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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) along with teammate defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) in the first half of a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) along with teammate defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) in the first half of a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks with quarterback Jared Goff (16) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Aqib Talib (21) knocks a pass away intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches a pass fora first down against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for yardage against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches a pass fora first down over Los Angeles Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman (23) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs for a first down as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jamar Taylor (28) makes the tackle in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) is sacked in the first half of a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for yardage against he Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) catches a pass for yardage against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) catches a pass for yardage against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs for a touchdown past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Patrick Peterson (21) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams’ JoJo Natson (19) runs a punt back for yardage against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Aqib Talib (21) knocks a pass away intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams cheers in the first half of a NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald with his kids after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 34-0 during a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods smile as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-0 during a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Sam Shields reacts intercepting a Arizona Cardinals pass] in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff looks toward the scoreboard during a review of a play against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown (34) is knocked out of bounds by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) after running for a first down in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) is tackled for a loss of yards by the Los Angeles Rams defense in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) celebrates with quarterback Jared Goff (16) after catching a pass for touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) along with teammate defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) in the first half of a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Sam Shields (37) reacts with teammate linebacker Bryce Hager (54) after intercepting a Arizona Cardinals pass in the second half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Rams won 34-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Aqib Talib (21) knocks a pass away intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for yardage against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for yardage against he Los Angeles Rams in the first half of a NFL football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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LOS ANGELES — For his next trick, Johnny Hekker will run off-tackle, or perhaps blitz.
Hekker kicked a field goal and an extra point in an NFL game on Sunday, nearly six years to the day he threw a touchdown pass. It should be noted that Hekker is the Rams’ punter.
Don’t get bogged down in details. Two years ago, when the Rams were awful, Hekker might have been their MVP. The Rams are past that now, but Hekker remains a star. On Sunday, he filled in at kicker when Greg Zuerlein suffered a groin injury, and the team proceeded as usual.
“I don’t think anyone flinched,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “We love Greg and we need him out there and want him back as soon as possible, but stuff like that may happen, and we didn’t flinch.”
Hekker, a four-time All-Pro punter, said he had not attempted a field goal in a game since 2007, when he played for Bothell High, near Seattle. Hekker doesn’t even practice field goals with the Rams, but he stepped in against Arizona and made a 20-yard field goal and a 33-yard extra point.
“A little nerve-wracking,” Hekker said, “but I’ve watched the best kicker in the NFL, week in and week out, watching Greg Zuerlein practice. I just tried to emulate him as best I could.”
Hekker also handled kickoffs and sent two of the five deep into the end zone for touchbacks, but it’s highly unlikely that Hekker will retain the job.
Coach Sean McVay said after the game that he didn’t know how long Zuerlein might be out, but that the Rams could turn back to Sam Ficken, a kicker they cut at the end of the preseason. Ficken filled in for Zuerlein late last season, after Zuerlein underwent back surgery, and showed increased confidence.
After a rough start last December, Ficken made 4 of 5 field-goal attempts and 5 of 6 extra-point attempts. When the Rams rested Zuerlein in this year’s preseason, Ficken looked solid, as he made both of his field-goal attempts (34 and 32 yards) and both of his extra-point attempts.
“He came in, did a nice job,” McVay said of Ficken.
Either way, at least the Rams will have time to prepare for next week’s game. Not until the end of warmups did they learn that Zuerlein had suffered an injury, so there was no time for practice, either for Hekker or for Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, who replaced Hekker as the holder on kicks.
Hekker threw his touchdown pass in 2012 as a holder for Zuerlein. On Sunday, Hekker easily made both kick attempts, and had a deadpan answer ready when asked if he knew his range on field goals.
“Unlimited,” Hekker said. “I haven’t missed yet, so I guess we’ll find out.”
COOKIN’ WITH BRANDIN
In just his second game with the Rams, receiver Brandin Cooks caught seven passes for 159 yards and showed a great connection with quarterback Jared Goff on different types of routes.
That was the third-highest receiving-yard total of Cooks’ career — he was a rookie in 2014 — and he seems to like facing Arizona. In Dec. 2016, Cooks had a career-high 186 yards against the Cardinals.
“I’m extremely blessed, first of all, to play this game, to have such an amazing team,” Cooks said. “There’s no doubt about it. I couldn’t do it without them. I was excited about today. Any time you can come out here, first home game, and do what you do as a whole squad, you’re excited about it.”
Goff and Cooks nearly connected on a couple pf deep passes in last Monday’s victory over Oakland, and they hit on the Rams’ first play of the third quarter Sunday. The Rams went play-action, and Goff hit Cooks for a 57-yard pass.
“We’ve been connecting on a lot of stuff in practice,” Goff said. “Today, I kind of felt that rhythm start to happen, with some of those deep things, the stuff across the field where he’s able to make those plays with his speed and how good he is with his hands. He did a great job. I felt really comfortable with him, as well as with all the receivers. They complement each other so well.”
SUPER SUB
JoJo Natson replaced Pharoh Cooper as the Rams’ return specialist and thrived. Natson returned six punts for a total of 133 yards, which included a 60-yard second-quarter return that nearly was a touchdown. Natson also returned a kickoff for 22 yards to start the game.
The Rams signed Natson on Tuesday, a day after Cooper, their All-Pro returner, suffered a significant ankle injury that likely will sideline him for several more weeks. Natson had a strong preseason with the Rams but got cut when it ended.
“I’m surprised no team picked him up,” Rams cornerback Aqib Talib said of Natson. “I’m glad nobody did pick him up, so we had a chance to get him. We knew what he could do from the preseason and in training camp, so it wasn’t that surprising to us.”
HE’S BACK
Josh Rosen, UCLA’s former standout quarterback, returned to his hometown as the Cardinals’ backup but did not get in the game. Goff and Rosen chatted on the field during early warmups.
“We talked about a lot of stuff,” Goff said. “We talked about UCLA and about Cal. I’ve gotten to know Josh a little bit over the past year or so. Good kid. I wish him the best. I offered him, ‘Keep going,’ and a little bit of advice, but I think he’s in a good place and he’s got a great chance in Arizona.”