Jared Verse remains the bane of the NFL's best offensive tackles

The Los Angeles Rams have been a banquet of riches over the past six games. Ever since sputtering out to a 3-2 record, this team has found the wherewithal to win six straight. The best is yet to come. But while we lauded many players for their heroics in Week 12, one player was deliberately omitted from earlier praise. Jared Verse had a huge game.

And he did so against one of the NFL's elite offensive tackles, Tristan Wirfs.

Plenty of Tampa Bay Buccaneers sites were overly confident coming into Week 12, and all cited how Wifts would neutralize Verse in this showdown. It was a cute theory.

But this was a game played on the same night as the team honoring legendary defender Aaron Donald. There was no way that Jared Verse, a player once humbled by working out with Donald, would not show up big in this one.

Aaron Donald still has a tremendous influence over his former teammates. His dedication to being the best version of himself still rings true with young NFL stars like Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Braden Fiske, and Jared Verse. And his ability to humble a brash but confident Jared Verse changed the trajectory of that young man's career.

It's Jared Verse time of the season for the Rams

A year ago, rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse put up a lot of quarterback pressures and 4.5 quarterback sacks. This year, he has already jumped out to 6.0 quarterback sacks through 11 games. And he continues to mount fierce pressure as well.

He was somewhat reckless in 2024, missing over 20 percent of his tackles. This year, he is a vice grip, improving his missed tackle rate to less than five percent. He has even upped his game in pass coverage, allowing just four of six passes thrown to his receiver to find their mark.

It isn't easy to imagine the NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year getting better, but that is exactly what Jared Verse is doing. He is more consistent, every bit the headache for offenses, but now has rounded out his arsenal to encompass more and more of the role of a total outside linebacker.

And when squaring off against the best offensive tackles, he doesn't wilt. He merely ups his game. And with the weather turning colder, Verse's power and relentless pursuit become more and more effective.

Holiday season? Nah. It's Jared Verse season. And right now, he is just warming up. As games begin to mean more and more, he will play ever harder. He is the bane of the best NFL offensive tackles. And he is heating up for the NFL playoffs once more.

As always, thanks for reading.