MM 9.1: Former Maryland football star Jake Funk makes the Los Angeles Rams’ 53-man roster

Former Maryland football running back Jake Funk officially survived the roster cuts and made the 53-man roster for the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced Tuesday.

The Rams recently acquired running back Sony Michel to bolster the team’s depth, but running back Xavier Jones suffered an Achilles injury in the team’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. Jones’ injury left the door open for Funk, a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, to be the No. 3 running back for the Rams this season.

Funk has undeniable talent, but a troubling injury history. Funk’s college career includes two torn ACLs in back-to-back seasons. Despite this, Funk came back healthy and led the Terps in both carries and rushing yards last season, and impressed NFL scouts with his exceptional combine and impressive senior highlights to earn a selection in last year’s NFL Draft.

The only names ahead of Funk on the depth chart are the undersized Darrell Henderson Jr. and the unreliable Sony Michel, which could result in an exponentially larger role for Funk as the season progresses. Henderson is currently battling a thumb injury, a tough blow considering he is an undersized pass-catching back, and Michel is coming to the Rams after three disappointing and injury-ridden seasons with the New England Patriots.

In other news

The Big Ten shared Maryland men’s and women’s golf’s 2021 Big Ten Golfers to Watch.

Maryland football held a practice that was open to the media on Tuesday.

Maryland volleyball got in practice after starting their season 3-0 at the Maryland Invitational, where it defeated Virginia, Hofstra and Central Connecticut State.

Maryland football selected its three captains for the season opener against West Virginia.