Los Angeles Rams

Are we sure Aaron Donald wants to stay retired?

The former Los Angeles Rams star, who walked away from the NFL in March, looked to be in midseason form in a pair of videos posted by DeSean Jackson. Wearing street clothes, Donald out-ran six-time Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy in a foot race, though McCoy avenged his honor in a rematch.

Donald has always been a physical marvel.

As a senior at Pittsburgh, he had 11 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss en route to winning a slew of individual awards. What might have caught the attention of scouts most, however, was when he ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Through the years, you couldn't help but to pity offensive linemen because a defensive tackle this big shouldn't be this quick and agile.

Donald explained in the spring that "the passion to play the game is no longer there for me" and he's "satisfied with what I was able to do in 10 years," hence his decision to retire.

Especially after watching Jackson's videos, some NFL general managers might nonetheless feel compelled to ask the 33-year-old whether he feels like he has one more season in him.

Stetson Bennett will serve as the Los Angeles Rams primary backup quarterback during Jimmy Garoppolo's suspension.

Garoppolo will miss the first two weeks of the 2024 season due to "violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances." While the Rams could have opted to sign a veteran to sit behind Matthew Stafford, head coach Sean McVay is instead letting Bennett take on the responsibility after his performance in two preseason games.

"He did a good job," McVay said, per Stu Jackson of TheRams.com. "I think he got a body of work in terms of both of those games going from wire to wire. I think he's done really well in some of the practice settings. And when you do look at it, you're obviously very fortunate to have Jimmy that will be coming back on Week 3, but he's done enough that we feel good about him for those first couple weeks."

Bennett was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after winning two consecutive National Championships with Georgia. He played in the 2023 preseason but was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list early in his rookie season and would not return.

He returned in the 2024 preseason and it was a mixed bag. He went 41-of-69 for 437 yards and two touchdowns. but notably tossed five interceptions. He threw four of those in one game against the Dallas Cowboys, but this trend could be concerning if he were thrust into game action.

Stafford dealt with some hamstring tightness during training camp, so his health in the first two weeks is not a guarantee. McVay choosing to not seek a more established interim backup shows a vote of confidence in Bennett and that the team is focusing on the potential he has flashed instead of the mistakes he has made.

The Rams will open up the 2024 season on Sept. 8 against the Detroit Lions. Garoppolo will be eligible to return on Sept. 22 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones IV clarified on social media that he hasn't asked for a trade despite rumors about his future with the team:

This comes after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Rams permitted Jones and his representatives to pursue trade avenues.

According to Fowler, the Rams and Jones have yet to make progress on a long-term extension as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Jones was the runaway team leader in tackles (145) in 2023 and added 4.5 sacks and six pass breakups. The 24-year-old's influence within the defense has only grown after Aaron Donald's retirement.

Given he has yet to make the Pro Bowl or earn an All-Pro nod, t's doubtful that Jones would reset the linebacker market if he were to sign a new deal right now. He'd at least get a sizable raise from his $3.1 million base salary, though.

Rams general manager Les Snead told reporters in January that Jones was "definitely someone we'll discuss and definitely someone we'd like to have around." By March, however, Snead said Los Angeles "prioritized spending our resources on additions rather than re-signing from within," so no contract for Jones would be forthcoming.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop noted Donald is the last draft pick on the defensive side who has received an extension from the Rams, a stretch that dates back to 2018. There's also the broad dilemma in paying an inside linebacker his market value when the position isn't as valuable as it once was.

Allowing Jones to seek a trade doesn't necessarily guarantee his exit before Week 1. Other teams are pretty settled with the regular season so close, and it's unclear what kind of price the Rams are placing on the young defender. Losing Donald and Jones in the same offseason would be a massive blow for the defense, so L.A. would presumably be looking for something of serious value back.

However, Jones' latest statement shows he might not be leaving the Rams any time soon.

The Los Angeles Rams will be without one of their top offensive linemen for the first two weeks of the season.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Alaric Jackson has been suspended for the first two games of the year for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy.

Jackson will be able to return to the field for the Rams' Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Jackson recorded a PFF Grade of 66.2 a season ago, playing 968 offensive snaps, committing just three penalties and allowing one sack.

With Jackson now out, Los Angeles will begin the season with a pair of players serving suspensions.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who the Rams signed this offseason as a backup for Matthew Stafford, will miss the first two games of the year for violating the NFL performance-enhancing substance policy.

Rams' left guard Jonah Jackson and right tackle Rob Havenstein have dealt with injuries this offseason, as did Jackson, meaning it could be a rough start to the year for Los Angeles' offensive line.

A year after winning the Super Bowl in 2021, the Rams failed to reach the playoffs in 2022 but bounced back in 2023 to finish 10-7 and reach the wild-card round, where they fell one point shy of knocking off the Detroit Lions. Los Angeles will look to continue its positive momentum this year and once again be a contender in the NFC.

The Los Angeles Rams made a return trip to the postseason, in large part, because star quarterback Matthew Stafford stayed healthy for the majority of the season.

Stafford returned to Pro Bowl form in his 15 starts after injuries cost him eight games—and the Rams stumbled to a 5-12 record—the previous year.

Los Angeles appears primed for another playoff push in 2024, and it is hoping that the signal-caller can play a complete campaign for the first time since 2021.

Of course, there's no guarantee that the 36-year-old can stay healthy—he's currently dealing with a hamstring issue—and his long-term future in L.A. remains unknown.

Stafford agreed to an adjusted contract in late July, though he didn't have any additional years added to his deal, which runs through 2026.

These are reasons why the Rams and general manager Les Snead should take a long look at Cleveland Browns second-year signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is reportedly on the trade block.

"A league source said the Browns have been willing to engage in discussions about moving Thompson-Robinson with teams looking to bolster their quarterback rooms," The Athletic's Zac Jackson wrote on Tuesday.

Thompson-Robinson isn't an established NFL starter yet, but he's flashed potential in his limited opportunities. He made three starts in 2023, and while he went 1-2 as the starter, he helped deliver a late comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This preseason, the UCLA product has gone 27-of-35 for 260 yards and an interception. He continues to flash a good combination of mobility and arm talent, along with improved accuracy—his interception came off a deflection.

While there's still plenty of room for growth, Thompson-Robinson has a lot of skill that would translate well to Sean McVay's offense. He can rack up yards with his legs, throw to all areas of the field and throw with enough velocity to hit tight windows.

Trading for Thompson-Robinson could benefit the Rams in the short term because, for at least the first two weeks, they won't have a proven backup. Los Angeles signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but he's set to serve a two-game suspension for a PED violation.

The Rams have given all of the preseason work thus far to 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett, but the results have been mixed. He threw a go-head fourth-quarter touchdown in each game but also threw five combined picks.

McVay is not ready to hand the backup job, temporary or otherwise, to Bennett.

"We'll use all the time that we have," the Rams head coach told reporters.

Thompson-Robinson could give L.A. another QB option with more NFL experience than Bennett, who missed all of 2023 for personal reasons. In theory, he could also provide McVay with a young quarterback to develop for the future.

At 36, Stafford isn't really "old" by modern NFL standards, but that doesn't mean he's going to play well into his 40s. He and the Rams will have some tough decisions to make next offseason, as his contract restructuring left Stafford with a $53.7 million cap hit in 2025 and few guarantees for that season.

At some point, the Rams and Stafford will split, and if Bennett can't be the heir apparent, L.A. doesn't have one on its roster—with all due respect to Dresser Winn.

McVay could kick the tires on Thompson-Robinson as a possible quarterback of the future. At worst, he could provide a long-term backup plan on a budget. He is under contract through 2026 and won't carry a cap hit over $1.2 million in any of the next three seasons.

Acquiring Thompson-Robinson shouldn't be overly expensive either. He was a fifth-round pick last year and could probably be had for a Day 3 selection—though Jackson noted that Cleveland may try to use the quarterback as a "trade piece" in a deal for an offensive lineman or other experienced veteran.

The Browns are dealing with injuries at offensive tackle and cornerback.

The Rams could have a possible trade chip in former starting left tackle Joseph Noteboom, who was replaced by Alaric Jackson last season. The 29-year-old can provide valuable depth at multiple positions, but he's also entering the final year of his contract.

Trading Noteboom would save the Rams $6.6 million in 2024 cap space.

There are potential obstacles to acquiring Thompson-Robinson, of course. The Rams may have to consider moving Bennett or carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster to bring him in.

If Thompson-Robinson truly is available, however, he's the most promising young signal-caller L.A. could hope to add at this point in the summer. He's certainly worth a flier, and he probably won't remain available for long.

*Contract information via Spotrac.

Though he's had to sit out of some team activities due to hamstring tightness over the past week, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is not worried about quarterback Matthew Stafford missing time.

He did say that Stafford will approach this week with caution.

"I'm not concerned," McVay said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "I'm not. ... Do you want him to be able to get the work? Of course, but I'm not concerned based on what I understand the tightness is and erring on the safe side of caution for this week, if that's what we end up having to do."

Stafford exited the Rams' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys last week and also did not participate in a jog through the following day. He did not play in Los Angeles' preseason games against the Cowboys or the Los Angeles Chargers.

McVay expressed optimism as it relates to Stafford being on the field in the Rams' first game of the season in September.

"He can throw and do some of those things, as far as just some of the movement, if he's feeling good ... So we haven't decided that yet," McVay said. "But the arrow is pointing up and he's feeling good as it relates to the hamstring tightness from last week."

Should he not be ready to go for Los Angeles' season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8, the Rams would likely have to turn to second-year quarterback Stetson Bennett. Jimmy Garoppolo, who the team signed over the offseason, is suspended the first two games of the year for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy.

Bennett has had a shaky showing in preseason so far, throwing for 437 yards and two touchdowns along with five interceptions.

McVay's confidence seems to indicate that Stafford will be ready to go, though, so it seems unlikely the Rams would have to use Bennett.

In his 15th season last year, Stafford had 3,965 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, leading Los Angeles to the wild-card round where it fell short against the Lions.

Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant will serve as the team's head coach on Saturday as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers, per The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.

The move comes because head coach Sean McVay wants to give Pleasant experience in the role while he spends time in the broadcast booth on Saturday.

Pleasant was promoted to assistant head coach this offseason after spending 2023 as the defensive backs coach. He was a defensive backs and passing game coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2021 to 2022 and an offensive consultant for the Green Bay Packers in 2022.

When Pleasant joined the Rams staff in 2023, it marked the start of his second tenure with the team as he was a cornerbacks coach from 2017 to 2022.

Pleasant has served various roles around the league since 2013 and could be due for his first head coaching role soon, so Saturday will be a good chance to gain some experience before the next coaching carousel.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, McVay spoke highly of Pleasant, saying he "earned" the opportunity to lead the team on Saturday.

He's earned this right and it's more of just going through some of the mechanics," McVay said. "Meeting with the officials, handling some of the different things as it relates to timeouts, being able to communicate with both sides. Again, these games we approach very differently, but I think to be able to get those reps for the leadership role that he plays for our team, but also to be able to get those chances. I remember when I got opportunities when I was in Washington. Those were really cool things that I look back on and I really appreciate in hindsight. Maybe I didn't realize how beneficial and valuable they were. Like I've mentioned to you guys, he's earned the right of assistant head coach because of the influence and the positive effect that he has on everyone in this building. I think it's a great, earned opportunity and he'll do an excellent job. That certainly isn't exclusive to whatever the result is. It's more of the management and the way that you just handle everything from the players to the coaches and it'll be cool to see.

The Rams will take on the Chargers in their second of three preseason games after sneaking past the Dallas Cowboys 13-12 on a last-second touchdown last week. Though Los Angeles got the win, it wasn't exactly pretty as second-year quarterback Stetson Bennet threw four interceptions.

The Rams will look to clean things up this week as they continue preparing for the 2024 campaign.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford left Wednesday's joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys because of hamstring tightness, team officials told reporters (via ESPN's Sarah Barshop).

With Stafford out, backups Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett filled in under center for Los Angeles.

Stafford, 36, hasn't been immune to injuries in recent seasons. He missed eight games in the 2022 campaign due to elbow and back issues, while an a ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb forced him to leave a Week 8 loss against the Dallas Cowboys last season.

He didn't return to that contest, leaving him with a day-to-day designation. He then missed a Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, a 20-3 loss that saw backup Brett Rypien finished just 13-of-28 for 130 yards and an interception. The Rams' offense only managed 187 yards in the game.

The Rams had a bye in Week 10, but Stafford was able to return in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks as the team tried to turn around a 3-6 season.

They did just that, going 7-1 down the stretch to clinch a playoff spot. Stafford also sat out the final week of the season, with the team's postseason berth already secured.

When healthy, Stafford was inconsistent at times but ultimately posted a solid season, throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games while taking 30 sacks and completing 62.8 percent of his passes.

The 36-year-old is under contract through the 2026 season, and while that looked like it was trending toward being a rough contract when the team struggled, the late-season turnaround had Rams' fans singing a different tune.

So did the front office, reworking his deal:

If Stafford does miss time with this latest injury, backup Bennett—who had a rough preseason, especially in the opener against the Dallas Cowboys—would step into the starting role. Of note, Garoppolo is suspended for the first two games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo acknowledged the chaos surrounding his 10-year career in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season.

"It was chaotic at times, but they're all learning experiences," Garoppolo told Jeff Howe of The Athletic. "That's one thing I've taken from this. The NFL is crazy, man. Everyone has got a story. Everyone is going whichever way trying to make it. But at the end of the day, it's your story, and you've got to make the best of it. Good, bad, or indifferent, whatever happened in the past, it happened."

"Now I'm here, and I'm just trying to make every day the best day," he added.

The 32-year-old will be playing for his fourth team in 2024, as he signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles on March 15.

After starting his career behind Tom Brady on the New England Patriots and winning a Super Bowl during the 2014 season, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. Garoppolo signed a five-year extension worth $137.5 million with the 49ers, representing the largest contract in NFL history on an average annual basis at the time.

While San Francisco earned a trip to the Super Bowl during the 2019 season, the signal-caller struggled to stay healthy throughout his tenure with the team.

Garoppolo went on to sign a three-year, $72.8 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of his 2023 campaign. However, he recorded just seven touchdown passes compared to nine interceptions and was released by the team after one season.

As he prepares to serve as Matthew Stafford's reserve, he'll miss the first two contests of the 2024 season due to a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

The veteran is aware of his up-and-down career, although he's still looking forward to continuing it and helping the Rams as they attempt to secure their fourth trip to the playoffs in five years.