With less than two weeks to go until the start of the regular season, the Los Angeles Rams have trimmed their roster down to 53 players. They trimmed their roster before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, cutting the likes of Logan Bruss, Robert Rochell and Brett Rypien to get under the limit.
Things are bound to change between now and Week 1, especially considering they don’t have a kicker on the active roster, so this is only the initial group of players for Los Angeles.
But nonetheless, here are our quick thoughts on the group the Rams have put together with the season approaching.
Quarterback
Kept: Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett
Cut: Brett Rypien, Dresser Winn
No real surprises here. The Rams could have kept Rypien as the third quarterback in case Bennett wasn’t ready to be Stafford’s backup, but they must feel confident enough in the rookie to step up in case Stafford gets hurt.
Running back
Kept: Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers, Zach Evans
Cut: Royce Freeman
The Rams probably could’ve gone with three running backs and may have if Rivers didn’t shine in the preseason, but they couldn’t risk losing him on the waiver wire. He’s a solid No. 3 option with the rookie Evans slotting in as the fourth tailback.
Wide receiver
Kept: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Puka Nacua, Ben Skowronek, Demarcus Robinson
Cut: Braxton Burmeister, Tyler Hudson, Lance McCutcheon, Xavier Smith, Austin Trammell, Tyler Johnson
Johnson was always the wild card in this group, sitting on the roster bubble for most of the summer and preseason. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it through the final wave of cuts. The Rams could look to bring him back on the practice squad, but for now, they have six solid receivers rounding out the depth chart.
Tight end
Kept: Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Hunter Long, Davis Allen
Cut: Christian Sims, Camren McDonald, Nikola Kalinic
Keeping those four tight ends was the expectation all along for the Rams. Sims, McDonald and Kalinic never had much of a chance to make the team, unless Long began the year on the PUP list, which he will not.
Offensive line
Kept: Rob Havenstein, Alaric Jackson, Warren McClendon Jr., Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Zach Thomas, Kevin Dotson
Cut: Logan Bruss, A.J. Arcuri, Mike McAllister, Grant Miller, Sean Maginn
Bruss being cut is a major surprise and a shocking development. He was the team’s third-round pick and top selection in the 2022 draft, and just over a year later, he’s been cut. Thomas and Dotson were not expected to make the team just a few weeks ago but the trade for Dotson gives the Rams some depth and Thomas’ play in the preseason was impressive.
Defensive line
Kept: Aaron Donald, Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV, Kobie Turner, Jonah Williams, Desjuan Johnson, Larrell Murchison
Cut: Taron Vincent, T.J. Carter, Marquise Copeland
Murchison makes it over Copeland, which was not expected. Johnson also seemed like he was slipping down the depth chart on the defensive line but he makes the team as a seventh-round rookie and Mr. Irrelevant. Otherwise, there were no real surprises in this group.
Outside linebacker
Kept: Michael Hoecht, Byron Young, Nick Hampton, Zach VanValkenburg, Ochaun Mathis
Cut: Daniel Hardy, Keir Thomas
Mathis is a candidate to start the year on injured reserve, which would cause him to miss the first four games before potentially returning. This entire position group was up for grabs but Thomas was the Rams’ best edge rusher this preseason, so his release is somewhat shocking. VanValkenburg earned his spot with some stout play against the run this preseason.
Inside linebacker
Kept: Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel
Cut: Kelechi Anyalebechi, Ryan Smenda, Jaiden Woodbey, DeAndre Square
Just like tight end, this was expected to be the linebacker group since camp started. Jones and Rozeboom will get most of the snaps at linebacker, with Hummell backing them up and playing special teams. This is a position that should land one or two players on the practice squad.
Cornerback
Kept: Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Derion Kendrick, Tre Tomlinson, Shaun Jolly
Cut: Timarcus Davis, Tyon Davis, Vincent Gray, Jordan Jones, Cameron McCutcheon, Robert Rochell
Rochell was one of the other major surprises on cutdown day. He was a fourth-round pick in 2021 but couldn’t climb out of the basement of the depth chart last year and had coverage issues this preseason. Him playing deep into the third preseason game may have been the writing on the wall, especially after he played poorly in that contest.
Safety
Kept: Jordan Fuller, John Johnson III, Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Jason Taylor II
Cut: Tanner Ingle, Quindell Johnson, Rashad Torrence
This was a competitive group that featured three solid undrafted rookies, all of whom were cut. Taylor made the 53-man roster despite missing some time with injuries, only getting snaps in the opener against the Chargers. Ingle and Johnson are good practice squad candidates.
Special teams
Kept: Alex Ward, Ethan Evans
Cut: Tanner Brown
The Rams don’t have a kicker on the 53-man roster right now after cutting Brown. They’ll need to find someone in the next week or so, either via waiver claim, trade or free agency.
