The Los Angeles Rams will play their first preseason game on Sunday when they take on the Dallas Cowboys. Every season, roster spots are won and lost in the preseason. Back in 2022, wide receiver Lance McCutcheon convinced the Rams to keep seven wide receivers. Here are five players that need to have a good preseason.
1. QB Stetson Bennett
Not that quarterback Stetson Bennett isn’t going to make the roster. However, he still will need to perform well. It will be important for Bennett to show that there is some potential for him to be a long-term backup within the offense. He needs to show that he can execute the offense and play with good timing. These are things that he struggled with at times last year and that was before taking a year off of football.
The Rams are in a tough spot for the first two weeks of the season as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo must serve a two-game suspension. That means for the first two weeks, Bennett will likely be the backup quarterback. Again, these preseason reps will be important for him and he needs to show some progression from last year despite stepping away.
2. WR Xavier Smith
Smith was signed last season as an undrafted free agent and spent the year on the practice squad. Throughout training camp, he’s consistently been making plays and is making a case to be on the 53-man roster. Still, he’ll be in a tight battle for the sixth wide receiver spot with Tyler Johnson. Said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur,
“He knows the importance of getting it done from a special teams perspective, but what we’re asking him to do from an offense perspective, he knows where to go. He knows how to align in multiple spots and he is doing a good job.”
If Smith can put together a strong preseason to go with what has been a very positive training camp, it will be difficult to keep him off of the roster. Up to this point, he’s made a strong case, but a good preseason would be icing on the cake.
3. DL Desjuan Johnson
Nothing is ever going to be guaranteed for Desjuan Johnson. He was taken as the final pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, meaning he’s going to have to work for anything he gets as a player with a slightly better status as an undrafted free agent. Head coach Sean McVay said about Johnson,
“I think he’s done a great job. He’s always been a guy that has some twitch and upper-body explosiveness. I think he’s starting to really understand how to be a complete player in both the run and when we get into some of those opportunities to be able to rush the passer.”
Johnson started to get some time last year, but as a smaller defensive tackle he is limited in the run game. However, it seems like Johnson has taken steps forward in that regard and should still be considered a favorite to make the roster as depth along the defensive line. With that said, there will be competition from players like Tyler Davis and Tuli Letuligasenoa.
4. EDGE Ochaun Mathis
The Rams need to find an edge rusher who can be a solid piece within the rotation. right now, they have a decent top-three with Byron Young, Jared Verse, and Michael Hoecht. However, behind them things remain pretty wide open. Brennan Jackson has had some positive moments as well as Nick Hampton. Still, there remains opportunity for players behind that top trio.,
Mathis is a high-upside player that was taken on day three last season and showed some positive moments when he played in the regular season. By the end of the year, Hampton was getting snaps over him. Mathis has the physical tools, but he’s someone that remains on the bubble. If he can find ways to get to the quarterback or make some impact plays on defense, that would be some positive momentum heading into the regular season.
5. RB Zach Evans
It seems pretty clear at this point that running back Zach Evans is on the outside looking in when it comes to the 53-man roster. The Rams have their top four running backs in Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, and Boston Scott pretty much locked in the final-53. It’s certainly possible that the Rams could keep a fifth running back, but Evans needs to show that he is worthy of a roster spot.
To do so, he’ll need to be productive in the run game, but also show some value on special teams. Evans was seen as a potential contributor to the backfield at this time last year, but he’ll need to prove himself in the preseason and should get a majority of the carries.
HM: LB Olakunle Fatukasi
Similarly to Mathis at the edge rusher position, the Rams need an inside linebacker behind the top group to stand out. Ernest Jones and Christian Rozeboom remain the leaders at linebacker with Troy Reeder potentially behind them. Jake Hummel is also a player that has spent time within the defense.
However, nothing at the linebacker position outside of Jones and Rozeboom is set in stone. If someone like Olakunle Fatukasi can step up in training camp, he could end up on the final-53 or make a very solid case for the practice squad and be brough up later. Fatukasi could be great depth for Ernest Jones as they are two similar style players. Said Shula, “He is really showing up a great blitzer, can run sideline to sideline.”
