20 touchdowns) won't jump off the page, his command of McVay's system, ability to elevate young talent, and clutch performances have kept the Rams firmly in the title mix. McVay, meanwhile, remains one of the most innovative minds in football, a Super Bowl-winning tactician whose offensive schemes continue to evolve with the game. His partnership with Stafford has been foundational to L.A.'s success, especially as the team retooled its roster after parting ways with several veterans in recent years. Only two duos outranked them: John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens, who will face off against the Rams in Week 6, and Andy Reid with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. That's elite company, and fitting for a duo that already has a championship together and might not be done chasing another. The Rams may not be the flashiest pick to win it all in 2025, but with McVay and Stafford steering the ship, they're as dangerous as anyone. Follow Rams Wire on X and Facebook for more coverage!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford offer similar reasons for not wanting to play flag football at 2028 Olympics: Leave it 'to the younger guys'
Football is a young man's game. Once a player hits 32, the bottom can drop out at any moment. Running backs don't get that same treatment. Once they hit 29, people are eager to write them off. But the best-of-the-best quarterbacks can seemingly play forever. Tom Brady did it. Drew Brees did it. Aaron Rodgers recovered from a torn Achilles to play last season at age 40. Advertisement Los Angeles Rams starter Matthew Stafford isn't quite that old yet, but he's close. At 37, Stafford is still putting up capable numbers as a starter. While Stafford could probably keep playing a few more years, he has no interest in seeing how his skills translate to the world of flag football. NFL players were cleared to play the sport at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but don't expect to see Stafford take the field when the time comes. The long-time veteran joked that maybe he would be interested in coaching the team, but that's about it. That's an appropriate response from Stafford, who will be 40 when the 2028 Summer Olympics begin. Even if he's still playing in the NFL at that point, it's unlikely he's going to want to take on the challenge of prepping for the Olympics and then playing an entire NFL season. Advertisement Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes isn't in the exact same position, but he offered up a similar reason for skipping out on the 2028 Olympics. Mahomes, 29, said he would leave flag football "to the younger guys." It's silly to think of Mahomes as an old player, but he's been in the NFL for eight seasons now and will be 32 when the 2028 Olympics begin. Mahomes could still be the best quarterback in the NFL at that time, but it sounds like he's more than content to let someone in their early-to-mid 20s getting the starting nod in the Olympics. Mahomes and Stafford are probably right, youth is the answer. The image of Stafford holding a clipboard and yelling out play calls on the sideline at the 2028 Olympics is so fun, however, that those in charge might need to make it a reality.
