LOS ANGELES — Byron Young is a Pro Bowler. A former Day 2 draft pick. Thirty-one career sacks. Poised to make some serious money as a free agent this coming spring.
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But throughout his NFL career, the Rams’ outside linebacker has always had a “yeah, but” come up after any analysis of his game. Something like, “Yeah, but the offensive line is paying attention to Aaron Donald, of course he got a pressure.”
So when asked if, given that outside perception, he felt any extra satisfaction having a career-high 2½ sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend on a day in which the Rams (2-2) were missing Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett, Young waits a moment before responding.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m glad you actually said that,” Young said. “It’s been something I’ve been wanting to say without saying it and the fact that you brought it up is great because just the past few years, every time I was playing it was always kind of like a second-hand credit to Byron.”
Young’s first year, the narrative went, teams were so focused on Donald that players like Young got easy one-on-one opportunities. After Donald’s retirement, it was first-round pick Jared Verse who often received credit for Young’s opportunities.
Young and Verse were inseparable friends before the latter was traded in the spring for Garrett. Young never let the talk from outside the Rams’ practice facility impact how he acted with his teammates, or how he approached his role within the game plan each week.
But of course he noticed how he was talked about.
“[A sack would] be credited to me, but it’d be like, well because so-and-so takes a lot of attention, because of this, and it’s just like I never really got the credit I felt like I deserved just because, again, other guys being great too,” Young said. “But at the same time, it’s just like it’s always been: a second-hand congratulations.”
But against the Eagles, without Donald and Garrett, it was Young’s turn to shine and be the closer that the Rams’ defense needed to pull out the 24-20 win in Philadelphia.
After the Rams cut their deficit to three points, Young opened the ensuing Philadelphia drive with a run stuff of Tank Bigsby. The 1-yard gain stalled the Eagles, who went three-and-out.
Then when the Rams (2-2) retook the lead, Young wanted to redeem himself. For missed plays earlier in the game, and for a missed opportunity the week before against the Denver Broncos.
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“At the end of the game, I feel like I’d never closed out a game or never really went out there,” Young said. “Like we played Denver and didn’t close it out and that was a chance. And this game, I feel like it was the same type of vibe, the same type of situation where the team got the ball and they needed a score after our offense just scored. So my mindset was do it for the brother beside me.”
Young sacked Jalen Hurts for a 7-yard loss on first down. Then he sacked Hurts again on third, this time stripping the ball away. The Eagles recovered, but all out of timeouts the fumble helped waste a few precious seconds.
“He made his impact felt all over the field. We talk about competitive greatness, being at your best when your best is required,” Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner said. “He’s a guy that always flies around with his hair on fire.”
“And after I got that done and just feeling the love from everybody, from my family, my teammates, it felt great,” Young added. “Finally getting that congratulations and good job, and you worked so hard for it. That’s something I definitely worked so hard for. It made me a little emotional just because I know how much I put into it, I know how much I went through just to get to where I know I could play at. So just being able to step up and be there for my teammates while some of the guys are down right now, I’m thankful for that.”
And it’s not something the Rams have taken for granted the last three-plus years.
“I think the people that know know,” head coach Sean McVay said. “He certainly delivered in crunch time at the most important moments. … This season, he’s made a tremendous impact. I certainly know that his teammates don’t feel that way and his coaches. He was outstanding for us. I think when you talk to the people that really know, they know what ‘0’ is about.”
INJURY REPORT
Donald (back), cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder) and tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) were all limited participants in practice Thursday, laying the groundwork for them to play Monday night against the Buffalo Bills (3-1).
“That’s what the hope is, yes,” McVay said. “The expectation is that as long as they progress accordingly, then they’ll be ready to go. Want to see how Jaylen feels. We’ll get a little shoulder harness out there.”
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