Sports
Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Rob Havenstein, Kyren Williams … which Rams vets stay?
It has been a week since the Rams’ season ended. General manager Les Snead apparently will need at least a few more days before he can start seriously thinking about the next one.
“We’re going to somehow try to get through this weekend,” Snead said Friday.
Snead probably won’t watch the NFC championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders on Sunday. Instead, Snead, coach Sean McVay, president Kevin Demoff and vice-president Tony Pastoors will navigate a “rejuvenation period” before diving headlong into the Rams’ major offseason issues.
“We’ll have a macro plan, macro cap, macro budget and try to, let’s call it, engineer a team that keeps the momentum going from this one,” Snead said during a news conference with reporters.
No offseason issue looms larger than quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The 16-year veteran is under contract through the 2026 season but, as the Rams uncomfortably found out last offseason, Stafford is not satisfied with what has become a below-market deal. The drama quietly played out through the draft and offseason workouts before the Rams finally bent to his demands and agreed to adjust his contract.
Another round of adjustments could be on the table.
If Stafford, who turns 37 in two weeks, does not retire, could Snead definitively say that Stafford would be back?
“He still has years with us, so he’s still a Ram,” Snead said. “I know this: We’ll sit down with all parties to work through that portion of it when we get to that. … That’s something that’s going to be a big line item.
Will quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) be handing the football to running back Kyren Williams for the Rams next season?
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“I think Sean mentioned it. You don’t want those types of issues dragging out throughout the offseason and kind of being a theme going into the season.”
If the Rams and Stafford cannot agree on a way to move forward, another trade involving the quarterback is not out of the realm of possibility. In 2021, two weeks after the Rams lost a divisional-round game against the Green Bay Packers, Snead traded quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick to the Detroit Lions to acquire Stafford, who led them to a Super Bowl title in his first season.
“On that one,” Snead said, “Matthew probably disturbed our rejuvenation period because I think we did play in the divisional round that year and then maybe a week later is when it leaked that he would like to be traded and the Lions were thinking of trading him, so we had to get back to work a little bit quicker than we wanted to.”
Snead did not sound as if the Rams are actively shopping Stafford but also did not say he would not be traded.
“On trades, it’ll take someone calling or us reaching out if we want to do that,” he said. “Those are the things that’ll be determined down the road.”
Receiver Cooper Kupp’s situation is the other major issue. Early this season, the Rams pondered dealing the 2021 offensive player of the year and Super Bowl most valuable player, but kept him and then watched his production wane. Asked if the Rams would trade the receiver if he does not agree to restructure the extension he signed in 2022, Snead said he could not answer that because they had not spoken to Kupp about the situation.
Snead mentioned that Stafford and Kupp were among “a subset of players” — one that almost certainly includes right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee — “that are coming to the end of their careers,” and contracts.
“Do you keep going forward with that same contract?” Snead said. “Do you restructure it in some way? For many reasons. Those are all issues we’ve got to really sit down and talk through.”
The Rams brain trust also will discuss offensive lineman Jonah Jackson’s situation. Last March the Rams gave the free-agent offensive lineman a contract that included $34 million in guarantees. Jackson suffered a shoulder injury early in training camp, however, was placed on injured reserve after the second game and did not reestablish himself as a starter.
Jackson is scheduled to earn $9 million in each of the next two seasons, but none of the salary is guaranteed, according to Overthecap.com.
Snead noted that despite Jackson’s injuries and the continuity that other linemen established during his absence, Jackson displayed a professional attitude and accepted his role.
“It’s hard to move on from quality offensive linemen,” Snead said.
A possible extension for running back Kyren Williams also is “something that’s going to be on the plate,” Snead said.
The Rams have had success in the last two drafts, finding stars such as receiver Puka Nacua and defensive tackle Kobe Turner in 2023 and edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske, among others, last year.
The Rams have the 26th pick in this draft. They do not have a second-round pick.
“Twenty-six is an interesting place to be,” Snead said. “Do you move up? Do you move back? Do you stay and pick?
“”That one’s a hard one to try and guess.”
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Jordon Hudson was spotted on the sideline of the North Carolina Tar Heels’ 20-15 win over the Stanford Cardinal with a message around her neck.
Hudson’s glistening necklace read, “Banned.”
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson on the sidelines before an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Controversy swirled around Hudson and head coach Bill Belichick since the two arrived at the program. The spotlight increased after a disastrous interview with CBS to promote the legendary coach’s book. A report surfaced in May about Hudson allegedly being barred from the program.
However, North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham denied that Hudson was prohibited from the stadium and the facility. It became more evident when Hudson greeted her boyfriend during the Tar Heels’ first game of the season in Chapel Hill.
INDIANA’S OMAR COOPER JR SENDS COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS INTO FRENZY WITH INCREDIBLE TD CATCH VS PENN STATE
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson, center, with white boots, stands on the sidelines before an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Hudson appears to have the upper hand now against the detractors as North Carolina’s season has not spiraled out of control. Instead, North Carolina moved to 4-5 on the season following the win over Stanford.
The Tar Heels also had a big win against the Syracuse Orange and were nearly victories against the California Golden Bears and Virginia Cavaliers.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez was 18-of-25 with 203 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He had a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp, who led the Tar Heels with five catches for 83 yards.
“Good win,” Belichick said. “Good to win at home. Always good to win at home. Proud of our team.”
Jordon Hudson attends the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Lance King/Getty Images)
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North Carolina has three games left on its schedule with Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina State left to play.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Laguna Beach’s football season came to an end on Friday night after the Breakers lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 44-28 in a Division 3 playoff opener. But if you saw the performances of three freshmen starters, you’d know how promising the future looks for Laguna Beach.
Luke Bogdan, 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and Winston Darrow, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, are 14 years old. Both start on the offensive line. Bogdan also played on the defensive line. Then there’s Charlie Christian, a running back and linebacker who is 15 and never wants to go down without a fight.
To have players so young holding their own on an offensive line in Division 3 was remarkable. Quarterback Jack Hurst was sacked once. Then there’s Christian, who caught five passes for 85 yards while also taking on Notre Dame’s huge offensive line on defense at his linebacker position.
When college recruiters see these freshmen on film and imagine how big and strong they might become in the coming years, they’ll be impressed.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
No 2 Indiana caps off comeback win over Penn State with sensational touchdown, keeps undefeated season alive
Will Indiana and Oregon win Big Ten matchups?
Joel Klatt previewed the Indiana Hoosiers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. He explained how the Hoosiers are battling injuries with WR Elijah Surrat and LB Aiden Fisher and questioned if that will effect their chances at a playoff run. Joel broke…
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Penn State was on the verge of a massive upset of No. 2 Indiana, but Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had other ideas.
Indiana survived Penn State, winning 27-24 on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium thanks to an incredible 10-play, 73-yard drive that Mendoza authored.
The Nittany Lions were up 24-20 with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter, and Indiana had no timeouts. On the first play of the drive, Mendoza was sacked by defender Zane Durant for a loss of seven yards.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. catches a touchdown pass over Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley during the fourth quarter, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
The Indiana quarterback rallied his team back to the line of scrimmage and completed a 22-yard pass to Cooper to negate the sack and get a first down. Mendoza spiked the ball to stop the clock.
On the ensuing play after the spike, Mendoza connected with E.J. Williams Jr. for 12 yards and another first down. Two plays later, Mendoza hit Riley Nowakowski for a 29-yard gain to move into Penn State territory.
Mendoza then connected with Charlie Becker for another 17 yards to move to the Penn State 7-yard line. With 45 seconds left, Indiana gave themselves a chance to win the game.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to pass against Penn State, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
It looked like Mendoza completed the comeback on second down. The Hoosiers quarterback connected with Becker on a slant in the end zone for a touchdown, but the referees blew the play dead because Penn State got a timeout at the last second. The Nittany Lions forced an incomplete pass on second down to force third down after the timeout.
On third and goal, with the Hoosiers’ undefeated record on the line, Mendoza and Cooper saved the day.
Mendoza, who was about to be clobbered by oncoming rushers, stepped into a throw and delivered a high pass to Cooper. The wide receiver skied for the catch and, in acrobatic fashion, just got his toe down in the end zone to complete not only an incredible touchdown, but the comeback as well.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., center, celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates, Saturday, in State College, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)
Penn State got the ball back with 35 seconds and one timeout, down 27-24, but couldn’t get into field goal range, and their Hail Mary attempt fell short.
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Mendoza threw for 218 yards and had one touchdown with one interception in the win. Cooper had six catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Indiana improved to 10-0 with the win and will look to keep it rolling against Wisconsin (2-6) next week. Penn State dropped to 3-6 with the loss and will look to rally against Michigan State (3-6) next week.
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