Latest addition to Rams roster believes that he won't fail this second chance

Even as the LA Rams have suffered a spat of injuries already in training camp, you have to be pleased with two developments that happened as a result of those injuries. The first development that should please everyone is the speed at which the front office acted to reinforce the roster. The team acted instantly to bring in a new cornerback to compete for playing time and a potential roster spot.

But perhaps more importantly, the team proved to still hold passion and the love of football to be more than a catch-phrase to point them in the right direction. Once again, the team chose heart over experience. Will this pan out for the team once again?

I am a believer.

So far, you may have heard some good and some bad about Jerry Jacobs. So let me cut to the chase and shovel all of the bad at you instantly. He played hurt in 2023. He allowed six touchdowns passes in 2023. He never became a full-time starter for the Detroit Lions secondary.

And yet, he still was out there, trying on every play.

Jacobs was signed after the 2021 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions out of Arkansas, and instantly started nine games for the Lions. In fact, Jerry Jacobs would appear in 40 games over three NFL seasons, starting in 29 games.

Despite being so injured that he was expected to be assigned to Injured Reserve, Jacobs remained on the Lions roster and played on special teams. That is despite being hurt with a thigh/knee injury.

He played for Rams DB Coach Aubrey Pleasant. In fact, he impressed Pleasant so well that he made the team despite being undrafted. In 2021, his grade from Pro Football Focus was 65.8, a very respectable grade for a rookie cornerback. That was his only full season being coached by Aubrey Pleasant and was his best-graded season.

While he struggled in 2023, he was thrown to the wolves because the Lions had nobody better who was ready to step in. And while surrendering six touchdowns is an 'oof,' he did pick off three passes, deny opposing quarterbacks from completing more than 63.4 percent of their passing attempts, and break up eight passes by getting a hand in to knock the ball away.

Jacobs was targeted 82 times in 2023. For comparisons sake, DB Ahkello Witherspoon was targeted 106 times, and allowed five touchdowns. DB Cobie Durant was targeted 39 times, and allowed one touchdown. Derion Kendrick, the player Jacobs is replacing, was targeted 77 times, and allowed three touchdowns.

Jerry Jacobs was not added to lead the secondary to the promised land. He is simply a defensive back who Coach Pleasant already trusts, who knows how to cover receivers in the NFL, and who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 203 pounds, a very similar profile to Kendrick's 6-foot-0, 190-pound frame.

Best of all, Jacobs is a passionate player who loves to play football, and gets a second chance at doing so. He may not be an NFL super star. But he is a solid rotational defensive back, and that is exactly what this secondary, defense, and team needs right now.

And Jerry Jacobs needs a second chance to play football. Thankfully, the LA Rams were shrewd enough to offer him that chance.

Thanks for reading.