After enjoying a Labor Day weekend from official workouts, expectations run high as the Los Angeles Rams get down to business and begin preparations for their Week 1 meeting with the Houston Texans. Now is as good a time as any to post some final thoughts about the opening roster and practice squad.
Looking for the good in preseason games, there was much to find. While most of that can be attributed to quarterback Stetson Bennett’s growth in and grasp of the Rams offense, there were other solid signs. The offensive line blocking was strong and the Rams used a lot of different lineups. The wide receivers all looked good, from top to bottom. On defense, L.A. appeared to play a more aggressive style, rather than bend, but don’t break. The cornerbacks were sticky in man and safeties brought a load when striking. Pass rush pressure was consistent and overall, tackling appeared to be improved.
The biggest takeaway should be that the Rams have fortified/solidified the roster for 2025, from the bottom up.
Opening roster
Quarterback – Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garappolo, Stetson Bennett
It was a drama-filled spring and summer concerning Stafford. First the contract dispute throughout OTAs and then missing the lion’s share of training camp with a bad back. Whether or not Garappolo could lead the Rams into the post season was a thing and should remain in the back of fan’s minds. Bennett looked sharp in preseason games and if Stafford’s back falters, will have his backers to take over the Rams offense.
Running back – Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter
KWill has a new contract and will want to show he’s worth it. Corum came in a few pounds lighter to upgrade quickness and it showed. Hunter is going through growing pains, but has fans holding their breath’s for a big play whenever he gets a little space.
Wide receiver – Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield
The Top 4 all have complimentary skillsets and set the Rams up well against zone or man coverage. Sky’s the limit for Nacua, his hair on fire style sets the unit’s tone. Adams offers the Rams veteran savvy and the versatility to win outside, from the slot, and in the red zone. Tutu has the speed to take the top off and win crossers, but can also win with dig and stop routes. Last year Whittington played his best in situational football, converting first downs at a proportion well above his touches would dictate. Mumpfield has route-running chops and can create separation while subbing outside or the slot.
Tight end – Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen
A very deep unit that offers the L.A. offense the opportunities to have many different looks and attack points. While none are bruisers a blockers, in the Rams scheme they need to get extended and lock out, not drive defenders. Higbee returns his experience and well-rounded game. Ferguson flashed in his only preseason game and has fans drooling with what could be. Parkinson should better with a year in the system and Davis should push all three.
Offensive line – Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein, DJ Humphries, Beaux Limmer, Warren McClendon, David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich
The big question remains how long will Humphries be L.A.’s left tackle. AJax is reportedly fully cleared for practice, but this will be a game plan week, not much, if any, live action. The rest of the offensive line appears healthy, there has been no problematic injury reports on Avila, Shelton, and Havenstein. Dotson missed a couple of days with a stiff back, but it appears an outlier. All the backups, Quessenberry, Limmer, McClendon, and Dedich have multiple NFL starts.
Special teams – Ethan Evans, Josh Karty, Alex Ward
No reason not to expect another solid season from the Rams specialists. Although L.A. used a lot of different returners in preseason games, Xavier Smith should be a big part of both punts and kickoffs.
Defesive interior – Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton, Larrell Murchison
This unit themselves consider the Top 4 to be interchangeable and of starting grade. What are the ceilings for Turner and Fiske? Are 25 sacks between them an idealistic projection? I don’t think so. Ford should be a steady, experienced presence on the interior, good for 600-700 snaps. Davis appears ready for a breakthrough after a solid rookie outing. Hamilton will be groomed, most likely in run situations until he can carve out a role. Murchison comes back after a season-long injury in 2024, he brings effort, versatility, and seven seasons of backup experience.
Edge – Jared Verse, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Nick Hampton, Desjuan Johnson
Sky-high ceiling with this group and moving Johnson outside helps shore up depth. He’ll have to adjust on the fly and maybe lean out a little, but has surprising move skills and good strength. Stewart came on strong in camp and it appears he can hold his mud. Verse is line for a monster year and Young is a stellar bookend. With both eating up reps at an 80 percent clip, the Rams can afford to trot out Stewart situationally. Hampton has gotten most of his pro reps on special teams and that’s not likely to change.
Off-ball linebacker – Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Troy Reeder, Shaun Dolac
Dolac starts as ILB#4, but if he continues to improve, might carve out a good bit of playing time on longer passing downs. With the Rams usage of three and four safety packages, Dolac might be the best fit along side them. Landman, Speights, and Reeder are best suited for run defense and while they can get their drops and come down hill, they are at a disadvantage on wheel routes and against advanced receiving running backs.
Safety – Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace
With all the main pieces returning, it will be interesting to see how much improvement they show. For all, it is their second year in the system, as well as working together. Curl offers veteran savvy. Lake is in a contract year and played the hybrid “STAR” role in his first year as a full-time starter. Kinchens has shown flashes of being an enforcer from the deep safety position. McCollough offers high/low versatility. Wallace was a cornerback last year and has a play style similar to Lake.
Cornerback – Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes
The Rams are seemingly the only ones not worried about this unit with Williams, Durant, and Witherspoon entering their third year together. Williams had a big bonus ($8mil) come due this spring, Durant played well in his first full-time role last year, and while Witherspoon led the team in passes defended, looks to take a more supporting role. Forbes reportedly put on some good weight and gets a big chance to rejuvenate his career.
Practice squad
RB – Cody Schrader, Ronnie Rivers
Schrader’s play style is good fit for the Rams run offense and would be a run game upside if needed. Rivers offers a jack-of-all-trades versatility.
WR – Brennan Presley, Tru Edwards
It appears that the only reason Presley didn’t make the 53 is because the Rams already have two “small” receivers. It’s too bad because he appears to offer some return game value along with his receiving chops. Tru Edwards got a late start due to injury, but enamored the Rams enough to keep him close.
TE – Mark Redman
Redman struggled to pass his physical and got a late start in camp, but out-lasted the other UDFA candidates. He’s more of an in-line tight end than the other Rams and was best known in college for his blocking.
OL – Dylan McMahon, Wyatt Bowles, AJ Arcuri
McMahon didn’t play in the preseason games and I honestly don’t remember any reports, good or bad, emanating from training camp. Bowles play at guard was one of the biggest surprises in preseason games, hard to say if it will mean much this season, but after a year in the system and weight room, who knows? The Rams must like Arcuri, he begins a fourth season in L.A. Playing one game and then out every two years is not exactly a path to success.
DT – Jack Heflin, Bill Norton
Both these big guys played well in preseason, it’s just a deep unit and tough to break through. Norton is a monolith who will be well-served by a year of seasoning and a strength/conditioning program. Heflin is one of those Iowa boys, big, strong, and assignment based.
E – Jamil Muhammad
A high school quarterback, Muhammad is sneakily athletic. I thought he showed a bit of potential in preseason games. Looks like he’s put on weight from his college days and appears to need to turn that into good weight. Will look for him next year.
ILB – Elias Neal
I can’t say he adds anything different/special over the rostered ILB’s, but Neal is the type of player you can bring up on a weekly exemption and he’ll play his ass off on special teams
S – Tanner Ingle, Nate Valcarcel
You can say the same thing about Ingle as you can Neal, special teams are where he will best fit. Valcarcel looks a little lean, but he tackled well in preseason games and is the closest thing the Rams have to a true free safety.
CB – AJ Green, Cam Lampkin
Green and Ingle both had good preseason showings. If Forbes fails to follow through on his career rebuild, a good case could be made for either one of these two to step in.
Captains
Offense – Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Rob Havenstein
Defense – Nate Landman, Kobie Turner, Quentin Lake
Special teams – Ethan Evans
Injuries
Generally speaking, things have gone well for the Rams. Training camp had its share of bumps, bruises, and soft tissue problems, but major injuries were limited to bubble players. Things are not 100 percent rosy, however. Although seemingly under control, health concerns for quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) and left tackle Alaric Jackson (blood clots) will likely be ongoing all season. Edge Josaiah Stewart is back to practice after a concussion.
Conclusions
The Rams have built a very balanced roster. There were not a lot of surprises in the opening 53, L.A. decided to put a premium on experience and versatility for the bubble battles. The cross-training that the Rams have been using on the offensive line for years appears to have bled over into the positional units as well. Having a roster of chess pieces to deploy over the board makes sense. The more formations you can show creates problems for the opposition. Rams Head Coach Sean McVay has been a master at creating mismatches on offense and now Defensive Coordinator David Shula is taking a page for the defense.