Rams RB Kyren Williams puts team first

Los Angeles, CA (News4usonline) – The Los Angeles Rams kicked off their training camp with head coach Sean McVay and several players holding a press conference at Loyola Marymount University. An animated McVay was revved up to get things going. 

“Hey guys. Ok, hopefully you guys had some good time and we’re excited to get going,” McVay said. “Coaches reported yesterday, just getting all our ducks in a row and then our players are starting to get in here this morning. It’s exciting. I thought we had a really good offseason program and now really the work starts.”

There’s a lot of buzz around the Rams as they head into full summer practices. A lot of excitement around the team stems from the fact that this unit last season wasn’t expected to do much before the 2024 season began. 

Things dramatically changed, and the Rams eventually found themselves pushing Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to the limit during a divisional playoff game. 

Then, McVay and the Rams had to see what they had in rookie defensive players like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. A year later, the Rams know what they have in Verse and Fiske, as they do in third-year defensive lineman Kobie Turner. 

The Rams also know that they have a 1,000-yard rusher (1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024) in Kyren Williams. Williams has rushed for 1,000 yards or more in two of his first three seasons in the NFL. Williams has become the pulse of the Rams’ offense. 

Without Williams pummeling through the opposition’s defensive lines, that offensive symmetry of the Rams might not be as fine-tuned. Much of the fuss during the offseason has centered around Williams and his contract.

Williams, who starred at Notre Dame, is still playing under his rookie contract. He’s looking for a new deal. The Rams want to accommodate him. 

So far, no new deal has been announced. However, that won’t stop Williams from showing up for practice at training camp, he said. 

“For me, there was no decision,” Williams said. “I play football. That’s what I do. That’s what I love. At the end of the day, I do this not for the money, fame, or popularity but to take care of my family. I have three sisters, a mom and dad, ten nieces and nephews that I’m working hard for so that they can one day be able to say that they go to college and come to a school like this [Loyola Marymount University].”

Williams’ confidence that something will eventually get done comes from a much higher power source than those individuals tasked with representing him. 

“Most importantly, I put the trust in God,” Williams remarked. “My agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is a great agent. I was able to be signed to him since my last year of college. Obviously, I trust him. I trust in the plan. I trust in what the Lord is doing right now. There is nothing other than just going to work, keeping my head down, continuing to keep being the best teammate, the best player, the best brother that I can be for each and every guy on this team.”

McVay appreciates Williams making the choice to still come out and practice with his teammates, despite the ongoing contract tug-o-war his running back has going on. 

“It’s huge. He’s handled himself like the guy that you guys know. I mean, that’s just who he is. And we’re going to sit down with [Agent] Drew [Rosenhaus] tomorrow. Looking forward to that.” 

“You say these things all the time and the ultimate goal in mind is for him to get under contract and finding that sweet spot that fits for that puzzle that we’re trying to piece together as a team, and what represents his value for the production and what he means to us,” McVay added. 

Veteran offensive lineman Rob Havenstein is impressed but not totally surprised by Williams deciding to attend camp in the middle of contract negotiations.   

“I think that just shows the absolute professionalism of a Kyren Williams,” Havenstein said. “There’s one thing about Kyren, he loves playing ball. The fiery nature and you see, the enthusiasm that you see, that’s just who he is as a person and there’s no faking that. That’s what you love about Kyren.”