The Rams dipped into a familiar pipeline again just as preseason arrived, adding linebacker Monty Rice in time for today’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
It’s a late move, and that matters. At this point on the calendar, there isn’t much runway for a newcomer to force his way into the picture. Rice will still get a shot, though, and his background gives Los Angeles a player who can at least be plugged in quickly.
Rice was taken by the UFL’s Louisville Kings, but they released him before he played a down. He’s also spent five seasons in the NFL, moving through the Titans, Patriots, and Lions. Tennessee drafted him 92nd overall in 2021, and he has appeared in 39 games with 11 starts.
For the Rams, the appeal is straightforward. Rice brings versatility and special-teams experience, and he can line up at the edge or behind defensive linemen. That makes him a workable preseason addition for a defense that needed another body in a hurry.
His path to anything beyond that is far from clear. A roster spot looks unlikely, and even landing on the practice squad would be a climb because of how late he arrived. Still, a strong practice week and a clean preseason showing could at least give him a chance to change the conversation.
The Rams have leaned on the UFL for help before. General manager Les Snead added kicker Harrison Mevis during the 2025 season when special teams needed a fix, and Mevis missed just one field goal on 19 attempts, including the playoffs. This offseason, the team also brought in former UFL defensive back Alex Cook.
Los Angeles entered preseason needing extra depth at linebacker, especially with starters Nate Landman and Omar Speights set to sit out. The Rams also appear to have seen enough from veterans Shaun Dolac and Grant Stuard to keep them on the roster.
That left Elias Neal, Nikhai Hill-Green, and Daniel Rickert handling the preseason work until Rice’s arrival. Now he joins that group just in time for the Chiefs game.
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