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Don’t look for Jared Verse to appear on the chest Sunday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.<\/p>\n
In 2024, before a late December game against the New York Jets in New Jersey, Verse and the other Rams outside linebackers appeared to be trying to prove their toughness by warming up the shirts in 20-degree heat.<\/p>\n
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The verse said Thursday that former Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht was the one who instigated the protest.<\/p>\n
Another surprise is Sunday when the Rams play the Chicago Bears in the NFC divisional game in temperatures that could wind chill below zero degrees.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/b> Matthew Stafford not worried about facing Bears in cold weather: ‘It’s going to be a lot of fun’<\/p>\n
“Hoecht isn’t here right now,” said Vesi, laughing loudly, “so I don’t want to take mine off. It might be short-sleeved as usual. But shirtless…”<\/p>\n
Verse, the 2024 NFL defensive rookie of the year, made his second Pro Bowl after recording 7\u00bd sacks, a number that doesn’t fully represent his impact on opposing offenses.<\/p>\n
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Under first-year coach Ben Johnson, the Bears averaged 25.9 points and 369.2 yards per game, which ranked ninth and sixth, respectively, among the NFL’s 32 teams. The Bears are third in rushing (144.5 yards per game) and 10th in passing (225.1).<\/p>\n
Quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was sacked just 24 times, third fewest in the league behind the Rams and Denver Broncos, who each allowed 23 sacks.<\/p>\n
“He looks comfortable,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said of Williams, who also rushed for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns, “He looks calm.”<\/p>\n
Colston Loveland is Williams’ favorite. Loveland had a team-best 58 receptions during the regular season, and Loveland and receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze each had 6 touchdowns.<\/p>\n
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In the Bears’ 31-27 wild card victory over the Green Bay Packers, played in a wind chill of 26 degrees, Williams completed 24 of 48 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Loveland was targeted 15 times, and had eight catches for 137 yards.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/b> Commentary: Why Stan Kroenke was the only NFL owner to bring football back to LA<\/p>\n
Rams coach Sean McVay said Williams played well in and out of rhythm.<\/p>\n
“Those second-reaction plays, where he rides to the right or swings to the left and guys figure out how to work with him,” McVay said, “are the ones that are really scary.”<\/p>\n
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Jumping or jumping on Williams is pointless, Verse said, because “he can run away from anything you throw at him.” So it is important to wrap the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.<\/p>\n
“It is impossible to say that he will not leave one of us,” said iVesi, “but all of us must continue to pursue him and be able to attack him.”<\/p>\n
The weather and conditions can make both teams rely on their rushing attacks.<\/p>\n
Bears running back D’Andre Swift rushed for nine touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass during the regular season. In the wild card game, Swift carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards.<\/p>\n
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Last season, the Rams’ season ended at the division stage on a cold, snowy day in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Verse said he will not be affected by the Chicago cold, citing his youth in Ohio and time spent in New York.<\/p>\n
“I’m used to playing in the hail,” he said. “That doesn’t really bother me or anything.”<\/p>\n
Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo did not practice because of a back problem, according to the injury report … Guard Kevin Dotson, who has been out for three games with an ankle injury, was limited in his first practice since being injured Dec. 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. Dotson said this week he intends to fully train the ankle, hoping to play on Sunday. … Sula, a candidate for multiple NFL head coaching jobs, said he will participate in discussions Friday after the Rams finish putting together their game plan for the Bears. “Focus fully on the Bears,” said Shula, “and after practice [Friday] worry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Get the best, most interesting and weirdest news of the day on the LA sports scene and beyond in our Sports Report newsletter.<\/p>\n
This story first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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