Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

3 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
Ramsey, Beckham Return to SoFi Stadium When the Struggling Dolphins Visit the Streaking Rams
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 8 months ago on
November 8, 2024

Jalen Ramsey and Odell Beckham Jr. were key pieces to the Rams' championship puzzle only three seasons ago and they've reunited this season with the Dolphins (2-6), and they'll return to SoFi Stadium to face the Rams (4-4) on Monday night. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LOS ANGELES — Jalen Ramsey and Odell Beckham Jr. were key pieces to the Rams’ championship puzzle only three seasons ago.

Just over a year after the Rams raised the Lombardi Trophy, both stars were already gone from Los Angeles.

Ramsey was shipped to Miami in early 2023 when the Rams embarked on a franchise reboot. Beckham left even earlier as an injured free agent, declining to accept the relatively meager terms offered by the Rams to their midseason acquisition.

The Rams didn’t want to lose either player, but they were already thinking about how to assemble another championship contender. After years of acquiring big-name players and their hefty contracts, Los Angeles parted with two current stars to pursue the future.

“You had to say, ‘OK, who’s the core? How many years does that core have together? It’s not going to last forever. When is it best to start trying to engineer a new core?'” Rams general manager Les Snead said.

“You’re always going to need to bring in younger players (on) rookie contracts,” he added. “They grow together. At that point in time, maybe you do use some draft picks to add players that are in their prime to go with other players in their prime. That’s probably when it really began. You just knew that … I don’t want to say the clock struck midnight, but the core, that team, that senior class, it just doesn’t last forever.”

Reunited in Miami

Ramsey and Beckham have reunited this season with the Dolphins (2-6), and they’ll return to SoFi Stadium to face the Rams (4-4) on Monday night in a meeting of teams heading in opposite directions.

Los Angeles has won three in a row with big contributions from players forming the new core of what it hopes will be another title contender, while Miami has lost three straight and six of seven to severely imperil a season begun with Super Bowl aspirations.

Ramsey’s shutdown ability, usually at the multifaceted “star” position, was vital during his 3 1/2 years with the Rams. He became an All-Pro in 2021, and he made 10 interceptions for LA.

“I love Jalen,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He knows the respect, the admiration that I have for him as a player, what he meant to this team. There was a lot of tough decisions that were on the horizon for us as a football team. It didn’t have anything to do with us not wanting him here. There was a lot of things that we had to do as a result of previous years. He understood that.”

Beckham already faced the Rams last season, catching a TD pass in a win for the Baltimore Ravens.

Tua’s First Start

Tua Tagovailoa made his first NFL start the previous time Miami faced the Rams, back in 2020. On his second snap, he fumbled while getting sacked by Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, leading to a Los Angeles touchdown.

Miami went on to a 28-17 upset victory, although Tagovailoa passed for just 93 yards.

“(That was) a ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment,” Tagovailoa said Thursday. “It was my first pass down, and it was a strip-sack. … Oh, gosh.”

Tagovailoa has looked sharp since returning from injured reserve last month, passing for 465 yards and three TDs with no interceptions in two losses that can’t be hung on the offense.

A Big Relief

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead recognized that the Rams have always had a great defensive line, but he’s happy to not face one person in particular on Monday.

“I’m glad that Aaron Donald is gone,” Armstead said of the retired future Hall of Fame defensive lineman. “I hope he is enjoying retirement to the fullest, wish him the best. I had a lot of games against that man. He was really like that —first ballot, for sure.”

Armstead, who has played five career games against the Rams, and the Dolphins’ offensive line have cleared the way for Miami’s running backs to rush for more than 140 yards in four straight games and have only given up two sacks in the past two weeks.

Big Men Returning

The Rams’ offensive line continues to be in flux, but it could get a boost from the return of a few key contributors. Center Jonah Jackson is expected to be back after getting hurt in Week 2, while guard Steve Avila also has a chance to play his first game since Week 1. Backup tackle Joe Noteboom also should be back, and he could fill in for right tackle Rob Havenstein, who is out for at least this game after spraining his ankle last week.

Achane’s Impact

Second-year running back De’Von Achane tagged along with Miami’s receivers in the offseason whenever they had throwing sessions with Tagovailoa to make sure he developed a good chemistry with Tagovailoa in the pass game, and it has paid off this season.

Through Week 9, Achane has 420 yards rushing on 93 carries with three rushing touchdowns, along with 37 receptions for 302 yards and three receiving TDs.

Entering Week 10, he has the fourth-most receiving yards among NFL running backs and has been Tagovailoa’s most-targeted player this season at 37 — three more targets than Tyreek Hill.

“When it comes to catching the football, it’s like me running the football. That’s how I think of it,” Achane said. “The running back can get thrown the ball, too, especially in this offense. So it’s something I pride myself in.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

UP NEXT

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

UP NEXT

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

UP NEXT

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

8 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

15 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

15 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

15 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

15 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

15 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

15 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

16 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

2 days ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

2 days ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The I...

8 hours ago

A logo is displayed over a door at the U.S. headquarters of the social media company TikTok in Culver City, California, U.S. January 17, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

Boxes of aid are stacked as Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it has commenced operations to begin distribution of aid, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

A volunteer searches for flood victims after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
8 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC, U.S. on November 13, 2024. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
15 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
15 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
15 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
15 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend