Los Angeles Rams

An animal rights activist who rushed the Levi's Stadium field during a Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers game on Monday has filed a police report with the Santa Clara Police Department after he was taken down by Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive end Takkarist McKinley.

TMZ Sports reported the news on Wednesday.

The media outlet spoke with Direct Action Everywhere, which took responsibility for the on-field rush. A representative for the organization stated that the police report stems from what they call a "blatant assault" on the field.

Wagner has not been arrested or charged with a crime, and he stated that he took the activist down with safety reasons in mind.

"That's not making a play," Wagner said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

"That's just keeping it safe. You don't know what that fan got or what they're doing. You see it all the time, and we don't know what they're carrying in their pockets. It's whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that s--t could be dangerous.

"One of the guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated, so I took it out on him."

The incident took place just before halftime of the 49ers' 24-9 home win. Per TMZ Sports, a second protestor also tried to take the field, but she was stopped by security before making it onto the gridiron.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday at the age of 30.

Jake Marsh of Barstool Sports broke the news after Bortles made the announcement on the Pardon My Take podcast, saying: "I have not touched a football since January. I have officially retired."

Bortles added: "I didn't tell anybody I retired. A couple of months ago, probably, just didn't tell anyone. So, I guess you guys are kind of the first to hear it publicly, maybe?"

Although Bortles noted that he is "set" in his decision, he also admitted that he would return to the NFL if a team is willing to offer him a contract that is too good to pass up.

Bortles appeared in games for the Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams over the course of six seasons from 2014 to 2019, and he was also under contract with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints in 2021.

Jacksonville selected Bortles with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft out of UCF, and he served as the team's primary starter in each of his first five seasons.

While Bortles largely struggled to the tune of a 24-49 record as a starter, he did enjoy some success, including the 2015 season when he threw for a career-high 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns, although he also led the league with 18 interceptions.

His numbers weren't as strong two years later, but the Jags had one of their best seasons in franchise history, going 10-6 and making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game with Bortles as the starter.

Bortles and the Jags were agonizingly close to reaching the Super Bowl, as they led the New England Patriots 20-10 in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game, but two touchdown passes from Tom Brady to Danny Amendola sealed it for the Pats.

After Bortles played poorly the following season, the Jaguars cut bait, and he spent 2019 as a backup with the Rams.

Bortles spent most of 2020 on the Denver Broncos' practice squad and was on the Packers' and Saints' rosters over the past couple of offseasons, but got cut before the campaign started each time.

Although Bortles' career numbers and record dictate that he was a bust as the No. 3 overall pick, he had undeniable talent that was often curtailed by poor decision-making and a bad supporting cast around him.

At the very least, Bortles was a key part of a surprising 2017 Jaguars team that nearly went the distance, and that figures to be talked about by football fans for many years to come.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey spoke out Saturday about the NFL fining players for uniform violations rather than focusing on more important issues such as player safety.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Ramsey spoke on the subject for 15 minutes and acknowledged the possibility he might get fined for his opinions. He also said it is hypocritical for the league to fine players for uniform violations while making money by featuring players' personalities and celebrations.

Ramsey added:

"Player safety is one of the things that should be talked about more. S--t like getting fined for socks, let's talk about it. ... I get fined every week [but] I play the game with integrity, I play the game the right way, I try to make sure people are safe. Obviously I want to go out there and hurt my opponent, strike fear, but I don't want to injure nobody. But like, that is what the game is about. It's not about the other B.S. ... That's what it needs to be about. Player safety, how can we protect the players as much as we can.

"If we want to go out there and look good, and it ain't hurting the integrity of the game, why are y'all fining me $10,000 for my socks? ... You want to think about protecting guys, not ... damn socks."

Ramsey told reporters he was fined $10,000 by the NFL last week for his socks, insisting he will "keep swaggin."

Rams kicker Matt Gay made jokes regarding the NFL's uniform policy earlier this season by wearing his pants awkwardly in practice and noting that the NFL fined him $5,000 for pant length in Week 1:

Ramsey was among the teammates who supported Gay on social media, suggesting that the policy was a "joke."

Since entering the NFL as the No. 5 pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, Ramsey has been one of the league's most exciting players.

He has been one of the top corners in the NFL as well, earning five Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro nods. He was also a key part of the Rams team that won the Super Bowl last season.

In seven NFL seasons, Ramsey has 16 interceptions and 78 passes defended, although quarterbacks usually tend to shy away from throwing in his direction.

With one pick, four passes defended and 16 tackles in three games this season, Ramsey has helped the defending Super Bowl champs to a 2-1 start.

Clay Matthews spent the first 10 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, accumulating 83.5 sacks with the team, though the Packers decided against re-signing him ahead of the 2019 season and he finished his career with the Los Angeles Rams.

Matthews revealed on Tuesday he wanted to finish his career in Green Bay.

"I would have loved to finish my career there," he said, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Based on my discussions after that 2018 season, I thought we were going to continue moving forward. But yeah the manner in which it did kinda caught me by surprise. Ultimately it is what it is. I had fun in my year in L.A. It was a blast getting to go home and play with some incredible players."

Per Demovsky, Matthews said the Packers communicated to him that he was still in their plans ahead of the 2019 campaign. But the team instead signed edge-rushers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency and informed him shortly later it was moving in a different direction at the position.

So Matthews signed a two-year, $16.7 million deal with the Rams and posted 37 tackles (nine for loss), eight sacks, 11 quarterback hits, three passes defended and two forced fumbles in 13 games with the team.

The Rams released him in March 2020 and he sat out that season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had a few other offers after for the 2020 season, but we had just moved to L.A., and we had just had our third child, and it was the middle of COVID, so there were a lot of unknowns," he told Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire. "Ultimately, there wasn't a situation out there that made me want to relocate the family again. I wanted to focus on the next chapter, which is being a dad and being home a lot more."

Matthews believed there was a chance he might be able to return to the Packers ahead of the 2021 campaign because his position coach in Los Angeles, Joe Barry, had been hired as Green Bay's defensive coordinator.

"He had reached out to me," he said. "He knew that I could still play and I think he knew if he had me, he could find a way to use me within the scheme. But nothing ever manifested, so I think ultimately there might have been powers above that didn't want that to happen. But yeah, there was a brief glimmer of hope of coming back. That didn't happen, but it's all good. But I'm at peace with my career."

It was quite the career. Matthews was a six-time Pro Bowler, one-time first-team All-Pro selection and a one-time champion with Green Bay. He had four seasons with double-digit sacks and was one of the league's more feared edge-rushers during his prime.

But now he is unofficially retired, telling Carwille that his "playing days are over."

"I definitely look forward to it," he added of someday being invited back to officially retire as a Packer. "My kids are getting older, so they understand what I was able to do, so I very much look forward to showing them around Lambeau, and where we used to live, and all the things that were an integral part of their young lives and my young life as well."

Los Angeles Rams kicker Matt Gay fired back at the NFL on Friday after he was fined for a uniform violation during the team's season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.

Gay divulged in a tweet that the NFL fined him $5,000 for improper pant length, and he added some humorous photos of him wearing long, baggy pants in an effort to troll the decision:

Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic took video of Gay jogging on the practice field while wearing the large pants as well:

After Gay's tweet, two of his teammates in Jalen Ramsey and David Long Jr. responded in support of the kicker:

Gay, 28, is in the midst of his third season with the Rams after beginning his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.

In addition to helping the Rams win a Super Bowl last season, Gay was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time after making 32 of his 34 field-goal attempts and racking up 144 points.

While the Rams only scored 10 points in their season-opening loss to Buffalo, Gay was locked in, as he made his only extra-point attempt and his only field-goal try, which was from 57 yards out.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn't bothered at all by the talk of his performance in the team's Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ramsey explained he has taken the criticism as a "compliment" because of the standard he has set for himself:

Week 1 was rough for most of the Rams players in their 31-10 defeat. The offense had just 243 yards and Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions.

Ramsey may have had the worst individual performance of any player in the game based on his stat line. The three-time All-Pro allowed six receptions on seven targets for 94 yards, one touchdown and a perfect passer rating (158.3).

The big play against Ramsey was a 53-yard touchdown catch by Stefon Diggs in the fourth quarter.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen does have a history of success against Ramsey's teams.

While those numbers aren't entirely reflective of how well Ramsey has played in three games against Allen, it is surprising to see any quarterback that has fared this well against a team with one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Given Ramsey's long history of playing at an elite level, it seems unlikely one bad game is an indication teams have figured out how to attack him.

The Rams will host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. If Ramsey gets burned in coverage for a second straight week, then it might be time to start speculating about what is going on in Los Angeles.

Fantasy managers weren't the only ones surprised by Cam Akers' limited usage in the Los Angeles Rams' season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8.

Speaking to reporters about the situation, Akers said he was surprised about not being used more in the game but acknowledged he didn't "want to make it too big, bigger than what it is" with 16 games still remaining.

Akers played 12 of the Rams' 66 offensive snaps in the loss to Buffalo. He had zero rushing yards on three carries and wasn't targeted in the passing game.

One reason Rams head coach Sean McVay may have kept Akers off the field was because he seemed to ignore a blocking assignment that resulted in Matthew Stafford getting hit on a completion to Cooper Kupp.

McVay told reporters after the game Akers has to maximize his opportunities when he gets on the field and see an "increased level of urgency and accountability snap in and snap out from him."

"If Coach don't think I'm being urgent, then [I need to] be more urgent," Akers said on Wednesday. "That's what it comes down to."

Akers is still working his way back into peak form after tearing his Achilles during training camp before the start of the 2021 season. The 23-year-old did return for L.A.'s playoff run, though he was largely ineffective with 248 yards from scrimmage with zero touchdowns on 77 touches.

Darrell Henderson Jr. was given the bulk of Los Angeles' reps at running back in Week 1. He played 55 snaps, racking up 73 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches.

Very few things went right for the Rams in their 31-10 loss. The offense had 243 total yards and turned the ball over three times.

Akers and the Rams have an opportunity to right the ship starting in Week 2. They will host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at SoFi Stadium looking to get their first win of the season.

The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly prepared to sign Jimmy Garoppolo if the division-rival 49ers released him.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Rams planned to target Garoppolo as a backup to Matthew Stafford, who dealt with a lingering elbow issue throughout the offseason and looked rusty in Thursday's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The 49ers were reportedly unaware that the Rams were waiting in the wings ready to pounce.

"It was going to be such a Rams move to make," a member of the 49ers organization told Schefter. "Sean McVay and Kevin Demoff would have been basking in it."

After failing to find a trade partner, the 49ers and Garoppolo agreed to a restructured contract that could pay the quarterback up to $16 million with incentives. He will open the 2022 season as the backup to Trey Lance, the 2021 first-round pick whom the 49ers traded three first-round picks to acquire.

"Seeing the other opportunities that were out there and you weigh in the pros and cons of everything," Garoppolo said after agreeing to the restructured deal. "Trust me, there was a lot of back and forth going on just with other teams and what I wanted my future to look like. And so, this is what I wanted."

The 49ers failed to trade Garoppolo in large part because he spent the offseason rehabbing from shoulder surgery. The NFL's game of quarterback musical chairs played out almost entirely while Garoppolo was unable to throw for interested teams.

While the pairing didn't happen, the Rams' interest in Garoppolo is interesting from a theoretical standpoint. It may mean the coaching staff is a little more concerned about Stafford's elbow than they've let on this offseason. Stafford looked nothing like the MVP candidate he was a year ago Thursday night, throwing three interceptions and several other wildly inaccurate passes.

Garoppolo would have been an elite backup option in case of a Stafford injury, capable of at least keeping the Rams in the playoff picture. Instead, John Wolford opened the season as the backup to Stafford.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay seemingly provided some insight Friday into why running back Cam Akers saw limited playing time during Thursday night's season-opening 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

According to ESPN's Sarah Barshop, McVay said the following about the third-year player:

"There were some instances where there were some positive things and some things that he can do better, but we want to see just an increased level of urgency and accountability snap in and snap out from him.

"I know what Cam is capable of. We've all seen how talented and what a special player this guy's capable of being. And I want to see him reach his highest potential."

Akers was expected to be the lead back in a partial timeshare with Darrell Henderson entering the season, but Akers barely played on Thursday, rushing three times for no yards and seeing only an 18 percent snap share.

Meanwhile, Henderson was the bell cow, playing 82 percent of the offensive snaps and rushing for 47 yards on 13 carries while also catching five passes for 26 yards.

Akers was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Florida State, and after a slow start to his rookie season, he came on late in the year, finishing with 625 rushing yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage.

Prior to the 2021 campaign, Akers tore his Achilles, and he was expected to miss the entire season. Shockingly, he recovered enough to play in one regular-season game and during L.A.'s entire playoff run to a Super Bowl title.

Akers struggled mightily in the postseason, though, rushing for 172 yards in four games and averaging just 2.6 yards per carry.

The 23-year-old Akers is still just over one year removed from an injury that usually takes well over a year to fully recover from, so there may be an easing-in process as the 2022 season goes on.

Given how poorly the Rams played in their loss to Buffalo, it is fair to wonder if McVay will consider major changes for next week's home game against the Atlanta Falcons, including more playing time for Akers.

San Francisco 49ers fan Daniel Luna is suing the Los Angeles Rams after an alleged attack in the Rams' stadium parking lot earlier this year left him in a coma.

According to TMZ Sports, Luna alleges that Bryan Alexis Cifuentes pushed him and then punched him during the second quarter of the NFC Championship Game in January while a group of people watched the game from the parking lot at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Luna added that he was defenseless and became unconscious after getting punched, which resulted in him being put in a medically induced coma. Luna came out of the coma five weeks later in March.

Luna alleges the Rams didn't do enough to prevent the incident from happening, so he is suing the Rams, Cifuentes and others for unspecified damages.

Before allegedly getting punched by Cifuentes, Luna said he "made contact" with Cifuentes from behind and then walked away.

Inglewood Mayor James Butts Jr., who announced the arrest of Cifuentes in February, said at the time that investigators said Luna pushed Cifuentes before Cifuentes pushed and then punched Luna.

Cifuentes was charged with felony assault by means to produce great bodily injury, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge in August. Cifuentes' case is ongoing.

The Rams overcame a 17-7 deficit to defeat the 49ers 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game, and they went on to win the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals.

On Thursday night, the Rams opened the 2022 season with a 31-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.