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Rams Young Star Makes Bold Aaron Donald Claim

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Taylor Hartman | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 8:22 PM ET

Jared Verse isn’t afraid to challenge a legend. The Los Angeles Rams’ young defensive star made waves this week when he called out former Los Angeles great Aaron Donald, daring him to hit the weight room together.

During a recent interview on “The Adam Schefter Podcast”, Verse didn’t hold back, throwing some playful jabs at the retired three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

“No, he don’t want that. He’s not ready for that. He’s not ready for that,” Verse said. “That little 500 bench he had. He’s not ready for that. I’ll be moving weight. I’ll be moving weight. Whenever he’s ready for a workout, I’ll be seeing his little Instagram posts, the dumbbell benches. He can get at me whenever he’s ready.”

Donald, known for his insane workout regimen, has been posting clips of his training sessions even after stepping away from the NFL. But Verse, who has quickly established himself as one of the league’s most promising young defenders, clearly believes he can hold his own.

The former Florida State standout finished his rookie season with 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and 32 quarterback pressures, proving he’s more than capable of dominating in the trenches. His combination of power and explosiveness has drawn comparisons to Donald, though he still has a long way to go before reaching that level.

Whether Donald responds to the challenge remains to be seen, but Verse’s confidence is undeniable. If the Rams legend ever decides to take him up on the offer, it could make for one of the most entertaining gym sessions in recent memory.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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