The Rams’ first 53-man roster came with more than a few revealing choices, even if the overall picture wasn’t loaded with shock value. Sunday’s cuts and keeps showed exactly which players the team trusts right now - and which ones are still fighting for a bigger slice of the season.
Wesley Bailey was probably the clearest success story. Signed as an undrafted free agent, the edge rusher entered camp as a long shot, especially with Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, and Desjuan Johnson already in place. But Bailey forced the issue with a strong preseason and did enough to make the Rams keep him.
Ronnie Rivers also landed on the right side of the bubble in a move that says plenty about how the Rams view him. His familiarity with the system and his value on special teams helped him survive a roster crunch that cost Jarquez Hunter and Dean Connors. Rivers will open the year as the RB3 behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
The biggest hit to the roster may have come on the offensive line, where Justin Dedich and Keagen Trost were both placed on injured reserve. That leaves the Rams without two key depth pieces until Week 4. Dedich had not practiced all offseason because of a hand injury, while Trost hurt his hamstring in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“They're not quite ready yet,” said McVay. “Maybe they'd be ready before Week 4, but we felt like there were some guys that were more than capable of really earning the roster spot.”
There was also a ripple effect from Aaron Donald’s return. His comeback brought plenty of buzz, but it also changes the math for Braden Fiske.
The Rams saw enough from Fiske’s rookie season to keep him around, but he hasn’t popped this summer the way they likely hoped. A smaller role could help, but Donald’s presence also squeezes his ceiling and trims his defensive workload.
At wide receiver, the Rams made a decision that looked unlikely not long ago: they kept seven. That mattered for Smith, whose spot had been in doubt after the team traded Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins for Tutu Atwell prior to Thursday’s preseason finale. Even with the roster crowding at the position, Smith stayed put after a strong preseason.
The injuries to Dedich and Trost also pushed Dylan McMahon and Bill Murray into more important roles as interior line depth. McVay pointed to both players when explaining the decision.
“Dylan McMahon has been getting a bunch of reps at center. And then Bill Murray came in and truly earned a roster spot with the way that he played in the preseason games and the way he competed in practice so it was cool for him,” said McVay.
McMahon has spent three years in the system and on the practice squad, while Murray brings experience of his own. Both now look like important stopgaps while the Rams wait for the injured linemen to return.
Cam Lampkin was another name who could have gone either way. He had a strong camp, finished the preseason with a sack, and added a timely pass breakup the week before. The Rams did bring him back on the practice squad, but there’s a reasonable case that he did enough to stay on the 53.
Hamilton also survived the cut after an uneven rookie year left some uncertainty about his place. The Rams kept him even after adding Donald, a sign that they still see a path forward. He’ll need a better second season, but the direction is encouraging.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Leads This Team
Leadership in Los Angeles now has a much broader cast. The Rams named a record 11 team captains for the 2026 season, and the group says plenty about where the organization wants its authority to live: with established veterans, trusted voices and the players expected to set the tone every week. Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee, Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Nate Landman, Quentin Lake, Trent McDuffie and Joe Cardona make up the list, giving the roster a mix of offensive, defensive and special teams anchors.
The most notable twist is the arrival of Garrett and McDuffie into that leadership circle after recent trades and acquisitions, a sign that the Rams are not waiting for newcomers to settle in before handing them real responsibility. For a team that has leaned heavily on veteran presence in recent years, expanding the captain group this far feels less like a formality and more like a statement about how the locker room is being organized heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Left Themselves Dangerously Thin Where They Could Least Afford It
The Rams went into roster cuts with a little room to maneuver at wide receiver and tight end, but not nearly as much margin at cornerback. By carrying only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster, they made a clear choice about where they wanted their depth to live, and it was not in the one spot where injuries and matchups can turn a secondary upside down in a hurry. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson remain key pieces at the position, but the overall numbers leave little cushion behind them.
For a defense that has to survive a long season against varied passing attacks, the balance looks precarious. Los Angeles waived other coverage options and may have to lean on the practice squad to patch holes if the cornerback room gets tested, which is exactly the kind of scenario teams try to avoid when setting their opening roster. The concern is not just talent, but how quickly the Rams could be forced to reshuffle if the position takes even a modest hit. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face An Unusual Roster Problem Before Their Australia Opener
Before the Rams even get to worry about the 49ers on the field, there is the unusual business of getting everyone on the plane for Australia. The season opener will be played overseas, which means passports are not a side detail but part of the roster math, and both teams have had to spend real time making sure travel documents are in order for a trip unlike anything they see during a normal NFL season.
John Lynch described the process as a logistical grind, especially when it comes to new practice squad players who may still need passports and visas sorted out. For Los Angeles, the challenge is the same one facing San Francisco: the longest road trip in league history is also one of the most complicated, and the work behind the scenes has already started well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]