The Rams may have most of their roster picture already sketched in, but there’s still room for a few late twists when they meet the Chargers in the preseason finale.
That’s especially true if the Rams end up without left tackle Alaric Jackson or receiver Puka Nacua to open the season. The team has already done some planning for those possibilities, but if Week 1 leaves them short a spot or two, this game could become one last audition for players trying to force their way onto the 53.
Cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton has already made noise. Against the New Orleans Saints in the second preseason game, he was everywhere, finishing with six tackles and an interception while helping the Rams defense post a shutout. The secondary is loaded with veterans, but a rookie who could eventually grow into a starting role is the kind of player worth keeping around.
Edge rusher Wesley Bailey has also made a strong case. Through two games, he has collected seven tackles off the edge, along with a sack and a steady stream of pressure.
The Rams moved quickly to get him after the draft, and losing him now would be a tough pill to swallow. Fans still remember how the team lost offensive lineman Willie Lampkin in a similar situation a year ago.
Then there’s defensive back Alex Cook, another player who has flashed enough to get attention. A former UFL player, Cook has put up six tackles and a pick-six in two preseason games despite missing much of training camp. For a veteran who has had limited time to settle in, that’s a strong showing, and he’s given the Rams something to think about.
One name that would have belonged in this conversation is running back Jarquez Hunter, but he was traded to the Dolphins Thursday afternoon in exchange for ex-Rams receiver Tutu Atwell. Before that move, Hunter had already turned in a productive preseason, rushing 21 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in two games. The problem wasn’t production; it was simply that the depth chart didn’t have enough room.
Now the pressure shifts to the final preseason outing. Hamilton, Bailey and Cook all have one more chance to make themselves too valuable to risk on waivers, because if the Rams cut them and hope to keep them on the practice squad, another team could jump in and claim them. For each of them, the Chargers game is the last stage to leave a lasting impression.
In Other News...
Rams Face A Troubling Puka Nacua Cloud Before Week 1
Puka Nacuas status has become one of the more unsettling subplots hanging over the Rams as they get ready for Week 1, with the NFL reportedly reviewing the wide receiver for possible discipline tied to an offseason incident involving allegations of battery and assault. The civil case tied to the matter is not set for trial until March 2028, but the leagues timeline is much more immediate, and any decision on a suspension could arrive before Los Angeles opens the season in Australia.
For a Rams offense built around Nacuas emergence, the uncertainty is the real issue. ESPNs Adam Schefter noted the possibility that Nacua might not be available for the opener against the 49ers, though no ruling has been made yet. Until the league acts, the Rams are left managing a cloud they cannot control, one that could alter the first game of their season before they even get on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Still Have One Crucial QB Decision Behind Matthew Stafford
While several quarterback rooms around the NFL are still sorting out their preseason depth charts, the Rams have a smaller but still important decision to make behind Matthew Stafford. The starter is locked in, but the backup spot remains unsettled as Los Angeles evaluates rookie Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett, a choice that matters more than it might in a typical August competition because of Staffords central place in the offense.
The Rams are not alone in weighing a key reserve job, with the Raiders comparing rookie Fernando Mendoza and veteran Kirk Cousins and the Cowboys running a close battle between Joe Milton and Sam Howell. For Los Angeles, though, the focus is narrower and more immediate, since the backup quarterback is the next line of protection for a team built to contend now, and the final call still has to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Reopened A Familiar Wide Receiver Debate
A familiar name is back in the Rams wide receiver room after Los Angeles sent running back Jarquez Hunter to the Dolphins in exchange for Tutu Atwell. For a team that has spent time sorting out its pass-catching depth, the move brings in a receiver who already knows the system and gives the offense another option as it continues to build out the position.
Atwells return also circles back to a conversation the Rams have been having for a while about how they want to shape the room behind their top targets. Hunter had shown promise as a young back, but the Rams had enough bodies at the position and did not see enough special teams value to keep him in the fold. Now the focus shifts to what Atwell can add this time around, and whether this reunion changes the depth chart in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]