Latest news with #Rams'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rams' Puka Nacua is learning a lot from new teammate Davante Adams
Puka Nacua is using organized team activities to hone his craft and prepare for his third NFL season. But the Rams' star receiver also recently took time to help others prepare to avoid potential health challenges. Advertisement Nacua last week returned from a trip to Samoa, where he and his mother joined medical professionals from Utah Valley University to provide testing, clinics and education about diabetes. Nacua said his father, who died when Nacua was a youngster, experienced complications from the disease. So the opportunity to travel with his mother to his maternal grandmother's village was 'kind of a full-circle moment' for his family, Nacua said Tuesday. 'To be able to go and improve the situation in the homeland was something sweet,' Nacua said after the team went through a workout. Nacua, who missed the Rams' first on-field workout because of the trip, appeared to be at full strength Tuesday, with no evidence of the knee injury he fought through last season. Advertisement Nacua is part of a remade Rams receiver corps that is expected to elevate the offense for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. Read more: Rams expanding markets, beginning with minicamp in Hawaii The Rams released veteran Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and replaced him with three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. They also re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10-million contract. Second-year pro Jordan Whittington and rookie Konata Mumpfield also are competing for roles. 'It definitely is a little bit different,' Nacua said of Kupp's absence from the receivers' meeting room. 'The spot he used to sit in, I think, it's definitely occupied by somebody now, so everybody's getting used to it.' Advertisement But Nacua said Adams, who was absent Tuesday, has come in and provided leadership. 'Somebody who's played at a super high level his whole career — and the knowledge he has is something different from what we're used to, having Coop in the system a long time,' Nacua said. 'It's been great to have him around and I feel like I'm learning something new every day.' Nacua, 24, proved a quick study after the Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Brigham Young. With Kupp sidelined at the start of the season because of injury, Nacua became quarterback Matthew Stafford's primary target. Nacua enjoyed a record-setting season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He was a finalist for the NFL offensive rookie of the year. Advertisement During training camp before last season, Nacua suffered a knee injury during a joint workout with the Chargers. He then aggravated the issue in the opener against the Detroit Lions, and was sidelined for five games. He still caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns for a Rams team that finished with a 10-7 record and advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Read more: Sean McVay dug deep in his bag of tricks to persuade Davante Adams to sign with Rams Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Nacua was 'continuing to work on his craft,' during organized team activities. 'He's naturally just a leader,' LaFleur said. 'Just the way he goes about it.' Advertisement In a few weeks, Nacua will play a prominent role for the Rams when they travel to Maui for a minicamp that will conclude voluntary offseason workouts. Nacua, who also is of Hawaiian descent, is expected to be warmly embraced by the locals during some activities that will be open to the public. 'I'm excited,' he said. 'I can't wait for everybody to come out there and have some shaved ice. I'm sure they'll be waiting for us.' Etc. The Rams have four coaches working with them during organized team activities as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellowship program. The coaches are Taylor Embree (tight ends), Chris Marve (defensive backs), Va'a Niumatalolo (outside linebackers) and Greg Stewart (offensive line). Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Rams' Puka Nacua is learning a lot from new teammate Davante Adams
Puka Nacua is using organized team activities to hone his craft and prepare for his third NFL season. But the Rams' star receiver also recently took time to help others prepare to avoid potential health challenges. Nacua last week returned from a trip to Samoa, where he and his mother joined medical professionals from Utah Valley University to provide testing, clinics and education about diabetes. Nacua said his father, who died when Nacua was a youngster, experienced complications from the disease. So the opportunity to travel with his mother to his maternal grandmother's village was 'kind of a full-circle moment' for his family, Nacua said Tuesday. 'To be able to go and improve the situation in the homeland was something sweet,' Nacua said after the team went through a workout. Nacua, who missed the Rams' first on-field workout because of the trip, appeared to be at full strength Tuesday, with no evidence of the knee injury he fought through last season. Nacua is part of a remade Rams receiver corps that is expected to elevate the offense for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. The Rams released veteran Cooper Kupp, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and replaced him with three-time All-Pro Davante Adams. They also re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10-million contract. Second-year pro Jordan Whittington and rookie Konata Mumpfield also are competing for roles. 'It definitely is a little bit different,' Nacua said of Kupp's absence from the receivers' meeting room. 'The spot he used to sit in, I think, it's definitely occupied by somebody now, so everybody's getting used to it.' But Nacua said Adams, who was absent Tuesday, has come in and provided leadership. 'Somebody who's played at a super high level his whole career — and the knowledge he has is something different from what we're used to, having Coop in the system a long time,' Nacua said. 'It's been great to have him around and I feel like I'm learning something new every day.' Nacua, 24, proved a quick study after the Rams selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 draft out of Brigham Young. With Kupp sidelined at the start of the season because of injury, Nacua became quarterback Matthew Stafford's primary target. Nacua enjoyed a record-setting season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. He was a finalist for the NFL offensive rookie of the year. During training camp before last season, Nacua suffered a knee injury during a joint workout with the Chargers. He then aggravated the issue in the opener against the Detroit Lions, and was sidelined for five games. He still caught 79 passes for 990 yards and three touchdowns for a Rams team that finished with a 10-7 record and advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Nacua was 'continuing to work on his craft,' during organized team activities. 'He's naturally just a leader,' LaFleur said. 'Just the way he goes about it.' In a few weeks, Nacua will play a prominent role for the Rams when they travel to Maui for a minicamp that will conclude voluntary offseason workouts. Nacua, who also is of Hawaiian descent, is expected to be warmly embraced by the locals during some activities that will be open to the public. 'I'm excited,' he said. 'I can't wait for everybody to come out there and have some shaved ice. I'm sure they'll be waiting for us.' The Rams have four coaches working with them during organized team activities as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching fellowship program. The coaches are Taylor Embree (tight ends), Chris Marve (defensive backs), Va'a Niumatalolo (outside linebackers) and Greg Stewart (offensive line).
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jared Verse challenges Aaron Donald to work out with him: 'He's not ready for that'
Jared Verse challenges Aaron Donald to work out with him: 'He's not ready for that' 'That little 500 bench he had. He's not ready for that. I'll be moving weight." There probably aren't many people who can keep up with Aaron Donald in the gym. He's a workout warrior who's always lived in the weight room, even now that he's retired from the NFL. Unsurprisingly, Jared Verse isn't afraid to poke the bear. He wants to go toe-to-toe with Donald in the gym, challenging the future Hall of Famer during a recent interview on Adam Schefter's podcast. Schefter asked if Verse ever gets to work out with Donald and this was his response, calling out the three-time Defensive Player of the Year for his 'little Instagram posts' in the weight room. 'No, he don't want that. He's not ready for that. He's not ready for that,' Verse said. 'That little 500 bench he had. He's not ready for that. I'll be moving weight. I'll be moving weight. Whenever he's ready for a workout – I'll be seeing his little Instagram posts, the dumbbell benches. He can get at me whenever he's ready.' Verse is the ultimate trash-talker and his comments about Donald were (mostly) in good fun, but you can bet he isn't afraid to get in the weight room with AD. He'd gladly take on Donald in a lifting contest and after seeing him plant 365-pound tackle Jordan Mailata on his back, he's got plenty of power in that 6-foot-4 frame. Now we just need Donald to visit the Rams' facility and get these two Defensive Rookie of the Year winners in the gym together. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Watch: Sean McVay breaking down this no-look throw by Matthew Stafford is awesome
Watch: Sean McVay breaking down this no-look throw by Matthew Stafford is awesome Stafford made a difficult no-look pass seem incredibly easy Part of what makes Matthew Stafford one of the best quarterbacks in football is his ability to make tough throws look easy. He might throw a dart to a receiver over the middle that looks like a simple completion, only to realize after watching the replay that he looked off the safety, reset his feet with pressure bearing down and threw his target open with great anticipation. Or more impressively, he used his eyes to hold an underneath defender and made a no-look throw to the receiver. He did that in the Super Bowl against the Bengals during the Rams' game-winning drive, and he did it again in the playoff loss to the Eagles this past January. When Sean McVay was on the 'Fitz & Whit' podcast this offseason, he talked about that specific no-look pass against the Eagles and explained what made it so special despite looking so easy. 'He's able to hold Nolan Smith to be expand him to be able to dot it on Puka Nacua for a big positive gain,' McVay said. 'And you're like, 'Oh, he just works across the board, hit a basic.' And it's like, 'Uh, no, mother. It was not like that. He actually manipulated a weakside hook player coming from on the line of scrimmage in a simulated fire zone and he made what looked like a routine play outstanding because of the intricacies of how he plays. Those are the things that you talked about that you don't take that stuff for granted and I know I don't either.' Stafford is a master of making the spectacular look routine, and McVay perfectly described how he does that. Playing quarterback isn't as simple as dropping back and throwing to an open receiver. Stafford plays with anticipation and never wastes any movement in the pocket, whether he's using his eyes, a shoulder fake or moving his feet to evade pressure. It's why he's had so much success during his decade-plus in the NFL.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- General
- USA Today
Sean McVay changed one word in the Rams' 'We not me' slogan and here's why
Sean McVay changed one word in the Rams' 'We not me' slogan and here's why McVay is changing one word in the Rams' slogan this year Sean McVay has built a strong culture in Los Angeles since being hired by the Rams as a 30-year-old head coach in 2017 – the youngest in NFL history. He's commanded the room from Day 1, going as far as studying his own team meetings to see how he can improve for next time. One of the best ways he leads is by putting the team before any individual, summarized succinctly by the slogan, 'We not me.' It's been printed on T-shirts for coaches and players, and also plastered on the walls of the Rams' headquarters. But in 2025, that slogan will look ever so slightly different. Instead of reading "We not me," it will say "We then me." Why? It has to do with also taking care of oneself, in addition to helping the team. Here's an excerpt from a feature story by Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic on how former college coach Chris Petersen influenced this shift from McVay. Influenced in part by Petersen, McVay said he will change the messaging and signage around the Rams' practice facilities this offseason. For years, his slogan and the starting point for his team culture has been 'We not me.' Now, it will say 'We then me.' The initial idea was to prioritize team over self. But, as McVay learned firsthand, when subjected to unique stress without constant maintenance, the self can decay — and maybe even destroy the collective. This change was actually spotted in the latest episode of "Behind the Grind" where Les Snead was sitting in the Rams' building with the new slogan in the background. It's a small adjustment but one McVay feels is necessary after losing himself a bit during the Rams' disastrous 2022 season. He didn't like the person he became that year and nearly stepped away from coaching altogether. He's since started to ensure he's taking better care of himself in addition to leading the team, creating better work-life balance and preventing himself from wearing down too quickly. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
