The Rams open preseason play Saturday against the Chiefs, and even without the starters on the field, there’s still plenty worth tracking. This is the kind of game where roster battles get loud, practice squad hopes get real, and a few young players can change the conversation fast.
The biggest name to circle is Simpson, the 13th overall pick, who is set for his first live action in a Rams uniform. There will almost certainly be rookie mistakes, but the real test is simpler than that: does he look settled in the offense, and how does he handle contact when the play breaks down?
Sean McVay pointed to that exact part of the game, saying, “If the pocket breaks down, sometimes it might be, 'Hey, the pocket's collapsing, where's my quick element?' Sometimes it might be, 'Hey, the pocket's collapsing but there's an escape lane and I can make some plays or second reaction types of plays,’” said head coach Sean McVay.
“Both of those guys, those were parts of their game that we did like coming out of college, whether that be Georgia for Stetson or Alabama with Ty.” With third-string help around him, especially up front, Simpson’s challenge will be to work through the reads and create when the structure around him isn’t clean.
At cornerback, Cam Lampkin has quietly built a case for himself. He’s had a strong camp and looks like a legitimate depth option behind Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Emmanuel Forbes.
McVay had praise for him, saying, “Cam Lampkin is a guy that's got a great spirit. He's one of those guys that seems to always be in the right place at the right time,” said McVay.
Lampkin has spent the last two years on the practice squad, and a good preseason could push him onto the roster.
CJ Daniels was one of the standout stories from Rams camp at receiver. He seemed to make at least one eye-catching play almost every day, and he’s done enough to make it tough to leave him off the field on Sundays.
He may not be locked in as the WR3, but he has clearly shown he belongs in the mix. Daniels also built a strong connection with Stetson Bennett during camp, and Bennett was glowing in his description: “I've seen a guy who loves to show up and loves football,” said Bennett.
“He shows up to work every single day and wants to go out there and cook whoever is guarding him. He loves football and he's going to catch the ball when it's in the air.”
Wesley Bailey is another undrafted rookie worth watching. He picked up some first-team reps on the edge during camp, and his athleticism stands out. Even if he falls short of the roster, he looks like a strong candidate to land on the practice squad.
Brennan Presley is coming off a preseason in which he led the Rams in receiving yards last summer. Among players with at least nine targets, his 3.15 yards per route run ranked sixth. He spent the entire season on the practice squad after that, and now he gets another shot to show he can keep building on what he already put on tape.
Nate Valcarcel is in a similar lane. He also had a strong preseason last year, finished with nine tackles, and spent all of last season on the practice squad. The safety room is crowded, so the roster path is steep, but he remains a name to remember if the Rams go back to that route again.
Keagen Trost may not even play, but if he does get on the field, he’s worth a close look. The rookie has a case as the Rams’ best backup tackle, and Matthew Stafford made it clear he’s held his own.
“He has gotten in there and competed, which is what you want,” said quarterback Matthew Stafford. “You want guys to go look like they belong.
He definitely does that. He has had his opportunities to be in there with the ones, the twos, right side and left side.
He never really blinks. He just goes in there and plays ball.”
Trost has worked on both sides with the first and second units, which matters given the questions along the Rams’ offensive line depth.
At linebacker, Kai Hill-Green is one of the more interesting additions after the Rams passed on the position in the draft. They did sign him out of Alabama, and while the roster math is tough there - especially after bringing in Monty Rice last week - he has a chance to stand out in preseason snaps.
There’s also Villari, who got $45,000 guaranteed from the Rams, the biggest guarantee they handed to an undrafted free agent. That alone doesn’t guarantee anything, but it shows they saw something in him. He played tight end at Syracuse and also has quarterback experience, which gives him some real versatility as an offensive piece.
The final name on the list is Max Klare, the Rams’ second-round pick. He should see plenty of preseason work, and while the tight end depth chart could keep him from making a major impact right away as a rookie, he’s still one of the more intriguing players to follow over the next month.
And on the defensive line, Keenan may not be the flashiest seventh-round pick, but he looks like a solid one. He probably won’t play much as a rookie, but working behind Poona Ford should help him, and he’s the kind of player to watch late in games even if he doesn’t bring much as a pass-rusher.
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Rams Preseason Opener Just Got A Very Different Chiefs Twist
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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 🡒]