theyll

The Los Angeles freeway system has its downsides, especially during traffic-jammed weekdays, but the Rams are absolutely looking forward to commuting from their Woodland Hills facility to SoFi Stadium for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants.

After traveling about 16,000 air miles round trip for their season-opener in Australia — and suffering a humiliating loss to the San Francisco 49ers — the home opener requires only a 28-mile journey and offers a chance for a reboot.

And the embarrassed-but-still-Super-Bowl-favorite Rams are eager for the opportunity.

• Share via Close extra sharing options

Aaron Donald will play for the Rams against the New York Giants on Monday, but will Puka Nacua be on the field?

“An eternity,” coach Sean McVay said when asked about the 11-day wait between games. “It has been forever. We’re excited to compete again.”

In the 27-7 defeat by the 49ers, the Rams’ offense never established a rhythm, the defense gave up three touchdown passes and special teams gave up a long kickoff return.

Veteran receiver Davante Adams cautioned about overreaction.

“Everybody’s freaking out, which I understand,” he said. “We didn’t put together the greatest showing out there. But you’re a fool if you think that that’s what it’s going to look like every single week.”

The Rams will be without edge rusher Myles Garrett, who is on injured reserve for at least four games following knee surgery. Star receiver Puka Nacua is listed as questionable because of a hip injury.

But defensive lineman Aaron Donald is expected to give Rams a much-needed boost.

Donald, 35, ended a two-year retirement when he returned to the team a few weeks ago. The three-time NFL defensive player of the year did not travel to Australia for the opener, but McVay is happy to have him available for the first time since 2023.

“Aaron is a stud, and he’s been at the forefront of setting the foundation of everything that we’re about here,” said McVay, who is in his 10th season as Rams coach. “I remember my interview process included meeting with him and he’s looking at me like, ‘This is the guy that they’re thinking about hiring?’”

One of the reasons Donald returned was to play alongside Garrett, a two time NFL defensive player of the year who amassed an NFL season-record 23 sacks last season.

Now that combination — which boasts a combined 236½ sacks — is on hold.

The double- and triple-team schemes Donald thought he had put behind might once again be in full effect.

“You think they’re going to double/triple team me [after] not playing for two years?” Donald quipped when asked about the prospect. “They ain’t worried about me, man. They don’t have to be worried about me.

“They don’t have to worry about me at all. No man, they don’t have to worry about me.”

But does he anticipate getting that kind of attention?

“I don’t know what they’re going to do out there,” he said of opponents. “I don’t know what I’m going to get. All I can know is I got a game plan. I’m going to go out there, execute it, and just try to play ball. That’s it.”

The Giants, under new coach John Harbaugh, are coming off a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Malik Nabers, tight end Isaiah Likely and running back Cam Skattebo lead the offense, outside linebacker Brian Burns the defense.

Rams players have said that they quickly put their performance against the 49ers behind and were focused on the Giants.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL most valuable player, passed for only 155 yards, with an interception, against the 49ers.

“You get trained, whether it’s a game or a play. Good, bad, and different, move on to the next,” said Stafford, an 18th-year pro. “Don’t think too much about it. Don’t harp too much about it. Just be honest with yourself, play in and play out, game in and game out.”

That next game is here.

The Rams will be “primed and ready,” Adams said, “at the right time.”

A MUCH-LOVED Devonshire beach and pier could soon be forced to close.

Teignmouth beach and pier in Devon are popular spots for holidaymakers in the summer months.

However, both could soon disappear.

It comes as work to stop erosion taking parts of the beach away may not be completed until 2030.

According to the Mid-Devon Advertiser, the Environment Agency (EA) is working on a case to secure Government money for the work.

Reportedly, erosion has sped over the past few years and as a result, some of the structural piles holding up the pier have been exposed.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

A petition calling for urgent action to save the beach and pier has been signed by over 900 people.

While coastal erosion is natural, there is a risk of safety if it continues at Teignmouth Beach.

A spokesperson for the EA said: “Teignmouth seafront is an important local landmark.

“This work is ongoing, but the funding needed to develop the project further is not currently available.”

A decision on funding is unlikely to occur before 2028/2029, according to the EA.

If it is approved then, work would be set to be completed by 2030.

Back in January, part of the historic pier washed away and the sea wall next to the railway line crumbled due to storm damage.

In fact, over the years the pier has suffered several closures due to storm damage.

One of the most notable closures was in 2014, when massive waves and high winds damaged multiple parts of the pier forcing it to close for seven months.

Since 2014 and to date, the wider 30- metre deck at the end of the pier has been closed as it is deemed unsafe.

This is the part of the pier that then fell into the sea earlier this year.

With the pier’s structure now exposed, if another storm were to happen it could damage the pier further.

This could result in the local council cordoning off the beach and shutting the pier for safety reasons.

Teignmouth Grand Pier was built between 1865 and 1867 and used to be a landing stage for steamboats.

The 190-metre-long pier then became a popular tourist destination.

At one point, the pier was home to a ballroom at its end, however this was later destroyed in a fire.

There would be performances on the pier too including ‘Peg-leg Pete’ who was a one-legged performer that would set himself on fire before jumping into the sea.

Today, the pier features a range of amusement arcades and penny slot machines.