The Rams hit training camp on Saturday at Loyola Marymount University with no shortage of noise around them, and that’s putting it mildly. This is a team that has spent the offseason in the spotlight, and the questions coming into camp cut across everything from star power to contract status to the shape of the defense.
The biggest one still hanging over the team is Aaron Donald. NFL Network’s Steve Wyche said Friday that all signs point toward Donald eventually returning, and the Rams are expecting him back at some point during training camp.
“They would expect him to come back at some point during training camp,” said Wyche. “Every indication that I got was that he’s probably gonna do it.”
Donald is not expected to be there when camp opens Saturday, but the possibility remains that he could show up in the second week or even near the end of camp. For now, he’s still working to get into football shape and gauge how his body responds. If that goes well, he could join a defense that already includes Myles Garrett.
Another major item is the status of first-round quarterback Ty Simpson. He is the only first-round pick still unsigned after Fernando Mendoza finalized his deal on Thursday, and the Rams had hoped that once Mendoza got done, Simpson’s contract would follow quickly. That hasn’t happened yet.
The team and Simpson both have reason to want the deal finished before practice gets rolling. Those early camp reps matter for Simpson as he continues building on what the Rams started during OTAs.
He’s also in the mix for the backup quarterback job with Stetson Bennett. The Rams may still get the contract done on Saturday, but the wait is still on.
There are also bigger-picture questions around two of the team’s most prominent players. Puka Nacua enters camp trying to move past an offseason that kept him in the headlines, most notably for biting a woman on New Year’s Eve. The Rams would like to lock him up long-term, but he still has to show he’s worth that kind of commitment.
The more pressing concern is Alaric Jackson. The left tackle was arrested earlier this month on felony battery charges, though the city dismissed those charges.
Even so, the NFL could still step in because Jackson is a repeat offender under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. For a team in a Super Bowl season, uncertainty at left tackle is the last thing it wants.
Right now, it’s a wait-and-see situation.
On the field, the defense is going to draw plenty of attention because of the two blockbuster moves the Rams made this offseason. They traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and edge rusher Myles Garrett, and both are expected to carry a heavy load.
McDuffie was active during OTAs and started fast, making plays on the ball. Garrett joined for the final days of OTAs, but camp will give the Rams a much better sense of what he brings.
That matters because this defense faded late last season, and the expectations are high after the price the Rams paid to land McDuffie and Garrett. Chris Shula will have to sort out how to get the most out of both players.
The Rams have spent the offseason pushing hard to get back to the NFC Championship game and make the most of this Super Bowl window. They believe they let a major chance slip away last season, and they’ve gone back to an all-in approach. Entering camp, they’re being talked about as Super Bowl favorites.
Still, none of that matters until the games start. The Rams may look like the best team on paper, but they’ll have to prove it where it counts. That process starts now, and this group can’t get caught up in the hype.
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