WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Coming off a Week 8 bye, the Rams are fully rested and ready for their Week 9 matchup against a Saints team that is making a quarterback change. Rookie Tyler Shough will start on Sunday for New Orleans, head coach Kellen Moore said, after Shough replaced Spencer Rattler in the middle of its Week 8 loss to Tampa Bay.
Ahead of the contest, head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, outside linebacker Jared Verse, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur spoke with local media about the benefits of the bye week, their preparation for the Saints and trade deadline moves. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"I wouldn't say 'no' (to there being a chance of more roster moves before the trade deadline). It's not something that we've really talked about. I think, if certain opportunities arise that you feel like it gives you a chance to be able to significantly upgrade your football team. But I feel really good about our group and the growth that I still think can be had from us." - McVay
McVay didn't rule out the possibility of another trade prior to next Tuesday's deadline, but is happy with the move they already made, adding cornerback Roger McCreary from the Titans. His initial conversations with McCreary since he was acquired on Monday have been fairly limited, but McVay told him that he's respected his game "from afar" and he's excited to get him comfortable with his teammates and "get him up to speed as quickly as possible."
In terms of the Rams' status after the bye week, McVay said, "It's been a few years since we've had an enjoyable bye or good, positive momentum." Three of their next four games will be at home, which McVay acknowledged as an opportunity for players to get back to a normal rhythm after their hectic week-plus of travel in Baltimore and London.
However, L.A. did put speedy wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) on Injured Reserve earlier this week, but McVay said they expect him to return after the four-game minimum that he misses on IR. His role won't be filled by one person, but by a variety of playmakers including wide receivers Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield, who McVay described as one of their many "mature rookies" who can work edges and separate very well.
"(I feel) better (than I would after a game). Obviously, I didn't take any hits last week, so that definitely feels better. But to be honest with you, our guys have been doing such a great job of keeping me clean. I mean, I felt pretty good, knock on wood, most weeks coming into the week." - Stafford
Stafford spent the bye week relaxing with his family, but also making sure to stay active and not just laying on the couch. He also went away with his wife Kelly for around 24 hours and attended Monday night's Dodger game that lasted 18 innings, but only stayed for 10 of them. Through seven games, Stafford has been pressured at the fifth-lowest rate among qualified quarterbacks (28.5%) and his time to throw (2.69 seconds) is the sixth-fastest, which has helped him feel healthy all year long.
The back issues that kept Stafford out of the majority of training camp haven't flared up much, although he said he does "a lot" to make sure it stays that way, including daily maintenance. Stafford's 17-2 touchdown-interception ratio is among the best in the league, and he attributes the lack of turnovers to the trust he has in himself and his teammates. Even with Atwell out for at least the next four games, Stafford said, "He's like everybody else," and they will find ways to set other players up for success in his stead.
"Oh, hell yeah (I wanted to play again after scoring three touchdowns vs. Jacksonville). I told Sean, I was like, 'I wish we could keep rolling at this point.' And then the other part is seeing that people keep playing and then they keep doing this, and you're like, 'Damn, I just had to sit around for a week.' So, yeah, I mean, it's the mature thing to think is that you're going to appreciate (the bye) regardless, but the competitor in me wants to keep going sometimes, especially when the body feels good." - Adams
Regardless of his yearning to build off an excellent performance against the Jaguars in London, Adams had to take a week off. He did so in Cabo, where he played some golf, rested his body and felt "extremely relaxed." The bye week also came at a good time in the season, around the halfway mark, which is a luxury that Adams hasn't had in a few years.
Adams reiterated that his Rams tenure has included "a lot of positives," but he feels that they haven't been able to "maximize" the potential of the offense with his connection with Stafford. They took a step closer to that in Week 7, but Adams still feels that there's room for improvement. When asked if they found a spark in that game that wasn't there beforehand, Adams said, "Yeah. I mean, we'll see what the red zone targets look like this week, then we'll be able to fully tell you on that."
He echoed McVay's claim that the Rams will be able to plug players in for Atwell because they have "such a versatile group." He also said those same young receivers players motivate him to be better with their effort snap in and snap out, especially in the run game.
"When you talk about a Ram, (McCreary's) just a Ram. He's tough, he's versatile, he's a physical guy, he's really smart, he's already been picking up the defense really well. He's just a guy that fits in really well." - Shula
Shula said they plan to involve McCreary "a little more" than they did last year's late-season addition at cornerback, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., in terms of getting the onboarding process. His versatility will also be a factor in that usage, as Shula said he's confident in McCreary's ability to play both inside and outside, allowing the Rams' primary slot defender, safety Quentin Lake, to be deployed in varying spots as well.
When asked about preparing for Shough with limited NFL tape to study, Shula said they have to go back to the preseason and college film to prepare for Sunday's game. "He's obviously a really good player. There's a reason why they picked him where they did."
The team may be 1-7, but Shula said, "If you watch the tape and you watch the cut-ups (of the offense), you would have no clue."
"They (the Saints' defense) got a lot of pride. I feel like since I was in Atlanta about nine years ago, there's still some of those... not the same guys, but just that same aura about the Saints' defense. We got a chance to go against them in August and our guys felt it firsthand. These are big, strong, prideful dudes." - LaFleur
Luckily, the Rams are expected to get Nacua and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein back from injury this week, and LaFleur said both have "looked good" in practice this week. Meanwhile, rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson has emerged as a playmaker in recent weeks after having a limited role to start the season. LaFleur said he's "doing a good job" of progressing as a blocker, and has improved in all phases of the game throughout the year.
Even without Havenstein and other injuries impacting the offensive front, LaFleur said the line has been able to give Stafford "an extra click" when he needs it. They are "fighting and grinding and scratching and clawing to make sure that they keep the defense off of him," and now they will get their veteran right tackle back, barring any setbacks.
When asked if anything has stood out about Stafford during his career year, LaFleur's answer was simple: "No." The elite numbers and tape that he's produced this season are exactly what they expect from him.
"(Shough making his first start is) definitely a thought in my mind, but it's not something I'm focused on too much. I mean, when you see his college tape, he had 4,000-something yards last season. He's very well-established, he played with a good system, he knows how to control himself." - Verse
Based on his college and limited NFL tape, Verse said that Shough "can make you pay" if you don't focus on him. So, while the Rams played New Orleans last year and scrimmaged them during the 2025 preseason, there have been significant changes that alter the structure and approach of the team. They have a new head coach in Kellen Moore, and young players on the offensive line that have grown since their last meeting. So, they can't rely too heavily on that experience.
After last year's bye, the Rams were 1-4 and "fighting an uphill battle," Verse said. Despite Los Angeles' 5-2 record, he said they are doing the same thing now because, "You get comfortable in this league, you can pay, like, humility's a day away." Verse got to see his family during the bye week, but still got some workouts in and is ready to hunt the quarterback again on Sunday.
"I finally get to hit somebody, it feels like it's been too long for sure. But it felt great to be back out here." - Nacua
Nacua practiced in full on Thursday after an ankle sprain he sustained against Baltimore kept him out of the Rams' Week 7 game versus the Jaguars. He rehabbed during the bye week, saying he feels "fantastic" and expects to play on Sunday barring any setbacks.
Watching Adams score three touchdowns from the sideline in London was "a little painful," because they'd been working on some celebratory handshakes that couldn't be put to use. Still, it was "super exciting" to watch him make the highlight-reel catches they've become accustomed to seeing from him during practice.
Meanwhile, with Atwell on IR, other receivers like Mumpfield will have to step up. Nacua echoed Adams' claim that Mumpfield is reminiscent of a young Adams, and he's excited to see what the seventh-round pick can bring to the team. Despite having different body types, Nacua said that "the foundation of how Mump(field) likes to move, it's definitely rooted and based in how we see Davante move, but he also has his own kind of sauce."
