The Los Angeles Rams have revealed the recipients of this year’s annual team awards as Aaron Donald, Taylor Rapp, Eric Weddle, and Cooper Kupp were recognized for their contributions in the 2019 NFL season.
Donald was once again honored with the Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award, which is given to the team’s most valuable player. Reeves is a former team owner of the Rams and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 before the award was established in 1969.
Donald won the award for the second year in a row after registering 46 tackles and a team-high 12.5 sacks to go with two forced fumbles heading into Week 17. While his numbers may be down from his historic outing last year, he remains as one of the frontrunners for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Rapp was given the Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award that goes to the team’s rookie of the year. Rosenbloom is another former owner and the award was established in his honor in 1979.
Rapp arrived as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and immediately established an integral role for himself on defense thanks to his versatile skill set. Although the rookie certainly endured his fair share of growing pains throughout the year due to his heavy playing time, he still managed to show plenty of promise with 94 tackles, nine pass defenses, and a pick-six.
Weddle was the recipient of the Carl Ekern Spirit of the Game Award. Ekern was a former linebacker for the Rams from 1982-88 and the award was established to honor the player that best exemplifies sportsmanship, ethic, and commitment to his teammates.
The veteran was one of the Rams’ more notable offseason additions and the impact he had on teammates was evident early on after being named as a team captain in his first training camp with the team. Weddle has registered 101 tackles going into the season finale versus the Arizona Cardinals.
Kupp received the Ed Block Courage Award that honors the player who best exemplifies a role model of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Kupp was in the midst of a stellar 2018 campaign until it was cut short due to an ACL injury and was forced to watch the Super Bowl run from the sidelines.
Fortunately, he was able to bounce back in spectacular fashion as the team’s leading receiver by hauling in 87 receptions for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns. Through toughness and grit, he was able to dispel any notion about his future durability issues.
