NFL schedule makers did the Los Angeles Rams no favors over their five opening weeks on the 2024 slate. While Rams fans may be feeling relieved to know the bye is earlier than usual in Week 6 this year, LA will have their work cut out for them against the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers before they get to that point.

In light of recent news out of training camps around the league, the Rams are maybe fortunate to have one of their two matchups against San Francisco very early into the season. Tensions have been high with the 49ers, and it’s fair to wonder when normalcy will come, if ever.

The Trent Williams situation is an interesting one. This is why we’re here…

– No more guaranteed money on his contract on his deal that runs through 2026

– Originally, Williams signed a 6-year, $138 MM deal

– The obvious path to resolving this issue: Give him a Christian… pic.twitter.com/iYVAxOM4Xq

— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) August 2, 2024

Headlines this week have centered around wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who’s spent the offseason in a contract dispute with the 49ers and requested a trade in the early going of training camp. Reports broke in recent days that San Francisco potentially has a trade in place with other teams but Aiyuk is maximizing his leverage as it pertains to a contract extension to help influence where he ultimately lands. Even if closure soon comes for Aiyuk and the 49ers, if the star receiver ends up on another team that is a massive blow to one of the most talented offenses in football. And that’s just the first layer as we continue to pull back the drama-filled onion.

Also holding out of practices while unpleased with the current state of his contract is franchise tackle Trent Williams. Williams can only feel more emboldened in his holdout after watching Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tristan Wirfs land a new deal that makes him the highest paid lineman in NFL history. Wirfs’ contract just edges out Lions tackle Penei Sewell’s $28M annual mark for annual pay. Williams is an incredibly important piece of the San Francisco offense, but is there an end in sight on the contract front?

Next up is quarterback Brock Purdy, who many around the NFL are waiting for reality to slap him in the face. Going from Mr. Irrelevant in 2022 to MVP candidate a year later defies all logic, and there’s a chance Purdy turns back into a pumpkin—or we could all be left holding our breath.

“We never want a lot of picks in practice, but Brock’s never really had an interception problem.”

Kyle Shanahan isn’t worried about Purdy’s interceptions at camp pic.twitter.com/FRBNWmJ8rf

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 2, 2024

My next point comes with an important caveat—practice is practice and there are numerous explanations that could minimize the concerns—however, Purdy has thrown interceptions at an alarming frequency so far in camp. I wrote about this just last week, and we won’t truly know if there’s anything to worry about until the regular season rolls around.

Another item worth monitoring is a calf injury for star running back Christian McCaffrey, who is expected to be sidelined for the preseason and at least for the next couple of weeks. McCaffrey, while he’s been healthy for the most part in recent years, is no stranger to the training room. The 49ers just extended the running back this offseason as he enters he age 28 campaign.

That’s a lot for any team to work through, let alone one that is known for playing with a physical nature and fresh off 21 games.

Will the 49ers be able to put all of the drama from training camp behind them sooner than later? Can they turn the page and be at full force when they take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Week 3?

There’s no way to tell, but it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on San Francisco in the short-term.