When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams defense, everything begins and ends with Aaron Donald, who remains the most dominant force on that side of the field.
Opposing offenses must gameplan for Donald or else they risk him wrecking the game, but the defensive tackle has plenty of help. Alongside Donald is Leonard Floyd, who rejuvenated his career after his subpar tenure with the Chicago Bears. After a successful first year in Los Angeles, Floyd re-signed with the team on a four-year deal and played a pivotal role in their Super Bowl run.
Floyd was listed as questionable every week on practice reports due to an ankle injury and he confirmed that he finally had a procedure done to clean things up this offseason, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic:
“Leonard Floyd confirmed today that he had off-season surgery to finally clean up the right ankle he suffered last summer in training camp. Managed it the entire season and recorded 11.5 sacks (plus playoffs). Said some days he couldn’t even walk around his house after practice. ‘It was part of the sacrifice and I’m glad I did it.’ Floyd is now almost back to full health.”
Floyd was able to start every game of the season and that looks even more impressive after revealing how much pain he was dealing with. Despite the ankle bothering him, Floyd managed to record 9.5 sacks in the 2021 season and added two more in the postseason, remaining an integral presence along the edge.
Presumably back at full health, Floyd seems poised for another productive year despite the Rams missing Von Miller on the other side of him. However, the team seems confident in the young group of pass rushers currently on the roster so it will be fun to see who steps up opposite of Floyd next year.
