LOS ANGELES — Jared Verse, the outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, is bracing for a chilly welcome in Philadelphia this Sunday after expressing his distaste for Eagles fans.

In a recent interview, Verse did not shy away from voicing his feelings, stating to the Los Angeles Times that he “hates Eagles fans.” Having grown up in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, roughly 100 miles from Philadelphia, it’s clear why his comments have stirred up reactions.

After speaking his mind, Verse found himself inundated with reactions on social media ahead of the crucial NFC divisional round game. “I woke up and my phone was blowing up out of nowhere,” he mentioned. “I’m like, ‘What happened?’ And the first thing I see is, ‘I hate Eagles fans.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m done.’”

When questioned about whether he regretted his remarks, Verse chose not to dwell on them. “I just want to move on. What was said was said. That was the past. We got a game to handle.”

Saquon Barkley, who formerly played for the New York Giants and faced the Eagles multiple times as an opponent, weighed in on Verse’s comments. “Probably not the smartest thing to say when you’re coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley noted. “I’m pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s just only going to add to it.”

Verse has had a remarkable season, making the Pro Bowl and being a strong candidate for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He boasts impressive stats with 77 pressures and 4.5 sacks. In their earlier encounter during Week 12, which resulted in a 37-20 defeat for the Rams, Verse managed seven tackles but failed to secure a sack or tackle for loss.