The Rams are set to get another preseason test in joint practices, and this one comes with a simple warning label: keep it clean.
Los Angeles already made it through its work with the Dallas Cowboys without things boiling over too badly. On Thursday, the Rams will be back at it against the New Orleans Saints, a team that has already shown it can turn a scripted workout into a street fight.
That’s not an exaggeration. Dallas and New Orleans held a joint practice of their own, and reports said more than 10 separate fights broke out during the one-day session. That kind of chaos wipes out the whole point of these practices, which are supposed to give coaches and players something closer to game-speed work without the full injury risk of a preseason game.
The Rams have every reason to value these sessions. They use joint practices to give starters and important rotational players a real ramp-up before the regular season. In 2025, they had to replace a canceled joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers by lining up against the Saints instead.
But the benefits disappear fast when tempers flare. Instead of getting through the scripted reps that make these practices useful, teams get stuck pulling players apart and cooling everything down. For guys fighting for roster spots, that’s the worst possible use of limited preseason time.
Joint practices have always carried that edge. Heat, competition, and the pressure to stand out in front of coaches can turn a normal rep into a flashpoint. As ESPN’s Louis Riddick put it, the whole thing is a blemish on the event.
Coaches may not love joint practices, but they still need them. It’s a necessary compromise, a chance to get real contact work without the full cost of a preseason game. That only works if everybody keeps their cool.
The Rams need the time with New Orleans to count. They can’t afford to spend it breaking up skirmishes.
Hopefully the Saints feel the same way. But we’ll see.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Have A Matthew Stafford Problem They Can't Ignore
The Rams offensive tackle depth has become a real concern as they build toward the 2026 season, with the position suddenly looking thinner than they would like. Rookie Keagen Trost went down with a hamstring injury in a preseason game, and the injury adds another layer of uncertainty to a spot that was already under pressure as the team tries to protect Matthew Stafford.
Alaric Jacksons situation is also hanging over the room, leaving the Rams to sort through their contingency plans at left tackle. Veteran David Quessenberry is one option, but with limited recent playing time, Los Angeles may have to keep looking at free agent possibilities if it wants a sturdier answer before the season gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Rookie Debut Just Changed The Feel Of Their Backup QB Battle
The Rams opened preseason against the Chiefs with most of their starters parked on the sideline and the spotlight squarely on the rookies, which made the first real look at the depth chart feel a little different. Ty Simpson handled three quarters at quarterback and looked steady enough to keep the conversation on the backup job alive, while undrafted free agents Nick Andersen and Dean Connors also flashed enough to matter in a camp where every snap is being weighed.
Keenan, Wesley Bailey and Max Klare each drew their own kind of evaluation from the opener, a reminder that this part of August is as much about sorting potential as it is about the final score. For the Rams, the bigger question now is whether Simpsons performance can separate him from the pack or if the competition remains open heading into the next round of preseason auditions. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Suddenly Has A Chance To Be The NFLs Best
A defense that already had a strong foundation suddenly looks even more dangerous in Los Angeles after a busy offseason reshaped the unit from top to bottom. Among the leagues most improved groups heading toward the 2026-27 season, the Rams stand out because of the kind of talent they were able to add, with Myles Garrett headlining a set of moves that should change how opposing offenses have to plan for them.
For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to keep pace in a loaded NFC, the appeal is obvious: a defense with disruptive edge pressure, more depth, and enough upside to support everything else around it. The bigger question now is how quickly all of those pieces come together, because if they do, Los Angeles may not just be better on that side of the ball, but good enough to enter the conversation as the NFLs best defense. [Read more 🡒]