UVA’s Bryce Perkins is a hit in NFL debut with Rams

By Jerry Ratcliffe

For former Virginia record-setting quarterback Bryce Perkins, his first taste of the NFL on Friday night was like old times.

Perkins, who signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 season, spent 2020 on the Los Angeles Rams roster or practice squad, but never played in a game. With Rams coach Sean McVay deciding to rest his first- and second-team players in Friday night’s preseason game against the Chargers, Perkins got the starting assignment.

Not only did it seem like old times for Perkins, it looked like old times as he wowed the 68,000 fans in First SoFi Stadium by hurdling a would-be Chargers tackler for a first down, but also turned out to be the Rams’ leading rusher on the night. Sound familiar?

Perkins completed 7 of 10 passes for 42 yards, including a touchdown pass to Trishton Jackson to open the game in a 13-6 loss.

With starter Matthew Stafford and backup John Wolford getting the night off, it was Perkins chance to shine in his battle with Duck Hodges, a former Steelers backup, for the third quarterback spot on the Rams roster.

If nothing else, fans and teammates will remember Perkins’ hurdle to extend a drive, a talent he thrilled Virginia fans during his two-year career with the Cavaliers.

It was a 12-yard run and leap for a first down in the fourth quarter.

“I was just trying to keep the chains moving,” Perkins said. “Plays like that are just reactionary.”

The reaction from the result of the play was loud.

“Usually when I’m on the field I can’t hear anything (from the sidelines),” Perkins said of the hurdle. “But after that play it seemed like I heard everybody.”

McVay, who has been impressed with Perkins ever since the Rams signed him, wasn’t exactly surprised by the former UVA QB’s leap or that he led the offense down the field against the Chargers defense for a touchdown.

“You talk about really raising the level of play of everybody around you, being able to lead those guys to a conference championship game (Virginia vs. Clemson in 2019), I remember watching that opening drive as [Perkins] takes [Virginia] right down the field,” McVay said. “Clemson is a pretty impressive team.”

While Perkins wasn’t drafted, Rams general manager Les Snead, whose son had intended to walk on at UVA, was aware of Perkins’ ability.

McVay likes Perkins’ athleticism and the fact that he is mobile.

“It just keeps defenses honest,” McVay said. “So much of what you see is predicated on defenses usually playing 11 on 10 where they’re not necessarily having to account for the quarterback as a runner. You can certainly do those things with [Perkins] and then when things break down off schedule, if somebody gets beat, that athleticism, he can kind of find a way of, when it’s wrong, making it right.”

Because there was no preseason last year, Perkins never felt truly comfortable and in command of the offense when he got reps. Now, he’s off and running, literally.

“That alone just allows you to play faster and as we know, when you’re allowed to take some of the stress off, thinking a lot at quarterback, you perform better,” Perkins said.

He rushed for 1,692 yards in two seasons at Virginia and helped lead the Cavaliers to two bowl games as he became UVA’s single-season total offense leader.