LA Rams News: Two named to 2021 NFL Pro Bowl

In LA Rams News: Two players, DB Jalen Ramsey and DL Aaron Donald have been named to the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl

The  2021 NFL Pro Bowl roster has been determined, and the LA Rams have two players named on the roster. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald has now been named to the Pro Bowl for his seventh time. For defensive back Jalen Ramsey, this marks the fourth time he has been named to the Pro Bowl.

In truth, this is Aaron Donald’s seventh consecutive season of making the Pro Bowl, which is the number of years he has played in the NFL. He has never known a year of not making the Pro Bowl. For Ramsey, this is his fourth consecutive year for the Pro Bowl. Since being drafted in 2016, Ramsey has only missed the Pro Bowl once, in his rookie season.

Donald dominates on defense

Per Stu Jackson, staff writer of therams.com, Donald is only the third player in the Rams history to start their NFL careers with seven or more Pro Bowl nominations. Only Les Richter (with eight), and Merlin Olsen (with 14) have more.  Of course, Donald is tied for the lead in NFL quarterback sacks with 12.5. He continues to get after the quarterback, with 25 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, and 39 tackles.

Aaron Donald is the first name mentioned by opposing teams as the player they must know where he is on the football field at all times. And he is the player most likely to face double, triple, and sometimes even quadruple blockers in any given play. So it makes sense that a player so dominating would be named to the Pro Bowl

Ramsey relishes Rams’ role on defense

Jalen Ramsey earned his 2021 Pro Bowl nomination in the opposite way. Rather than being the center of attention, opposing teams do their very best to try and avoid him. They will throw away from him, and that makes it very difficult to gauge his impact by statistics.

And so, he earns his place each year from the votes from NFL coaches and other players.

The LA Rams may have lost to the winless New York Jets yesterday, but the nine-win team only had only two players make the 2021 Pro Bowl this year. That seems a bit light, and we’ll likely discuss players snubbed this year.  For a positive takeaway, it does demonstrate just how cohesive this team plays with so few stars working together to manufacture wins.

The Rams have a tough row to hoe to close out this season. Hopefully, the leadership of Donald and Ramsey can see them through. If the Rams don’t turn this season around, they could be watching the postseason once more from their living rooms.