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Byron Young Continues to Rise, No Sign of Slowing Down
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- Byron Young Continues to Rise, No Sign of Slowing Down
Once under the radar, Byron Young is now on a trajectory toward stardom after years of hard work.
The jump for the Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker came in 2025, his third NFL season, when he recorded a career-high 12 sacks in 17 games and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. It cemented him as a building block of the Rams' defense.
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Heading into 2026, Young faces the question of whether last season had been a fluke or a preview of what's to come, for himself and for a Rams team with higher expectations . He'll be answering it in a contract year.
Dec 14, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) is seen during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
His confidence, at least, isn't in question. During training camp, he said the Rams could field a historically dominant defense after the team added reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and star cornerback Trent McDuffie in blockbuster trades this offseason. The potential return of Aaron Donald only adds to the hype .
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Byron Young shines in joint practice
Sep 21, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Then came the Rams' joint practice with the Cowboys Tuesday at the team's Woodland Hills training facility, where Young dominated, according to The Athletic's Nate Atkins :
"Byron Young had a field day against Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele. He won with speed around the edge, one time so freely that he actually overran a sack that Prescott turned into a short scramble by dipping around his speeding body. He won with the bull rush at times, including one rep where he drove the pocket back so deep into Prescott that the Cowboys quarterback was left chucking the ball over McDuffie's tight coverage on the outside just to get it away."
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More of the spotlight fell on Young while Garrett watched from the sideline, held out with knee swelling as a precaution . Young delivered.
The regular season, where the real test begins, remains weeks away. So far, however, Young shows signs that his first Pro Bowl nod in 2025 could turn into a 2026 All-Pro selection, and lead to the contract extension he's chasing.
As long as he stays healthy, everything should continue aligning in his favor.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
