The Rams’ second preseason game did more than add another exhibition to the ledger. It made the 53-man picture messier, especially after Wesley Bailey turned in a performance that’s hard to ignore. Against the New Orleans Saints, Bailey piled up 10 pressures, and that kind of disruption can change a roster conversation in a hurry.
Bailey wasn’t the only player helping himself. Jarquez Hunter, Cam Lampkin, and Al’Zillion Hamilton also strengthened their cases, which is why this roster projection has more moving parts now than it did a week ago.
At quarterback, things still look pretty clean. With Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson both on the roster, the Rams appear set to carry three quarterbacks. The bigger question is who opens the season as the backup, and after Saturday, Bennett looks like the front-runner.
Running back feels crowded too. Keeping four would not be a surprise, especially with Jarquez Hunter doing enough to belong.
Dean Connors and Jordan Waters have also made their case. Even so, the Rams could still get by with three on the active roster and stash one or two more on the practice squad.
At receiver, Xavier Smith may have done enough to move from bubble watch to safety. He didn’t play against the Saints, and the Rams brought in a punt returner for the preseason, which points toward six wideouts making the cut.
Tight end has been stable since the start of the offseason, and that hasn’t changed. The same five remain in place.
Up front, the Rams could go with 10 offensive linemen. That gets even more interesting if Jackson is suspended at the start of the season, because Bill Murray, Austin Blaske, or AJ Arcuri could then push into the mix. For now, though, the practice squad still looks like the likeliest landing spot for those three.
Linebacker is another spot where the Rams could use more talent, but based on the current group, four seems like the number they’re headed toward.
The edge-rusher picture is where Bailey’s impact really lands. With 10 pressures against the Saints, he joined a tiny group of players to reach that number in a single game over the last four preseasons, and the names on that list are premier NFL edge rushers. That kind of production makes it tough to keep him off the roster, even if the Rams have to get creative to make room.
If Aaron Donald comes back, the defensive line picture changes again. The Rams could also use that area to carve out space for Bailey, but depth there still matters, and six defensive linemen makes sense.
Lampkin’s roster spot isn’t completely comfortable either, but the Rams gave him plenty of snaps in the slot against the Saints to see what he could handle. He did enough to stay in the mix.
One notable change in this projection is Tanner Ingle being left off. His special teams value still gives him a real path, but with Bailey forcing the issue, a cut has to come from somewhere.
Safety is the spot that makes the most sense, especially with Josh Wallace showing versatility and Lampkin doing the same on Saturday. Four safeties should be enough.
Special teams looks settled. Harrison Mevis is a perfect 4-for-4 in the preseason, Ethan Evans has punted well, and the Rams haven’t brought in any serious competition. Those three look locked in.
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 🡒]