Rams Rookie Jared Verse Embraces the Rivalry - and the Moment - Ahead of Showdown with Seahawks
When the Rams and Seahawks meet, there’s no need for added fuel - but Jared Verse brought some anyway.
The Rams’ rookie edge rusher didn’t mince words ahead of Thursday Night Football at Lumen Field. Asked about the nature of the rivalry, Verse was direct: “I don’t like the Seahawks, and they don’t like us. That’s just simply how it is.”
This wasn’t pregame posturing or headline-chasing trash talk. It was a window into the mindset of a player who’s not just adjusting to the NFL - he’s already thriving in it.
Verse’s comments reflect the kind of edge that’s defined his rapid rise and the Rams’ late-season surge. And with the NFC West hanging in the balance, his timing couldn’t be better.
A Division Race That’s Anything But Settled
Thursday’s game isn’t just about bragging rights - it’s about playoff positioning, momentum, and survival in the NFL’s tightest division.
Both teams are red-hot. The Rams come in riding a two-game winning streak, while the Seahawks have reeled off four straight.
The NFC West is the only division in football with two 11-win teams, and the margin for error is razor-thin. A win for Los Angeles puts them in the driver’s seat for the division crown and keeps them firmly in the hunt for home-field advantage.
A loss? That opens the door for Seattle to reclaim control of a division they haven’t won since 2020.
There’s no shortage of familiarity between these two squads. Former Rams like Cooper Kupp and Ernest Jones now wear Seahawks blue, while Los Angeles is managing its own injury concerns - most notably Davante Adams’ hamstring. Puka Nacua, meanwhile, powered through a cramp last week and is expected to go.
This one feels less like Week 15 and more like a playoff preview. And Jared Verse? He’s treating it like exactly that.
Verse’s Disruption Is Changing Games - Even When It Doesn’t Show Up in the Box Score
Through three career games against Seattle, Jared Verse has been a problem - even if the sack totals don’t jump off the page.
One sack, eight total tackles, two tackles for loss, and 14 pressures across 79 pass-rush snaps. That’s a 17.7% pressure rate - a number that speaks volumes about his ability to consistently collapse the pocket. His most impactful game came in Week 9 this season, when he racked up six pressures, two tackles for loss, and his lone sack against the Seahawks.
Even in the most recent matchup, Verse was a force. Six pressures on 33 pass-rush snaps. He may not have gotten home every time, but he was in the quarterback’s face more often than not - forcing hurried throws, disrupting timing, and setting the tone defensively.
That kind of consistency is what’s turning heads inside the Rams’ building and across the league.
From Quiet Competitor to Vocal Leader
Verse hasn’t always been this vocal.
Back in high school in Pennsylvania and early in his college career at Albany, he was more reserved. But after transferring to Florida State, something clicked - and the voice that had been quiet started getting loud.
“That’s when it started, like me actually kind of getting in people’s faces,” Verse said. “Like really letting them know. Like, getting loud.”
That confidence has become a signature part of his game. It’s not just about what he says - it’s how he plays.
When he was miked up earlier this season, his sideline chatter and on-field swagger went viral. He’s not just making plays - he’s making his presence felt.
And Rams head coach Sean McVay sees shades of greatness in that edge.
“He’s a bully on the field, and he gets going,” McVay said. “Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey brought a similar edge… You need that energy, that swagger, and Jared Verse definitely has that.”
Learning to Channel the Fire
That edge hasn’t come without growing pains.
Early in the season, Verse admits he was pressing - looking for the splash play on every snap instead of trusting the process. But with coaching and patience, he’s learned to slow the game down.
“It was just slowing everything down,” he said. “Not go for the kill shot every time. Just make the play.”
And the results speak for themselves. Five quarterback hits against Las Vegas.
A 1.5-sack performance against Minnesota. And consistent pressure every time he’s lined up across from Seattle.
Verse also believes his trash talk has a purpose. It’s not just noise - it’s strategy.
“If you mess up a couple times, now your mind is away from the play,” he said. “Now they’re focused on, ‘How am I going to get this guy back?’”
There are limits - family is off-limits, he says - but otherwise, it’s part of the game.
Raising the Bar - and the Expectations
After the Rams’ recent win over Seattle, Verse didn’t hold back when asked how he thought the defense performed.
“I don’t think we have any ceiling,” he said. “We could have shut them out completely, beat them 21-zip.”
Seattle managed mostly field goals and a late touchdown, and even missed a long field goal that could’ve changed the game. But Verse never felt like the Rams were in danger.
“You run that ball, it will get stopped. You pass it, we will get in your face,” he said. “All that matters is we were able to pull off the win.”
Now, with another primetime clash on deck and the division up for grabs, Verse’s words carry more weight. This isn’t just about noise.
It’s about identity. It’s about setting the tone for a defense - and a franchise - that’s looking to prove it still belongs among the NFC elite.
For Jared Verse and the Rams, Thursday night isn’t just another game.
It’s a statement.