The Rams added two more bodies to the roster on Monday as they continue sorting through the preseason, signing edge rusher Devean Deal and cornerback Steven Gilmore while also moving cornerback Zech McPhearson and edge rusher Keir Thomas to injured reserve.
It’s the kind of late-summer roster churn that usually says as much about availability as it does about long-term plans. Los Angeles is heading into its third preseason game with the simple need to fill out the lineup and get players on the field, and both Deal and Gilmore fit that profile.
The Rams are unlikely to keep either player on the 53-man roster, and even a practice squad spot looks like a long shot. But Saturday’s preseason finale against the Chargers gives them one last shot to put useful tape out there for other teams.
Deal arrives with a solid college résumé behind him. He came out of TCU as an undrafted free agent and was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks after the draft before being cut on May 14 to make room for wide receivers Rashad Rochelle and Trayvon Rudolph.
Across his time at Tulane and TCU, Deal played in 58 games and made 35 starts, piling up 182 tackles, 112 pressures, 14 sacks and five forced fumbles. He also earned defensive MVP honors in the 2024 New Mexico Bowl.
With Thomas now on injured reserve, the move may open the door a little wider for Wesley Bailey as the Rams look for help up front.
McPhearson’s move to injured reserve clears up the uncertainty around why he didn’t play on Saturday. The Rams have now turned to Gilmore to help cover the cornerback room for the preseason finale.
Gilmore entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2023 and appeared in three games that season. Over the past two years, he has spent time in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions.
Gilmore’s 2025 season in the UFL included the 10th-highest coverage grade in the league, according to PFF, though he also ranked 34th out of 40 cornerbacks. He also had a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown last season.
The Rams also waived linebacker Daniel Rickert with an injury designation. Rickert had been signed just before the preseason.
None of the new additions are expected to alter the Rams’ final roster picture, but both Deal and Gilmore will get a chance to show something before cuts arrive. Los Angeles will now turn its attention to Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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