Derwin James’ injury, cut-down day featured in ‘Hard Knocks’ finale – Los Angeles Rams Blog

An All-Pro for the duration of his rookie time in 2018, James skipped 11 video games previous time for the reason that of a stress fracture in his appropriate foot and will likely miss out on the full 2020 timetable as nicely.

“It is really nuts,” Chargers mentor Anthony Lynn mentioned of James’ injury misfortune.

With no preseason video games for the reason that of the coronavirus pandemic and a exercise squad that expanded from 10 to sixteen gamers in the occasion that a COVID-19 outbreak causes a need for roster reinforcements, minimize working day for the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers took on a different tone than in previous seasons.

Undrafted totally free brokers and rookies lacked the opportunity to set their talent sets on tape in dwell-motion video games, making it challenging for them to verify that they were being deserving of a fifty three-gentleman roster spot. Even so, with a much larger exercise squad, their chances of currently being retained in the businesses amplified.

Here’s a appear at this season’s “Difficult Knocks” notables, gamers who were being on the fringe of making the roster.

• Donte Deayon, the Rams’ enjoyable-loving, energetic cornerback who joked in Episode 1 about wanting a locker in the “suburbs” as a substitute of the “assignments,” did not make the fifty three-gentleman roster. But don’t fear: An undrafted totally free agent in 2016, Deayon has uncovered a way to stick in the NFL, bouncing from the New York Giants’ exercise squad and lively roster to the Rams’ squads previous 12 months. “This is rough for me for the reason that of the adore I have for you and the respect I have for your recreation, as well,” Rams mentor Sean McVay mentioned to Deayon as they mentioned his release. Deayon cleared waivers and re-signed with the Rams’ exercise squad. No phrase yet on wherever his locker is.

Reminder: football’s again 🚨#HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/4d7jNRWEfj

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) September 9, 2020

• Clay Johnston, the Rams’ rookie linebacker who talked — a lot — was also among the gamers minimize. But get this: Johnston, invited again to the exercise squad, made a decision to indicator with the Carolina Panthers’ exercise squad. He’ll reunite with his previous higher education mentor, Matt Rhule, and his dad, Kent, who is the Panthers’ director of participant wellness.

• Darius Bradwell, the Chargers’ undrafted managing again who entered camp twenty lbs obese, discovered the really hard way that that’s no way to make a six-determine wage, as Lynn told him. But Lynn also told Bradwell that he has a lot of opportunity. He just requirements to master how to be a professional, and the Chargers are inclined to support him on their exercise squad.

• Breiden Fehoko, the Chargers’ undrafted defensive lineman who inspired teammates when he carried out a Haka dance just after exercise for the duration of Episode 4, also did not make the minimize.

immediate hoopla 😤@breidenfehoko4 | #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/0lynvZEWyK

— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) September 2, 2020

Fehoko remained favourable even on the realization that, for the initially time in his football profession, he did not make the team.

“You ever been minimize ahead of?” Lynn requested. “Very first time,” Fehoko responded. “Yeah, it sucks. Isn’t going to it?” Lynn mentioned.

Certainly, there’s nothing at all like not rather reaching your aim. But the Chargers signed Fehoko to their exercise squad, and he can rest straightforward figuring out how very pleased he manufactured his spouse and children. “I acquired fired, then rehired,” Fehoko mentioned with a smile on a online video call with his mother and father and siblings. “Just want to congratulate you, Breiden,” his mom mentioned, crying tears of pleasure.