By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 20:52 BST, 7 August 2025 | Updated: 20:52 BST, 7 August 2025
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jared Verse had to be helped off the field during practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday after bumping knees with teammate Braden Fiske.
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.
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse interacts with teammates during an NFL training camp Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
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.
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Left to right, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman (53), defensive end Braden Fiske (55), linebacker Jared Verse (8) and defensive end Kobie Turner (91) walk on the field during an NFL training camp Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse speaks to the media after the NFL football team's training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)