The Los Angeles Rams had plenty going on Saturday night in their 34-0 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints, but one play cut through everything else.
Alex Cook, a 27-year-old safety who spent time with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL before signing with the Rams on July 27, jumped a Spencer Rattler throw in the end zone and took it the other way for a touchdown. He barely had anyone in front of him on the way to the end zone, and the play even got actress and Rams fan Brenda Song fired up in the booth.
ALEX COOK COOKED UP A PICK-6 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ZxGmBC0S1b
For Cook, though, the score meant more than just a highlight in a preseason blowout.
“It's definitely a blessing. I come from the UFL…I mean I dreamed of being back in the NFL,” Cook said.
Alex Cook made the most of his opportunity today with a pick-six! He told our @DarrenMHaynes and the rest of the media about his journey from the UFL back to the NFL and more.#RamsHouse #RamsCentral | @CBSLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/Uj00t9aORU
— Sports Central LA (@SportsCentralLA) August 22, 2026
“I was grateful of getting a pick six in my last UFL game. Then I started dreaming ‘if I could get one more pick six, it'll make my whole life.”
And thank God I was able to get one today.”
The return covered 100 yards, making it the longest defensive touchdown of this preseason. It also stands as the Rams’ longest touchdown so far in 2026 with the regular season still ahead for Sean McVay’s team.
Cook’s road to this moment has been a long one. The Elk Grove, California native had two separate stints with the New York Giants in 2023 and 2024, with a brief stop with the Carolina Panthers mixed in. The Rams are now his third NFL opportunity.
He knows nothing is guaranteed, and he still has to win a roster spot. But Cook has brought a “fight everyday” mentality to camp, and on Saturday it showed up in the biggest way possible.
In Other News...
Rams QB Battle Just Got More Interesting For Stetson Bennett
Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett have both done enough in the preseason to keep the Rams quarterback conversation alive, and that is exactly the kind of problem Sean McVay wants this time of year. Simpson stood out in the opener with sharp decision-making, while Bennett answered in the next game with Player of the Game honors, giving Los Angeles a second look at two young passers who have each flashed enough to matter.
Bennetts recent progress has added another layer to the competition, especially after he has cleaned up the turnovers that had been part of his story earlier. With both quarterbacks making a case and McVay publicly encouraged by what he has seen from Simpson, the Rams still have a real preseason battle on their hands, and the next few practices and reps will go a long way toward shaping how that room looks when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Just Made The Rams Roster Battle A Lot Tougher
The Rams second preseason game turned into a showcase for several young players, and Stetson Bennett made sure the quarterback conversation got louder. In a 34-0 shutout of the Saints, Bennett handled his work efficiently, completing 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards while adding two rushing touchdowns and taking home Player of the Game honors. The performance came with plenty of other names flashing too, including running back Jarquez Hunter, receiver CJ Daniels, edge rusher Wesley Bailey and cornerback Cam Lampkin.
For a roster that still has several battles to sort out, the most encouraging part for Los Angeles is how many players are forcing the issue at once. Bennetts outing stood out most, especially with the team evaluating depth and roles behind the established pieces, while Dean Connors had a quieter night after a more noticeable preseason debut. The Rams still have decisions ahead, but games like this make the margins a lot tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Just Gave Rams Fans A Real Backup QB Debate
Stetson Bennett spent the first half of the Rams second preseason game making a real case for himself, and the setting could not have been much calmer for a quarterback trying to make noise. With the defense blanking New Orleans and the offense stacking up four scoring drives before halftime, Bennett went 19 of 31 for 181 yards and added two rushing touchdowns in a 34-0 rout that gave Los Angeles plenty to like on both sides of the ball.
Ty Simpson handled the second half after Bennetts work was done, but the conversation the Rams may have sparked goes beyond one August win. Bennetts ability to keep the offense moving and finish drives adds some weight to a backup quarterback picture that had seemed straightforward enough before kickoff, and hell get one more chance to keep pressing his case when the Rams face the Chargers in the final preseason game on Aug. 27. [Read more 🡒]