The Rams spent Saturday afternoon at SoFi Stadium treating preseason like a dress rehearsal they didn’t need. Los Angeles rolled past the Saints 34-0, and the bigger story was who never got on the field. The starters were out again, the primary backups were protected, and a handful of fringe players who had appeared in the opener against the Chiefs also stayed glued to the sideline.
That group is worth watching as the roster picture tightens. For some of them, sitting out looks like a strong hint that the Rams already have a good idea where they fit. For others, the silence is a little less clear.
Xavier Smith was one of the more notable names left out. He saw plenty of action in the preseason opener and made noise as both a receiver and returner, enough to suggest the coaching staff feels good about him as the punt returner and a backup wideout.
The Rams likely wanted to keep him healthy for the role he’s expected to handle this season. Smith was already trending toward a spot, and that first preseason showing probably sealed it.
Beaux Limmer also watched from the sideline after playing 63% of the snaps against the Chiefs. That alone makes his Saturday absence feel meaningful.
The third-year lineman brings flexibility at guard and center, and that kind of versatility matters even more with Justin Dedich still working to catch up after missing the entire summer because of a hand injury suffered at home in July. Limmer looks close to a lock for the initial 53.
Ty Hamilton’s situation points in the same direction. After a rough rookie season, he needed a strong offseason to stay in the mix, and he appears to have done enough.
Hamilton was with the first-team defense during Thursday’s joint practice, then got the preseason game off - exactly the kind of treatment teams usually give players who’ve already done enough to earn a place. The Rams seem to view him as someone who can help this season.
Desjuan Johnson also has momentum after flashing in the opener, where he recorded a sack and looked disruptive coming off the edge. His move from defensive tackle to outside linebacker keeps paying off. He looked comfortable there as both a run defender and pass rusher, and right now he appears positioned as the fourth outside linebacker behind Myles Garrett, Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart.
Zech McPhearson is the most curious case of the bunch. There was no reported injury in practice, and he entered the game as a long shot for the 53-man roster, so his complete absence against the Saints stood out.
He played 29% of the defensive snaps against the Chiefs and finished with one tackle and one pass defensed, which was a solid showing. He could be dealing with something minor, and Thursday’s game will be worth monitoring as final cuts near.
It’s also possible the Rams held him out because he has enough NFL experience that they don’t want to risk an injury before another team can claim him, if they intend to cut him next weekend.
In Other News...
Saints Preseason Blowout Suddenly Became Part Of A Bigger NFL Debate
Brenda Songs color commentary debut during the Rams-Saints preseason game added a different kind of conversation to a night that already had plenty of football on it. For New Orleans, the scoreline itself was only part of the backdrop, because the broadcast quickly drew attention beyond the field and into the booth, where ESPN and the NFL were trying something a little outside the usual preseason script.
Jason Whitlock used the postgame spotlight to go after that decision, criticizing the networks and framing Songs role as part of a broader shift he sees around who gets hired for these jobs. The Rams still move on to the rest of their preseason slate and then the regular season, but the buzz from this one has left an off-field debate hanging around a game the Saints would probably rather file away and forget. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backfield Depth Just Took Another Hit With Devin Neal
Devin Neals preseason remains stuck in the same frustrating place after another hamstring issue surfaced in the Saints loss to the Rams. Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the injury, and the setback lands at a bad time for a backfield that has already been trying to sort out depth while camp winds down.
Neal had also missed time earlier in training camp with a hamstring injury, making this latest problem especially discouraging for a player trying to carve out a role. He was one of several Saints to leave the game hurt, with Lorenzo Styles, Bub Means, Moliki Matavao, Torricelli Simpkins III and Brien Taylor also dealing with injuries, adding to the sense that New Orleans is piling up absences at an inconvenient moment. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Backups Just Created A Preseason Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Saints got another long look at the bottom of the roster against the Rams, and it was not a flattering one. Los Angeles controlled the game from the start, built a 20-0 halftime lead and never let the outcome feel in doubt, with the Rams backups and depth players making the stronger case throughout the night.
Alex Cooks pick-six, Jarquez Hunters touchdown run and solid work from Wesley Bailey, Stetson Bennett, CJ Daniels, Austin Blaske and others turned the preseason meeting into a reminder of how much can swing once the starters are gone. For New Orleans, that is the part of August that matters now, because the challenge is no longer just finding flashes, but deciding which reserves can actually help when the games count. [Read more 🡒]