Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made his presence felt early against the Chargers on Saturday.
In the second quarter, Chargers quarterback Easton Stick looked to pass over the middle inside Rams territory. When his errant throw tipped off tight end Simi Fehoko's fingertips, McCollough quickly adjusted and laid out for the interception. It was the Rams' first forced turnover of the preseason, and that wasn't his only big play in the 13-9 win.
"I get with [equipment assistant Antuan Ivory], you know, after every practice and practice my low balls so, you know, just to see all the hard work come into fruition, it's a blessing, man, and I feel great," McCollough said.
The rookie undrafted free agent out of Tennessee finished with three tackles, an interception and two passes defended. This comes a week after McCollough tallied five solo tackles against the Cowboys in a winning effort, which led the team, and head coach Sean McVay took notice.
McVay said he thought McCollough "really showed up" last week, and he did so again versus the Chargers.
McCollough was a factor on the very first defensive possession. With the Chargers driving, they faced a 3rd and 7 from the Rams' 37-yard line. Brenden Rice (son of NFL legend Jerry Rice) settled over the middle as the ball sailed toward him, but before he could corral it, McCollough put his shoulder through the rookie wideout and jarred the ball loose.
The drive ended with a 55-yard field goal attempt, as McCollough picked up where he left off a week ago, showcasing strong tackling and a nose for the football.
"[Play recognition] is one of Jaylen's great traits," McVay said last Saturday. "He's got... a mature demeanor, tough, kind of a no-nonsense type of guy, I like being around him, he's done a good job,"
McCollough was a five-year contributor at the University of Tennessee, where he totaled 245 tackles, 16 passes defended and six interceptions over his college career. In a young defensive back unit, McCollough is making his case for a 53-man roster spot with two strong performances in the preseason.
"It's just making the most of my opportunity," McCollough said. "It's something like you've worked for ever since, you know, you can say the word football. So, you know, just coming out here, and seeing all the hard work just come to life, man, it means a lot to me. Just continuing to take it one day at a time, continuing to stay focused and keeping the main thing, the main thing."
