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Can Troy Reeder pick up slack in middle of Rams defense after Ernest Jones IV trade?

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Can Troy Reeder pick up slack in middle of Rams defense after Ernest Jones IV trade?

Troy Reeder left the Rams’ facility, returned home to see his wife and son and enjoyed dinner with the family.

It was a “nice normal” evening, Reeder said Wednesday.

Much had changed for the Rams and Reeder before that Tuesday night meal.

Hours earlier, the Rams traded starting inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV — a team captain and the team’s leading tackler in 2023 — to the Tennessee Titans.

Coach Sean McVay, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Rams players now would look to Reeder, a sixth-year pro, to start and possibly take on the role of defensive signal caller.

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“It just felt like, because of how they train you here, that you’re ready for whatever opportunity you get,” Reeder said.

Reeder, who played at Penn State and Delaware, has made the most of his time in two stints with the Rams.

After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he played mainly on special teams and as a rotational player. In 2021, Reeder started 10 games and made 91 tackles. He also started three playoff games before playing 21 defensive snaps and 24 special teams snaps in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.

Reeder played for the Chargers in 2022, and then spent time with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 before rejoining the Rams on a veteran-minimum contract.

Reeder said his time with the Chargers and Vikings felt like he “studied abroad.” He was happy to return to the Rams and “the place that raised me,” he said.

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The Rams are counting on linebacker Troy Reeder being able to solidify the middle of the defense.

(Scot Tucker / Associated Press)

“I felt like it was a great opportunity to restart here — with a whole new perspective on things,” he said.

After starting last season on the practice squad, he worked his way into the lineup and started six of the last nine games for a Rams team that finished 10-7 and advanced to the playoffs.

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Reeder’s approach has remained the same.

“Every camp I come in, there’s really no guarantees for anything — whether you’re a starter, back-up, punt guard or on the team,” he said. “Just approach every day like it’s an opportunity to get better. A little better every single day.”

Reeder said he learned much about leadership and on-field skills from watching, sharing information with and playing alongside Jones.

Shula said he appreciated Jones’ contributions during the linebacker’s three seasons with the Rams.

Now he will depend on Reeder, Christian Rozeboom, Jacob Hummel and rookies Omar Speights and Elias Neal, all of whom were undrafted free agents.

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Shula expressed confidence in Reeder.

“Just a consistent guy,” Shula said, “No matter what — consistent demeanor. … It’s like having a coach on the field.”

If McVay and Shula entrust him with signal-calling responsibilities, Reeder said he would be prepared.

Helping the Rams return to the Super Bowl is his goal.

“Winning a Super Bowl in any capacity you play is the most fun I’ve ever had in a sports season and, honestly, one of the highlights of my entire life,” he said. “So, ultimately, like now in my sixth year, that’s kind of all I think about is getting back to that point.”

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Etc.

The Rams signed defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, who was cut Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins. Gallimore, 27, was a third-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. He played in 17 games last season and made 16 tackles, including a sack. … The Rams claimed running back Cody Schrader off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. During the preseason, the former Missouri standout rushed for 48 yards on 19 carries, caught two passes and averaged 30.0 yards on four kickoff returns. To make room for Gallimore and Schrader, the Rams waived defensive lineman Cory Durden and put offensive lineman Conor McDermott on injured reserve. … After missing the Mondayworkout because of what McVay described as a family matter, quarterback Stetson Bennett returned to practice. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and left tackle Alaric Jackson, who were suspended by the NFL for the first two games, are not eligible to participate in team activities until Week 3. … McVay said starting running back Kyren Williams will be the Rams’ punt returner, at least for now. “It’s another opportunity for him to get touches and impact the game,” McVay said

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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo makes NBA history with 83-point game

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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo makes NBA history with 83-point game

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Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo made NBA history on Tuesday night.

Adebayo scored 83 points, all while setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. It is the second-highest scoring game for a player ever, only to Wilt Chamberlain’s famed 100-point game.

“An absolutely surreal night,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game.

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Adebayo started with a 31-point first quarter. He was up to 43 at halftime, 62 by the end of the third quarter. And then came the fourth, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from a Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line.

He finished 20 of 43 from the field, 36 of 43 from the foul line, 7 for 22 from 3-point range.

After the game, he was seen in tears while he hugged his mother, Marilyn Blount, before leaving the floor after the game.

“Welp won’t have the highest career high in the house anymore,” Adebayo’s girlfriend, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, wrote on social media, “but at least it gives me something to go after.”

MAGIC’S ANTHONY BLACK MAKES INCREDIBLE DUNK OVER FOUR DEFENDERS IN HISTORIC NBA GAME

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Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026, in Miami, Florida.  (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The NBA’s previous best this season was 56, by Nikola Jokic for Denver against Minnesota on Christmas night. The last player to have 62 points through three quarters: one of Adebayo’s basketball heroes, Kobe Bryant, who had exactly that many through three quarters for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas on Dec. 20, 2005.

He wound up passing Bryant for single-game scoring as well. Bryant’s career-best was 81 — a game that was the second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades.

Adebayo scored 31 points in the opening quarter against the Wizards, breaking the Heat record for points in any quarter — and tying the team record for points in a first half before the second quarter even started.

He finished the first half with 43 points, a team record for any half and two points better than his previous career high — for a full game, that is — of 41, set Jan. 23, 2021, against Brooklyn.

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Adebayo’s season high entering Tuesday was 32. He matched that with a free throw with 5:53 left in the second quarter, breaking the Heat first-half scoring record.

Adebayo’s 43-point first half was the NBA’s second-best in at least the last 30 seasons — going back to the start of the digital play-by-play era that began in the 1996-97 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Kings lose in overtime to the Boston Bruins

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Kings lose in overtime to the Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy scored 39 seconds into overtime and Jeremy Swayman stopped 14 shots on Tuesday night to earn the Boston Bruins their 13th straight victory at home, 2-1 over the Kings.

Mason Lohrei scored midway through the third period to break a scoreless tie. But the Kings tied it five minutes later when Drew Doughty’s shot from the blue line deflected off the heel of Bruins forward Elias Lindholm and into the net.

It was the seventh straight time the teams had gone to overtime in Boston.

In the overtime, Mark Kastelic blocked a shot in the defensive zone and made a long pass to David Pastrnak, who waited for McAvoy to come into the zone. The Bruins’ defenseman and U.S. Olympian, who went to the locker room at the end of the second period after taking a puck off his mouth, skated in on Darcy Kuemper and went to his backhand for the winner.

Kuemper stopped 21 shots for the Kings, who entered the night one point out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The victory kept Boston in possession of the East’s second wild-card spot.

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Swayman tied his career high with his 25th win of the season. The Bruins haven’t lost at the TD Garden since before Christmas.

After the game, Kings forward and future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar stayed on the ice to shake hands with the Bruins after what is expected to be his last game in Boston.

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Jon Jones requests UFC release after Dana White says legend was ‘never’ considered him for White House card

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Jon Jones requests UFC release after Dana White says legend was ‘never’ considered him for White House card

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Mixed martial arts legend Jon Jones ended his retirement from UFC simply because he wanted a spot on the “Freedom 250” fight card at the White House in June. 

But, when UFC CEO Dana White announced the card during UFC 326 this past weekend, Jones wasn’t among the fighters. As a result, he has requested a release from his UFC contract. 

White was candid when asked about Jones following the UFC 326 card. 

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Jon Jones of the United States of America reacts after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic of the United States of America in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, 2024 in New York City.  ((Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images))

“Never, ever, ever, which I told you guys a hundred thousands times, was Jon Jones ever even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,” White explained, per CBS Sports. “Some guy with Meta Glasses filmed him talking about his hips – that his hips are so bad. And I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run. Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips. Apparently, doctors say he should have a hip replacement.”

White added that “the Jon Jones thing is bulls—,” saying that he texted the fighter’s lawyer saying he would never be on the White House card despite Jones saying he was in negotiations for it. 

UFC ANNOUNCES CARD FOR WHITE HOUSE EVENT

The Meta Glasses incident White is referring to came from a viral video, where Jones, unaware he was being filmed, discussed issues with his hips to a fan. 

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On Monday, Jones composed a thorough response to White’s comments about him and the White House Card. He previously posted and deleted social media explanations, but Monday’s appeared to be his final statement on the matter. 

UFC President Dana White speaks after UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center on Feb. 21, 2026.  (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,” Jones, who retired a heavyweight champion in 2025, said. “So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense. I even received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card, and training camp was scheduled to start today. I was preparing to be ready. 

“I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right. After everything I’ve given to the UFC, the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m ‘done’ is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.”

Jones finished his statement by saying he “respectfully” asks to be released from his UFC contract.

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Jon Jones enters the ring before facing Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, New York. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up,” he wrote. 

The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Jones is considered one of the best UFC fighters of all time, owning a 28-1-1 record, which includes his last bout with Stipe Miocic, knocking him out to take the heavyweight title belt. He is also a two-time light heavyweight champion. 

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