Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Puka Nacua and edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young were voted to the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced.
Stafford, 37, has passed for a league leading 4,179 yards and 40 touchdowns, with five interceptions, for a Rams team that is 11-4 and currently seeded sixth for the NFC playoffs. The Rams play the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night in Atlanta in the second-to-last game of the regular season. Stafford also made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2023.
Quarterbacks Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys also made the NFC roster.
Nacua, a third-year pro, leads the NFL with 114 catches and ranks second with 1,592 yards receiving. He was also voted to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2023.
Young, also a third-year pro, has amassed 11 sacks, which ranks ninth in the NFL. This is his first Pro Bowl recognition.
Verse has 6½ sacks and is regarded as one of the league’s most disruptive forces. He also made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last season, when he was also voted NFL defensive rookie of the year.
The Pro Bowl Games will be held Feb. 3 in San Francisco.
Cardinals sign Joshua Karty
Rams kicker Joshua Karty stands for the national anthem before a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 2.
(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
Kicker Joshua Karty is getting another NFL opportunity — but not with the Rams.
Karty, a 2024 sixth-round pick by the Rams who lost his job after struggling this season, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off the Rams practice squad, the Cardinals announced Tuesday.
The Rams play the Cardinals on Jan. 4 at SoFi Stadium in the regular-season finale. Kicker Chad Ryland also is on the Cardinals roster.
In eight games this season, Karty made 10 of 15 field-goal attempts and 23 of 26 extra points. But blocked kicks contributed heavily to early-season losses against the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
In early November, the Rams signed Harrison Mevis to replace Karty, and also signed veteran snapper Jake McQuaide to replace Alex Ward. Karty was ultimately waived but re-signed to the practice squad.
“I have a lot of belief in Josh Karty,” coach Sean McVay said at the time. “I think he’s a guy that’s going to have an incredibly bright future.”
Mevis made all eight of his field-goal attempts — including three last Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks — before missing a 48-yard attempt in the 38-37 overtime defeat.
McVay fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn the day after the loss, which included a punt return for a touchdown by Rashid Shaheed that sparked the Seahawks’ comeback.
Ben Kotwica is now overseeing Rams special teams.
Etc.
With heavy rain forecast for the Southland, the Rams will practice at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday and Friday. The Rams will be off Thursday for Christmas Day.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
