The Los Angeles Rams are done playing football for the 2024 season. After a hard-fought battle in the snow, the Rams fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round and now look ahead to 2025. There’s a lot to be hopeful for, with head coach Sean McVay still at the helm and the Rams employing two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in Jared Verse and Braden Fiske.
Verse and Fiske were the Rams’ first- and second-round draft picks in 2024, and were teammates together at Florida State. And the two made their presence known in both the regular season and postseason. But Fiske had to leave the Eagles loss early due to a knee injury.
In McVay’s first update since the loss, he revealed that Fiske’s knee injury will require a procedure. He spoke about the severity of the injury and what he expects from Fiske when it comes to a return, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
Rams head coach Sean McVay on Thursday said rookie defensive end Braden Fiske’s knee injury sustained in last Sunday’s Divisional Round loss to the Eagles will require a “minor procedure,” but it won’t affect Fiske’s availability for the beginning of the 2025 season.
“It’ll be a little minor procedure that he’ll have, but he’ll be ready to go, and it won’t affect his ability to be ready for next year,” McVay said in an end-of-season video conference with reporters Thursday morning. “Excited about his future.”
Knee procedures are rarely minor. However, McVay seems confident that the young defensive lineman will not need to miss any time in 2025. The 2025 season kicks off on Sep. 4, giving Fiske around seven months to recover from the knee procedure.
Fiske enters an exciting second year alongside Verse and a scrappy Rams defense. The unit hit a stride towards the end of the 2024 season, and it will be fascinating to see what additions the front office makes to turn them into one of the league’s elite units.
Sean McVay wants Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s status sooner
Matthew Stafford and the Rams have had a great partnership over the years, with the veteran immediately delivering a Super Bowl in his first year with the team and working alongside McVay. Stafford became underrated due to the lack of playoff success with the Detroit Lions, but he has shown the NFL that he is one of the best when it comes to postseason play.
However, there is some doubt as to whether or not Stafford will return to Los Angeles for the 2025 season as the team works to clear salary cap. The Rams have let go of popular stars in the past, and the sense is there’s a legitimate possibility that Stafford could be traded or let go.
Prior to training camp last year, Stafford and L.A. worked through contract details before agreeing on a restructured deal. This time around, though, McVay is hoping to have logistics sorted out much sooner than later.
