With Training Camp underway for the Los Angeles Rams, they are welcoming the Los Angeles Chargers to Irvine for a few joint practices this week.
For safety Eric Weddle, who signed with the Rams this past offseason, that means seeing a lot of familiar faces as he spent the first nine seasons of his career with the then-San Diego Chargers.
While the Chargers have obviously undergone a lot of roster turnover since Weddle last played there in 2015, one veteran who is still there, of course, is quarterback Phillip Rivers.
Weddle has enjoyed getting the chance to get back on the field with Rivers this week, and he feels getting reps against a quarterback of that caliber is a valuable experience to get ready for the season, via Myles Simmons of TheRams.com:
“I love and have the utmost respect for him and all the players that I used to play with. It was fun to get out there on the practice field and compete and it makes each other better.”
Moreso than going up against him on the field though, Weddle is just enjoying getting the chance to talk to and catch up with an old friend:
“[T]hose are the conversations you miss and it’s helped me become the player I am today of what we went through for nine years.”
The Rams brought Weddle and also Clay Matthews in to not only improve their defense, but also bring veteran leadership to the locker room, and that is exactly what they have both done so far.
Weddle is a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro so he knows what it takes to be a part of a great defense. That is what the Rams are hoping to have this season to go along with their offense that is already one of the best in the league.
