There seems to be a general consensus that the Los Angeles Rams aren’t an elite team anymore.
After winning the Super Bowl to complete the 2021 season, they stumbled through a turbulent title defense last season, suffering key injuries to many players and dealing with poor play from their offensive line.
As a result, they won just five games and missed the playoffs.
This offseason, the Rams traded star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins while linebacker Bobby Wagner returned to the Seattle Seahawks.
However, the NFL reminded fans that the old guard of quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald are still around for L.A.
Matthew Stafford. Cooper Kupp. Aaron Donald.
The star power is back for the Super Bowl LVI Champs 🏆 @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/DgShH2NaU1
— NFL (@NFL) May 16, 2023
Donald, who is nearing his 32nd birthday and his ninth season, contemplated retirement, but he will be back to terrorize opposing signal-callers.
In 2022 he recorded 5.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits, all of which were career lows, and those numbers were low partly because he missed six games due to injury.
Stafford, who was the big missing piece in 2021, played in just nine contests last season and had an off year statistically, but one has to figure that his production will bounce back this fall at least somewhat.
Perhaps a major reason his production fell off in 2022 was that Kupp played in just nine contests because of a sprained ankle.
He still managed to put up 812 yards and six touchdowns a year after going for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns during the Rams’ championship season.
The Rams won’t claim the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season, but if they receive better luck when it comes to health, perhaps they will return to the playoffs.
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The Rams Are Signing A Former Ohio State Defensive Lineman
