The Rams are headed into their preseason opener at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday against the Chiefs, and the headline is the same one Sean McVay has written year after year: the starters are staying parked.
That approach has been the norm since McVay took over, and it won’t change in 2026. The Rams are treating the preseason for what it is - a chance to evaluate the back end of the roster, not a place to gamble with established players.
On offense, the list of players who won’t see the field is exactly what you’d expect from a team that protects its core in August. The Rams have already been cautious throughout camp when it comes to starter injuries, and there’s no reason for them to get loose now.
Whittington is part of that group, even if some might argue he should get snaps. He didn’t play last year, he’s the WR3, and in his third season the Rams don’t need to force the issue with the depth they have at receiver.
The same general idea applies on defense. The players not expected to play are either projected starters or important depth pieces, and that includes Josaiah Stewart, who has had a strong offseason and figures to matter in the edge-rusher rotation, along with Grant Stuard, who is a key special teams piece. For the Rams, there’s no upside in exposing those players to a game that doesn’t count.
There are also several names in the middle ground - players who might get work, but whose usage will depend on how the Rams want to handle the rest of the roster. Limmer and McMahon are the most likely of that group to see action, though both are important offensive line depth.
Trost and Quesenberry fit the same mold. The Rams also want enough structure in place for Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson to actually run the offense.
Caldwell, if he gets into the game at all, is more likely to wait until the final preseason matchup. At receiver, Mumpfield and Smith could be used early, but the Rams have enough bodies at the position to keep them out of harm’s way if they choose.
A few other names would be a surprise if they took the field, including Wallace, Davis and Johnson, all of whom are valuable depth players. Wallace and Davis both sat out the preseason last year, and Jaylen McCollough belongs in that same bucket. Johnson, Ingle and Dolac are more complicated calls, though Dolac and Ingle appear more likely to play than Johnson.
For most of these players, the preseason is about one thing: climbing the depth chart or earning a practice-squad job. Bennett and Simpson are the clear exceptions.
But if there’s one player fans will be especially eager to watch, it’s CJ Daniels. He put together a strong camp and has a real chance to force his way into the offense.
Max Klare is another player to circle. He’s set for his first preseason action after being drafted in the second round.
Dean Connors and Dan Villari are also worth a look as undrafted free agents, with Villari arriving as the Rams’ highest-paid UDFA. Jarquez Hunter should get a chance to prove his value as well, and his roster spot is still far from secure.
Cam Lampkin also turned heads in camp by consistently making plays on the ball, and a strong preseason could lock him into the roster picture. Tim Keenan, a seventh-round pick, is another player worth watching closely as he gets his first live reps.
Then there are the developmental names. Nate Valcarcel had a strong preseason a year ago before spending the season on the practice squad, and Kai Hill-Green could be a project for the Rams after they didn’t draft a linebacker and instead signed him as an undrafted free agent. Wesley Bailey is another UDFA to keep on the radar.
One small bonus for the Rams: they didn’t add competition at kicker or punter over the summer. That leaves the operation intact, which should help them clean things up before the regular season starts.
In Other News...
Rams Are Turning Ethan Evans Into A Real Field Position Weapon
Ethan Evans is approaching his fourth NFL season with the Rams with a different kind of priority on the punt team. Rather than chasing pure distance, he has put more emphasis on hang time, a change designed to help Los Angeles squeeze more out of field position and give coverage units a better chance to make an impact. He still wants the leg strength that made him such an intriguing piece in the first place, but the work now is clearly about balance and control as much as power.
For Evans, that evolution has come with the usual NFL adjustment period, from learning how game environments feel on Sundays to finding his place inside a special teams group built on both camaraderie and competition. The Rams have reason to like the direction this is heading, because a punter who can flip the field without sacrificing strength gives them a more dependable weapon than the boom-or-bust version most teams settle for. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Have A Growing Myles Garrett Concern Before Week 1
The Rams are still managing the bumps and bruises that come with August, and Myles Garrett was back in the conversation after not participating fully in recent practices because of knee swelling. Garrett was seen working with trainers on the side while Sean McVay continued to take a cautious approach with veterans throughout training camp, a pattern the team has leaned on as it tries to get to Week 1 as healthy as possible.
Puka Nacua was also limited with groin soreness, but McVay sounded more optimistic about his status, with the receiver expected back next week. Garretts situation is the one worth watching a little closer, though, because the Rams are still waiting on a clearer return timeline while they try to keep their most important players on the field for the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Preseason Opener Just Got A Very Different Chiefs Twist
The Rams preseason opener against Kansas City got a different kind of edge this week, even before anyone took a snap, because Andy Reid made it clear the Chiefs will treat it like a true exhibition. Patrick Mahomes is still working his way back from ACL and LCL surgery, and the plan is to keep him out of a game with no stakes as Kansas City focuses on easing players through camp rather than forcing a preview of the regular season.
Chris Jones added to that cautious tone by saying he would prefer the starters sit out as well, which leaves the matchup with a much different feel for Los Angeles. For the Rams, it means the opening preseason test will be less about chasing stars and more about how both teams handle the early reps, the rotation of quarterbacks, and the depth pieces that usually decide August more than the scoreboard does. [Read more 🡒]