Davante Adams didn’t make any daring declarations.
After the three-time All-Professional receiver signed with the Rams, he modestly described what he may present a workforce that superior to the NFC divisional spherical final season.
“I’m just here to be another piece to hopefully get over the hump,” he stated.
Coach Sean McVay has grander designs for a workforce that can be led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, and an offense additionally that includes Adams, receiver Puka Nacua, operating again Kyren Williams and as many as 4 tight ends.
After Stafford labored via a again subject and eventually started working towards for the Sept. 7 opener in opposition to the Houston Texans, the Seventeenth-year professional — like Adams many months earlier than — saved it easy.
“I’m just happy I get to be back out there,” he stated.
As are the Rams, a workforce thought to be a official risk to make a 3rd Tremendous Bowl look beneath McVay.
“Having Matthew back is just like, ‘Yeah, all right, we’re ready to roll,” Williams stated.
Stafford, 37, stays the important thing for an offense aiming to attain rather more than final season. Stafford handed for 20 touchdowns, with eight interceptions for a unit that averaged 21.6 factors per sport, which ranked twentieth amongst 32 groups.
The Rams had been fifteenth in offense (331.4 yards per sport), tenth in passing (227.5) and twenty fourth in speeding (103.8).
The Rams adjusted Stafford’s contract final spring — he’ll carry a $47.5-million salary-cap quantity this season, in keeping with Overthecap.com — and now he’ll handle a again subject whereas searching for a second Tremendous Bowl title.
“There’s unfinished business for him,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur stated.
Huge receivers Puka Nacua, left, and Davante Adams can be on the forefront of the Rams’ passing assault this season.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
Adams, 32, and Nacua, 24, are searching for their first Tremendous Bowl titles. They usually may give the Rams their first pair of 1,000-yard receivers since Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp achieved the feat in 2019.
The remaking of the offense started after final season when the Rams determined to maneuver on from Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive participant of the 12 months and Tremendous Bowl LVI most beneficial participant.
Adams performed eight seasons for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, two-plus with the Las Vegas Raiders and a half-season with the New York Jets. He has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving seven instances, together with the final six in a row.
“He can win inside, he can win outside, he’s so smart, and he and Matthew really see the game through a similar lens,” McVay stated.
Nacua established rookie receiving information in 2023. Regardless of taking part in in solely 11 video games final season, he completed with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns.
Tutu Atwell, who signed a one-year, $10-million contract, second-year professional Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and rookie Konata Mumpfield are different receivers.
All have raved about Adams’ expertise, expertise and willingness to share info.
Williams carried the ball 316 instances final season. In August, the Rams rewarded the fourth-year professional with a $23-million extension. McVay and LaFleur plan to provide Blake Corum and, maybe, rookie Jarquez Hunter alternatives to take the load off Williams.
“I expect, and kind of know, that my reps are going to get cut down,” Williams stated. “So for me, it’s making the most of the ones I do get, and being able to not only run the ball, but contribute in the pass game, the blocking game, all that stuff.”
Operating again Kyren Williams, left, can be a central element of the Rams offense, even when he doesn’t see 316 carries like final season.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Stafford and the backs will function behind a line that has welcomed the return of middle Coleman Shelton, however consists of confirmed veteran tackles dealing with questions on their sturdiness.
On Monday, left sort out Alaric Jackson, who obtained a $35-million extension, can be a full participant in observe for the primary time since he was recognized with blood clots in his legs in June. Proper sort out Rob Havenstein, an Eleventh-year professional, is coming off surgical procedure on each shoulders.
The speeding and passing assaults are anticipated to morph with 4 tight ends — Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson — on the roster.
McVay has usually deployed one tight finish. Now it could possibly be two, three or probably 4.
“Not saying it’s going to be exponentially much more,” Higbee stated, “but… when you’ve got that talent in the room you want to get it on the field and use it.”
