Random Ramsdom: These LA players are from the Detroit area

Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 1/13/24

For some of these Los Angeles Rams players it will be a homecoming of sorts when they travel to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. At least a couple players, Alaric Jackson and Desjuan Johnson, reportedly hail from the Detroit area and for other players like Matthew Stafford, Detroit was place he called home for over a decade. This game will be here before we know it as we continue to wait all week for Sunday night! On another note I’ve started worrying about the Rams special teams. That unit didn’t impress throughout much of the season. It did have some moments, but overall spec teams for LA seemed like a work in progress. Hopefully the unit got some good work in this past week. We’ll see.

Feel free to let us know your thoughts. Happy Saturday and let’s go Rams!

Playoff opener chance to return home to Detroit for Rams’ Alaric Jackson and Desjuan Johnson (therams.com)

“Jackson said there weren’t any core memories that came to mind from his time in Detroit, other than his dad being a big Matthew Stafford and Lions fan, and rooting for other Lions players like Calvin Johnson and Ameer Abdullah. Jackson said he’s got about 60 tickets for friends and family attending this game.

Rookie defensive end Desjuan Johnson also hails from Detroit, attending East English Village Preparatory Academy. Like Jackson’s dad, he also has memories of watching Stafford-led Lions teams growing up.

Johnson has played in 11 games this season, but his biggest moment came in Week 18 against the 49ers, when he combined with Byron Young on the game-clinching sack fumble that helped the Rams keep possession of the No. 6 seed – and earn the right to play the Lions in his hometown.”

Aaron Donald named First-Team All-Pro, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams Second-Team All-Pro by Associated Press (therams.com)

“Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was named First-Team All-Pro, while wide receiver Puka Nacuaand running back Kyren Williams was named Second-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press on Friday.

For Donald, it’s the eighth time in his 10 seasons that he’s been named First-Team All-Pro by the AP. For Williams, it’s the first such recognition of his career, and it comes in his second season.

Recently selected to the second-annual NFLPA Players’ All-Pro team as well as his 10th-consecutive Pro Bowl selection, Donald posted eight sacks, 53 total tackles (16 for loss) and 23 QB hits while starting in all 16 regular season games he played in; he was one of multiple starters the team rested in Week 18. Those eight sacks marked the ninth time in his 10 seasons that he’s recorded at least that many in a single season.

Nacua finished the regular season as the Rams’ leading receiver with 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and five touchdowns; his receptions and receiving yards both set new NFL rookie records. He was recently named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month for December/January for his strong finish to the regular season.”

Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL wild card game (usatoday.com)

“The wild card round of the 2023 NFL playoffs will feature the Matthew Stafford – Jared Goff bowl.

The two quarterbacks swapped teams in a 2021 trade and face off in primetime on Sunday at Ford Field.

Stafford brings the Los Angeles Rams back to the playoffs. They missed the postseason last year after winning Super Bowl 56 with him at quarterback. The Rams are a wild card team this season and their first game of the 2023 playoffs is against Stafford’s old team: the Detroit Lions, who won the NFC North for their first division title in 30 years.

Stafford was drafted by the Lions as the No. 1 overall pick in 2009 and spent 12 seasons with them before being shipped west. He threw for 3,965 yards this season with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He’s had the help of veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp and record-setting rookie Puka Nacua.”