Rams 53-man roster projection: How injuries change outlook at LB, OL

[Riverumbbq]

By: Cameron DaSilva | 1 hour ago


The final week for players to prove themselves is here. The Los Angeles Rams have a few more practice sessions and one last preseason game on Thursday night in Houston before they have to trim their roster to 53 players.
Cutdown day is on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, as the Rams will be forced to waive 37 players from their current roster. There are a lot of difficult decisions to make, but as Sean McVay has said before, they’re “champagne problems.”


Here’s our latest 53-man roster projection before the final preseason game, with changes at a few positions due to injuries.

Quarterback (2): Jared Goff, Blake Bortles
The Rams are only going to keep two quarterbacks and likely try to sneak John Wolford…
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Running back (4): Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson, John Kelly
Justin Davis is the odd-man out, though there's still a slim chance he can surpass Kelly…
more

Wide receiver (6): Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas, Nsimba Webster
Webster gets the nod over JoJo Natson and KhaDarel Hodge right now, but the WRs are…

more

Tight end (3): Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt
Mundt has played well enough this preseason to earn a spot on the team over the…

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Tackle (4): Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Bobby Evans, David Edwards
Evans and Edwards can both play guard, too, and simply based on draft pedigree and potential,…

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Guard/Center (4): Austin Blythe, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Jamil Demby
With Aaron Neary out indefinitely, the Rams almost have to keep Demby as a backup at…
more

Defensive tackle (2): Aaron Donald, Tanzel Smart
Smart is battling Morgan Fox for a roster spot, and Fox simply hasn't done enough to…
more

Defensive end (2): Michael Brockers, John Franklin-Myers
Franklin-Myers finally shined against the Broncos, though he was safe anyway. He could play a bigger…

more

Nose tackle (2): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines
No surprises here, and Smart can also contribute at nose tackle, too. It's an unproven group,…

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Outside linebacker (5): Dante Fowler Jr., Clay Matthews, Samson Ebukam, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Natrez Patrick
Josh Carraway gets dropped from this projection due to his season-ending injury. Landis Durham or Trevon…

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Inside linebacker (4): Cory Littleton, Bryce Hager, Dakota Allen, Travin Howard
Hager will be the starter now that Micah Kiser is out, but Howard and Allen could…

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Cornerback (7): Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Nickell Robey-Coleman, David Long, Troy Hill, Kevin Peterson, Dont'e Deayon
Carraway's spot in our last projection now goes to Deayon, who has played well this preseason.…

more

Safety (5): John Johnson, Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, Marqui Christian
McVay essentially guaranteed Christian a roster spot and Scott has enough special teams ability to make…

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Special teams (3): Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
This won't change all year, barring an injury. It's a group of studs.

Rams 53-man roster projection: How injuries change outlook at LB, OL

With Josh Carraway, Micah Kiser and Aaron Neary all out indefinitely, changes could come on the final roster.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[oldnotdead]

The injury to Carraway is significant. It opens the door for someone like Troy Reeder or Landis Durham. I like Reeder's athleticism more so than Durham. Reeder can play both inside or outside LB. But both guys are very raw. Troy needs to be quicker with his reads and has the ability to drop the hammer. He's also a bit faster than Durham giving him better range. Reeder was viewed as a solid tackler in the run defense, but a bit of a liability in coverage.

I think this last game might decide a roster spot, which is unusual for a final pre-season game. Normally these guys are fighting for a PS roster spot in this game. We will get a better read on things by which of the guys play and which don't.

But let's be real for a moment. Any of these bottom roster spots like the one Carraway was fighting for will probably see little if any game snaps this year. They probably will be among the 5 game day inactives. The real 1's and 2's are already set and those are the ones this team is banking it's season on.

 

[hotanez]

I think that projection is going to be close. I would take Williams over Deayon. I hate losing Parker to keep Christian. I would go so far as to drop Mundt to keep Hodge.

 

[Riverumbbq]

River's 53 going into Houston ...

Offense (24)

QB

QB1 Goff
QB2 Bortles

RB

RB1 Gurley
RB2 Brown
RB3 Henderson
RB4 Kelly

OL

OL1 Whitworth
OL2 Havenstein
OL3 Noteboom
OL4 Allen
OL5 Blythe
OL6 Edwards
OL7 Kolone
OL8 Evans

WR

WR1 Cooks
WR2 Woods
WR3 Kupp
WR4 Reynolds
WR5 Hodge
WR6 Thomas
WR7 Webster

TE

TE1 Higbee
TE2 Everett
TE3 Mundt


Defense (26)

DL

DL1 Donald
DL2 Brockers
DL3 Gaines
DL4 SJD
DL5 JFM
DL6 Fox

OLB

OLB1 Fowler
OLB2 Matthews
OLB3 Ebukam
OLB4 Okorongkwo
OLB5 Patrick

ILB

ILB1 Littleton
ILB2 Hager
ILB3 Howard
ILB4 Allen

CB

CB1 Talib
CB2 Peters
CB3 NRC
CB4 Hill
CB5 Peterson
CB6 Long
CB7 Williams

S

S1 Weddle
S2 Johnson
S3 Rapp
S4 Scott


Special Teams (3)

Zuerlein
Hekker
McQuaide


Players available for Trade :

QB - Bortles
WR - Reynolds
CB - Peters
CB - Hill
S - Christian

 

[OldSchool]

I could see OP’s projection being very close to reality.

 

[OldSchool]

Yeah a DB for another lineman, even though again 9 being game day active isn’t likely, would be my number one change. It’s going to be rough there will be talent cut which will lead to posts all year about a player we cut doing good

 

[bubbaramfan]

Watch how fast Ram cuts get snapped up by other teams.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Like others, I think the OP’s projections will be very, very close to what happens.

I’m going out on a limb and projecting the Rams will keep 7 WR at the outset. I think JoJo’s job is more secure than most think. (I think Bones trusts him, and I highly doubt Bones would send a different PR out there in game 1 without giving him some preseason reps to see if they can field punts). And as for Thomas and Hodge, I would hate to cut either one. Our top 7 WR all belong on NFL rosters.

Would love to see Hatfield and T Young go, they both looked like crap this preseason IMHO.

As with all lists, I would prefer it if writers included the names of all players they would CUT as well. It’s easy to say who to keep. It’s hard to say who to cut.

 

[FaulkSF]

I'll play:

Offense (24)

QB1: Goff
QB2: Bortles
Wolford to the PS.

RB1: Gurley
RB2: Brown
RB3: Kelly
RB4: Henderson
Henderson needs to learn how to set up blocks and build lower body strength. This shouldn't exclude him from seeing a couple snaps at WR.

TE1: Higbee
TE2: Everett
TE3: Mundt

WR1: Cooks
WR2: Woods
WR3: Kupp
WR4: Reynolds
WR5: Hodge
WR6: Webster
Greene to the PS. As much as I want to root for Thomas, I don't think he can produce against starters in real games. Call it Gibson syndrome. Hodge has more upside and Webster beats out JoJo for ST abilities.

OL1: Whit
OL2: Note
OL3: Allen
OL4: Blythe
OL5: Have
OL6: Evans
OL7: Edwards
OL8: Hrynkiewicz
OL9: Brewer
Considering Whit's age and the youth on the line, we bring 9 to the 53 to hedge these risks.

Defense(26)

DT1: D-MVP
DT2: SJD
DT3: Gaines
DT4: Smart

DE1: Brockers
DE2: Fox
DE3: JFM

OLB1: Fowler
OLB2: Ebukam
OLB3: Obo
OLB4: Patrick
Durham and Lawler to PS.

ILB1: Littleton
ILB2: Matthews
ILB3: Hager
ILB4: Allen
Surprised to see Matthews here? Don't be. In 2014 and 2015 Matthews was selected to the pro bowl as a ILB. Kiser is injured and Hager just isn't ready yet for a starting role. Reeder to the PS.

CB1: Talib
CB2: Peters
CB3: NRC
CB4: Peterson
CB5: Long Jr.
CB6: Williams
Something isn't right with Troy Hill. These soft tissue injuries are tricky and he risks going on IR and/or trade bait. Deayon to PS.

S1: JJ3
S2: Weddle
S3: Rapp
S4: Parker
S5: Christian

Pro-Bowlers(3)
PB1: Hekker
PB2: GZ
PB3: McQuaide

 

[fearsomefour]

River's 53 going into Houston ...

Offense (24)

QB

QB1 Goff
QB2 Bortles

RB

RB1 Gurley
RB2 Brown
RB3 Henderson
RB4 Kelly

OL

OL1 Whitworth
OL2 Havenstein
OL3 Noteboom
OL4 Allen
OL5 Blythe
OL6 Edwards
OL7 Kolone
OL8 Evans

WR

WR1 Cooks
WR2 Woods
WR3 Kupp
WR4 Reynolds
WR5 Hodge
WR6 Thomas
WR7 Webster

TE

TE1 Higbee
TE2 Everett
TE3 Mundt


Defense (26)

DL

DL1 Donald
DL2 Brockers
DL3 Gaines
DL4 SJD
DL5 JFM
DL6 Fox

OLB

OLB1 Fowler
OLB2 Matthews
OLB3 Ebukam
OLB4 Okorongkwo
OLB5 Patrick

ILB

ILB1 Littleton
ILB2 Hager
ILB3 Howard
ILB4 Allen

CB

CB1 Talib
CB2 Peters
CB3 NRC
CB4 Hill
CB5 Peterson
CB6 Long
CB7 Williams

S

S1 Weddle
S2 Johnson
S3 Rapp
S4 Scott


Special Teams (3)

Zuerlein
Hekker
McQuaide


Players available for Trade :

QB - Bortles
WR - Reynolds
CB - Peters
CB - Hill
S - Christian

Good roster.
I can’t see Kolone however.
Would rather resign Sullivan.

 

[OldSchool]

Good roster.
I can’t see Kolone however.
Would rather resign Sullivan.

Sullivan?

 

[bubbaramfan]

Sullivan?

 

[dang]

Sullivan?

View attachment 29856

Agreed. I think we will consistently see McVay looking forward vs backwards. While tempting to pick up Sullivan for insurance it does nothing towards giving the Rams a continual evolution of a balanced and ready roster.

 

[Akrasian]

If they were going to pick up somebody, it would be a vet who was in training camp and then cut - not somebody who hasn't played since the Super Bowl (and then poorly)

 

[fearsomefour]

Sullivan?

View attachment 29856

I know, I know.
Kolone can’t play.

 

[OldSchool]

I know, I know.
Kolone can’t play.

Which may be true but then you want somebody who if we judge by his last few games can’t either.

 

[dieterbrock]

As much as I want to root for Thomas, I don't think he can produce against starters in real games

Well, he did actually start 1 game for the Rams, with Sean "Dink and Dunk" Mannion at the healm.
Thomas in that game? Against "starters"?
3 catches on 4 targets for 75 yards
Seems like he can produce, and has been a solid ST performer

 

[BonifayRam]

River's 53 going into Houston ...

OL
OL6 Edwards
OL7 Kolone Brewer
OL8 Evans Kolone
OL9 Evans

There I fixed it for you

 

[tomas]

Defensive tackle (2): Aaron Donald, Tanzel Smart
Smart is battling Morgan Fox for a roster spot, and Fox simply hasn't done enough to…
mor

Sean McVay, August 26 press conference
Morgan Fox over Tanzel Smart
I thought both (DL) John Franklin(-Myers) and I thought (DE) Morgan Fox was outstanding. I think from the interior defensive line, those two guys continued to show up consistently. Really, it was good to see John out there, feeling healthy, feeling ready to go. I thought also that was Morgan Fox’s best performance of the preseason as well.”