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[Los Angeles Rams]

Where will the top position battles be during Rams training camp?

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

All eyes will be on the linebackers as Rams training camp begins next week

The Los Angeles Rams will end their summer break next week when they report to training camp and start preparing for the 2025 season. As is the case during every training camp, there will be a handful of position battles that fans and media will be watching closely. Last season it was the battle at the third wide receiver spot. This year, many will be watching what happens at linebacker among other positions. Let’s take a look at the top position battles.

1. Linebacker​

• Nate Landman vs. Omar Speights vs. Chris Paul Jr. vs. Shaun Dolac

The linebacker position is going to be one in which everybody will be watching during training camp. There may be favorites on who will be the starting pair, but nothing is set in stone. Omar Speights will have experience from last year and the Rams signed Nate Landman in free agency. Still, nothing seems guaranteed for those two. The Rams also drafted Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth round and Shaun Dolac was one of the higher rated undrafted free agents.

There is opportunity here for anybody to separate themselves. The Rams will be looking for the best two linebackers and someone the coaching staff can trust to run the defense. Landman and Speights will bring experience, but Paul and Dolac have a lot of upside and are both exciting players. Again, Landman and Speights are likely the favorites. That also doesn’t mean that training camp will end with those two as the starters if Paul or Dolac stand out.

2. Backup Running Back​

• Blake Corum vs. Jarquez Hunter

Another position that will catch a lot of attention throughout training camp is at running back. The Rams drafted Blake Corum last year, but he didn’t have an impact in the running game. At the same time, the Rams just drafted Jarquez Hunter in April. This is a team looking for some explosiveness on offense, especially in the run game. That’s exactly what Hunter brings which is different from both Corum and Kyren Williams.

Many are hoping that head coach Sean McVay implements more of a running back by committee heading into 2025. If that happens, that could mean that more touches are up for grab behind Williams. The player that stands out the most in the passing game and in pass protection will likely have the upper hand. They also need to be able to keep the offense on track. Corum will have the experience from last year which should help as Hunter has a lot to work on in pass protection. However, if Hunter is able to pick up that part of the offense quickly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him surpass Corum.

3. EDGE Depth​

• Nick Hampton vs. Josaiah Stewart vs. Brennan Jackson

The Rams have their starting edge players set in stone heading into the 2025 season in Jared Verse and Byron Young. However, with the departure of Michael Hoecht, the Rams will be searching for a third player that can rotate in when needed. They need someone that can spell Verse and Young. Nick Hampton, Josaiah Stewart, and Brennan Jackson will be competing for that role. If the Rams pass rush is going to continue as a top unit, one of these three need to step up.

Hampton is heading into year three, but has dealt with injuries over the past two years. He hasn’t developed as some may have expected, but has the experience in the defense that the other two don’t. Many will want to write him off and potentially have him as a roster cut, but it may be smart to wait and see on Hampton. While the Rams drafted Stewart in the third round, he will still be a rookie. He does bring some of the similar skillset as Hoecht and would add a speed element to the pass rush. For Stewart, it’s all about building early trust. Lastly, Brennan Jackson is heading into year two and is also built in the same mold as Hoecht. At the same time, he didn’t get much playing time last year.

4. Cornerback Depth​

• Derion Kendrick vs. Emmanuel Forbes

The Rams cornerbacks are mostly set in stone. It should be expected for Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon to start on the outside with Cobie Durant in the slot. Still, there will be plenty of competition behind them, especially between Derion Kendrick and Emmanuel Forbes.

Kendrick was cut earlier in the offseason, but was brought back. While a confusing move, it was with the idea of saving money on Kendrick’s contract which had been incentivized due to him playing in a starting role in 2022. There will be a lot of excitement around Forbes, but unless Williams struggles like Tre White did last year, he is likely just depth. It’s very possible that only one of Forbes or Kendrick make the roster. For Forbes, he could be playing for his last shot in the NFL as a former first-round pick that is on his second team.

5. Center/Interior Depth​

• Coleman Shelton vs. Beaux Limmer
• KT Leveston vs. Willie Lampkin vs. Dylan McMahon vs. Justin Dedich

Heading into the offseason, many would have expected Beaux Limmer to be the starting center. Limmer took over for Jonah Jackson in the middle of 2024 and never looked back, providing stability at that spot. However, the Rams signed a familiar face in Coleman Shelton in free agency. Shelton will be the favorite here and there likely won’t be much of a competition. Still, this is one to keep an eye on this summer.

With that said, the main competition on the offensive line will be at the depth spots. The Rams actually have some intriguing depth on the interior. KT Leveston was a late-round draft pick last year and Justin Dedich has some starting experience. Dylan McMahon was a sixth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles who the Rams claimed off of waivers. The most exciting player here, however, will be Willie Lampkin. Lampkin lacks size, but has consistently dominated competition when given the opportunity. Despite going undrafted, Lampkin could find a spot on the roster. Limmer can be included in this group as well.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/19/24470454/rams-training-camp-preview-position-battles

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Predicting the NFC playoff picture

Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NFL playoff predictions: Division winners and wildcard teams in the NFC conference

We’ve walked through every stage of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2025 schedule. I gave my thoughts on the pecking order of the NFC West division.

Now, it’s time to zoom out to the NFC conference at large. Who will be the four division winners, the number one seed, and the three wildcard entrants?

Part 1: The Opening Quarter

Part 2: Litmus Test Before the Bye

Part 3: Clash Against the NFC South

Part 4: A Potentially Tough Close

Part 5: How I see the NFC West shaking out

---

NFC division winner predictions:​

NFC East:​

It’s tough to predict against the reigning Super Bowl champs in the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, I think Philly has some structural challenges for the upcoming season. Their pass rush isn’t as talented as we are used to, Saquon Barkley is due for regression, and the question still remains whether Jalen Hurts can pick up the slack if there is much.

The Washington Commanders seem like a team on the rise with Jayden Daniels; however, just because they made it to the NFC championship game a year ago doesn’t mean they are primed for success again in 2025. Washington was very fortunate to convert fourth downs at a high rate, the defense was below average under Dan Quinn, and I want to see Kliff Kingsbury replicate his success at offensive coordinator before I truly buy in.

I’m going to buck the consensus and pick the Dallas Cowboys to win the east. We go through these cycles all the time with Dak Prescott. He misses time with injury and we simply forget how consistently good he is. Fortunately for Prescott, CeeDee Lamb has help at receiver with George Pickens. This is a great stylistic fit for the Cowboys. The defense is talented enough.

Rams fans know Brian Schottenheimer well. This was far from the sexiest head coaching pick this offseason. Still, Schottenheimer has remained an underrated offensive coach during his time in the NFL. You know the jet sweep that took the league by storm over the last decade? Well, Schottenheimer implemented the motion into the Rams’ offensive during his time with the Rams to deploy Tavon Austin as a gadget player. Sean McVay continued the jet sweeps and it reached new heights with Todd Gurley in the backfield, catching fire across other NFL offenses.

Winner: Cowboys​

NFC North:​

I could honestly see any team in the NFC North emerge as the winner.

It’s hard not to be bullish on the Chicago Bears with Ben Johnson pulling the string for Caleb Williams. He knows his franchise quarterback needs to be protected and the team went to great lengths to rebuild the offensive line. Chicago has collected talent on defense and has given the Detroit Lions tough fits in recent years.

The Green Bay Packers are a little too volatile for my liking. While Jordan Love has had his fair share of shining moments, he’s overall one of the least accurate passers in the league.

While I was a big fan of JJ McCarthy in the draft, it feels a year too early to jump onto the bandwagon for the Minnesota Vikings. I trust Kevin O’Connell to get the most out of—what is basically—a rookie quarterback.

That leaves us with the Lions. Jared Goff brings a high floor as a consistent signal caller. It will be a monumental year of his career to show he can have success without Johnson and work to shed the “system QB” label. Simply put, the Lions have too much talent across the board under Dan Campbell’s fiery leadership to bet against them.

Winner: Lions​

NFC South:​

The Carolina Panthers showed promise towards the end of last season amidst a career turnaround by Bryce Young. For 2025, we can probably right them off in regards to the postseason along with the New Orleans Saints.

I’m optimistic about both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons this season. I think both teams will make the playoffs, although the firepower of Tampa Bay gives them a slight initial edge.

These are the Bucs’ pass catchers. Impressive group.

• Mike Evans
• Chris Godwin
• Cade Otton
• Emeka Egbuka
• Jalen McMillan
• Trey Palmer
• Sterling Shepard

To give Atlanta some credit, when the sun sets on the season I think we will be talking about Michael Penix as the next great franchise quarterback. Most thought the Falcons were crazy when they surprised and took him in the top 10 last year, despite having a significant need for defensive help. I appreciate the conviction and am looking forward to the coming reconciliation.

Winner: Buccaneers​

NFC West:​

If you want my deep analysis on the NFC West, you can click Part 5 of the season preview above.

I think the Rams will narrowly edge out the Arizona Cardinals for the division crown while the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will disappoint. The ascent of the Cardinals comes at the expense of Kyle Shanahan and Sam Darnold.

Winner: Rams​

Wildcard teams:​

1 - Eagles​

2 - Cardinals​

3 - Falcons​

Full playoff seeding:​

1 - Lions​

It’s tough to repeat as the one seed, but there might not be another team that has the week-to-week consistency of Detroit.

2 - Buccaneers​

Think this is crazy? Well, Tampa finished as the three seed last year and only got better (outside of losing Liam Coen).

3 - Cowboys​

Dallas gets the edge over LA because of playing in a weaker division. Teams in the NFC West will beat up on each other to an extent, prevent one from emerging too far out in front.

4 - Rams​

5 - Eagles​

A divisional round rematch in this year’s wildcard. This time it’s in Los Angeles and there is no reason to worry about snow.

6 - Cardinals​

7 - Falcons​

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/20/24471212/rams-nfl-playoff-predictions-2025

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Former Rams quarterback is one step away from starting in Tennessee

Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If anything happens to Cam Ward, then Brandon Allen could take over as the new Titans starter

Brandon Allen spent two seasons buried on the L.A. Rams bench as the team’s third quarterback, but more than five years later the journeyman finds himself in an unexpected position to backup the first overall pick in the draft by Week 1. That means that if anything happens to Cam Ward between now and Week 2, Allen could find himself starting against the Rams when the Titans host L.A. less than two months from now.

That’s because Will Levis is going to have season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving Allen and Tim Boyle as the only other quarterback’s on the depth chart behind Ward.

Titans QB Will Levis will undergo surgery on throwing shoulder ending his 2025 season. (via @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/Ewl3eiUycR

— NFL (@NFL) July 21, 2025​

Although Ward was handed the starting gig as the first overall pick on a team that was horrendous last season, therefore losing Levis doesn’t necessarily change anything about Tennessee’s plan, he is still a totally inexperienced quarterback who could experience the full spectrum of being in the NFL over the next five months.

If Brandon Allen wins the Titans backup job, that could easily lead to the opportunity to start multiple games this season.

It would not be the first time that Allen has started a game, but he’ll soon turn 33 and he has only started 10 NFL games in his life.

A sixth round pick by the Jaguars out of Arkansas in 2016, Allen never appeared in a game for Jacksonville and was waived at final cuts in 2017. The Rams picked him up and kept him around in some capacity for two seasons but he also never appeared in a game for Los Angeles.

After failing to make the Rams in 2019, Allen caught on with Vic Fangio’s Denver Broncos and started three games that year in place of Joe Flacco, then was later replaced by Drew Lock.

Do the #Titans want a legit QB to compete with Brandon Allen, or do they just want a 4th arm for camp?

That's the question. Not many legit backups out there. Carson Wentz & Ryan Tannehill (hah, imagine) easily the best options. https://t.co/ntcev1Y3UT

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) July 21, 2025​

Allen spent the next three years on the Cincinnati Bengals, which is where he met offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, who is now the head coach of the Titans. Another sign that the Titans may not look for a different backup with Levis on IR, given that Callahan has proven in the past that he does trust Brandon Allen. In 2020, the Bengals started Allen five times (and went 1-4) in place of Joe Burrow.

He would only start one more game in the next two seasons.

From 2023-2024, Allen played in Kyle Shanahan’s system, starting one time for the 49ers in 2024 and throwing two interceptions.

Now seven years after Allen seemed to be an inconsequential camp body for the L.A. Rams, he’s a very important camp body for the Tennessee Titans.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/21/24471578/titans-will-levis-brandon-allen-rams-cam-card

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams add another QB just before camp

Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

The Rams signed a familiar name for depth at quarterback

With training camp just around the corner, the Los Angeles Rams added depth to the quarterback position and signed a familiar player back to the roster just in time to join Matthew Stafford’s room. The Rams signed Dresser Winn on Monday, bringing L.A.’s total number of quarterbacks to four just before the start of camp.

Winn joins Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Stetson Bennett on the Rams depth chart for 2025 training camp.

The #Rams have signed QB Dresser Winn.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 21, 2025​

This will be Winn’s third time with the Rams. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after a six-year career at UT-Martin. After not making the roster in 2023, Winn spent time in the CFL, but never dressed for a game and was signed to L.A.’s practice squad shortly thereafter.

Winn would again return for a short stint in 2024 but again failed to make the roster or practice squad out of camp. Last year, Winn played for the Memphis Showboats in the UFL.

We already know that Stafford won’t play in the preseason and if Sean McVay’s history with key backups hold true, neither will Jimmy Garoppolo. So it is likely that Winn’s signing is insurance to have a quarterback who will replace Bennett if and when McVay needs to pull him from a preseason game. There is little chance that this will be the year that Winn earns a spot on the 53-man roster, but perhaps getting his feet wet in the UFL will help him make the practice squad.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/21/24471878/rams-free-agent-signing-quarterback-dresser-winn

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Matthew Stafford limited with back soreness to start camp

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Head Coach Sean McVay confirmed his star QB would start the first few days of practice on a pitch count

The Los Angeles Rams starting training camp this week, and while the roster is mostly healthy, the team may need to wait a few days to see their rebuilt offense at full strength as they announced Tuesday QB Matthew Stafford will be limited for the first five days of practice with back soreness.

The move, which seems to be more about prevention care and rest rather than any kind of serious injury, was confirmed by head coach Sean McVay originally and reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rams plan to limit Matthew Stafford’s practice time during the first five days of training camp due to his back soreness, Sean McVay told reporters.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 22, 2025​

Whether it is serious or not, Stafford popping up with any kind of ailment to start camp is the last thing fans want to see. The Rams have high hopes for a deep playoff run this year, being considered a Super Bowl candidate by the national media regularly, but those plans all hinges on their starting quarterback being available for a full slate of games.

Veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league and he comes with a ton of playing experience including a Super Bowl appearance, but even with Garoppolo playing some good football in the past, he has mostly been a backup for the last three years or so and is an obvious downgrade from Stafford.

Garoppolo should pick up some extra reps under center to start camp along with third year QB Stetson Bennett, who is going into a make-or-break year season himself. It remains to be seen if Los Angeles will end up keeping three quarterbacks again, so Bennett may need to have a huge preseason to prove he’s worth a roster spot after two underwhelming years to start his pro career. LA also recently signed expected camp arm QB Dresser Wynn - a move that now makes even more sense with Stafford’s limitations.

This is not the first time Stafford has dealt with a back injury, and it’s another reason why the team may be acting a bit more cautious with him. In 2022, Stafford missed the back half of the season with a deep spinal cord bruise. He also experienced a lower lumbar sprain and back soreness after the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Green Bay Packers last year.

There is probably no long term worry for Stafford’s availability going forward, but injuries in camp derailed the Rams to a 1-4 start in 2024 before they were able to get healthy and turn the season around. The team would probably like to avoid a slow start again, and it could be a big reason for McVay being a bit more conservative when it comes to the health of his starting quarterback.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/...-stafford-limited-back-soreness-training-camp

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Despite lack of new contract, Kyren Williams expressing team-first vibes for Rams

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

If Kyren Williams is worried about his next contract, he isn’t showing it

Kyren Williams recently completed a press conference where he appeared in good spirits despite not having any long-term contract or extension by the Los Angeles Rams past this impending season, and though those contract talks will reportedly continue, there’s nothing completed yet, however if you are the Rams or their fans, then Williams is handling this situation exactly how you would want as he continues to say the “right things”.

To be fair, Williams could outwardly talk about his lack of contract and how it concerns him, or he could “hold-in”, but so far, instead he’s chosen the route of expressing a team first mentality despite his lack of a new contract.

Williams was asked about what he wanted to see out of training camp for the Rams, and the young running back said that he’d like to see more usage of himself out of the slot, if at all possible, before also sharing that he really wants to help the team however he can.

Said Williams on his hopes for himself,

“Me personally...put me in the slot. Let me go work...in the receivers or something...”

A laugh was then shared by Williams and the crowd of media members before Williams went on to talk about wanting to see each player and individual, with the help of Sean McVay, put it all together.

“We got people who are playmakers, and who do a lot of different things differently, but you know, they’re all good. So, I’m just excited to see, you know, how coach does it ‘casue...he’s smart. He’s a genius when it comes to football, so it’s gonne be definitely fun to see.”

As far as what Williams is willing to do to help the team?

“I’m gonna do whatever it is as my number’s called.”

So, we’ll see if Williams lines up more out of the slot, in the meantime, he’s gearing up to help the team, whatever that entails. Williams goes on to explain that last year he was prepared for the amount of work he received because he trains so hard, but he was not exactly expecting to the get the volume of snaps that he took.

Whatever this season demands, Williams wants his team to know he’s ready, same as any year.

“Last year I had no expectation...of being able to...get as many snaps as I did, I had no idea, I didn’t know that but I was prepared for it...I work so hard...for me, I’m prepared for anything, I’m, ready for it.”

Whether Williams is extended or not, fans and the organization must appreciate his attitude. In what could be a drama filled situation Williams, on his end, has seemingly chosen to make it as drama-free as he can.

Will William’s strategy pay off for him? That’s the multi-million-dollar question.

"We have people that are likeminded. People that go to work. People that are playing for each other." pic.twitter.com/rcQeI1gjKN

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 22, 2025

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/22/24472545/rams-kyren-williams-contract-training-camp

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Will Stetson Bennett make NFL debut before he turns 30?

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett is in his third training camp but looking for his first shot

Stetson Bennett had a good first day of Rams training camp on Wednesday, including time with the twos, but he has yet to make an appearance in NFL game over his first two seasons. Already a late bloomer before he got to L.A., what does Bennett have to do to win coaches over enough to press Jimmy Garoppolo for the backup role by 2026?

ESPN’s Mike Clay went an entirely different route on Thursday, projecting Bennett as one of this year’s most notable cuts around the league:

I looked over all 32 projected 53-man rosters from our NFL Nation team. A few notable projected cuts:

CLE QB Kenny Pickett
NO QB Jake Haener
LAR QB Stetson Bennett
PHI QB D. Thompson-Robinson

PIT RB Cordarrelle Patterson
MIA RB Alex Mattison
HOU RB Dameon Pierce
GB RB Emanuel…

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) July 24, 2025​

Stetson Bennett is almost 28​

Some interesting notes about Bennett’s football career to this point:

• He was in the same 2017 recruiting class as Tua Tagovailoa
• As a walk-on at Georgia, his college career overlaps with NFL vets like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and Roquan Smith
• He’s older than Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Tua
• For a few months this year, he will be the same age as Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold
• He’s the same age as Kyler Murray

Bennett, who turns 28 in October, spent six years in college. Which these days, compared to rookies like Tyler Shough, suddenly doesn’t seem so ridiculous. He was a walk-on at Georgia, spent a year at a JC, returned to Georgia, and won two national titles.

THROWBACK: Stetson Bennett finds Ladd McConkey for 37-yard score as Georgia DEMOLISHES Tennessee in 2022.

Ladd McConkey really was a DB’s worst nightmare in College… pic.twitter.com/ECFwD3kvy3

— Saturdayinathensga (@saturdayinath) July 24, 2025​

Bennett was a fourth round pick in the 2023 draft, but has yet to make an appearance with the Rams.

Never cut, never active​

To his credit, Bennett has never been cut by the Los Angeles Rams. He spent the 2023 season on the reserve/non-football illness list for reasons still unknown. He made the team in 2024, but strictly as an emergency QB behind Jimmy Garoppolo.

Now Bennett enters this third try with the Rams, which is also his going to be his NINTH trip with a team above high school going into a new season. That’s a lot of experience of getting ready for a season for a quarterback who to this point has only actually played in three of those campaigns, including one at a community college.

If Bennett makes it four out of nine in 2025, then either something horribly bad happened to the two quarterbacks ahead of him. Or he won’t be on the Los Angeles Rams for much longer.

But if comments by McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur are accurate, Bennett will be on the Rams this season.

Over the offseason, LaFleur complimented Bennett’s progress since his rookie year:

“A ton of growth, particularly from two years ago. A lot of credit to him, working on what he needed to work on to get himself into this situation,” LaFleur said.

“But a ton of credit that (Quarterbacks Coach) Dave (Ragone) too and I’ll say even Jimmy (Garoppolo) and Matthew. I think they’ve done a great job of just putting arm around him, mentoring him. What awesome two quarterbacks to learn from that have won a crap ton of games in this league. Proud would be the wrong word but for lack of a better term, proud of where he’s at and he’s just continuing to go.”

“He needs to play just football, right? We’re out here again. We’re out playing flag football in shorts right now but I know this, he’s going about his process in a professional way each and every day to give himself the best chance when he inevitably gets his ops in August in the preseason.”

Bennett is probable to get most, but potentially all of the snaps in the preseason.

By September, Stetson Bennett will be one of the most experience preseason quarterbacks of all-time, while simultaneously having zero real NFL experience. It’s a fascinating dichotomy.

Will Bennett make the NFL at any point in his life and will it happen before 30?

• He can always pull inspiration from Kurt Warner, who made his debut at 27 and became a starter for the Rams when he was 28.
• Doug Flutie’s story isn’t quite the same, but after becoming an NFL starter when he was 26, Flutie didn’t return to the NFL for good until he was 36 following a long career in the CFL.

Stetson Bennett and Jordan Whittington were on the same page and connected on almost every attempt. Both are having a great start to camp thus far!! #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/Mwu0mJyJi2

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 24, 2025​

At this point, Stetson Bennett would gladly take any NFL career that allows him to become a starter. First, he needs to get into a game.

That doesn’t seem likely to happen on the Rams in 2025. Will he find a way to make it happen during his four-year rookie contract? If not, Bennett will probably be 30 before he ever sees the field.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/24/24473781/rams-stetson-bennett-training-camp-observations

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Matthew Stafford’s new contract already aging poorly

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Matthew Stafford to open training camp on sidelines. Should Rams have moved on this offseason?

There was a point this offseason where Matthew Stafford’s return to the Los Angeles Rams was anything but certain. The New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders were courting the quarterback and were reportedly willing to pay him top billing and send draft capital to the Rams.

Instead, Sean McVay took his signal caller behind closed doors and negotiated a deal that paid him less money than otherwise could have gained from the Giants or Raiders. Stafford emerged with a new two-year contract extension worth $84M. He has $40M of guarantees for 2025 with another due in 2026 if he’s on the roster at the start of the new league year.

But this new deal is already aging poorly for Los Angeles. The calendar hasn’t even flipped to August.

Stafford is managing back soreness and will start training camp on the sidelines. While McVay maintains that he has confidence in his quarterback, we’ve seen the coach paint himself into corners with such comments before.

2022 may seem like a long time ago, but Stafford entered camp with concerns surrounding his elbow. He didn’t look like himself to start the regular season, and he was soon shutdown for the year with head and back injuries.

There’s always risk when you tie yourself to a quarterback in his late 30’s. This situation requires nuance in order to understand LA’s exposure.

Coach Sean McVay says the Rams have a "modified approach" this season when it comes to 17 year NFL veteran, Matthew Stafford. @RamsNFL @UpAndAdamsShow pic.twitter.com/T8XcNkP7iM

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) July 24, 2025​

It’s better to move on a year too early​

Yes, the Rams could release Stafford early next spring if they want to wipe their hands clean of his commitments. The unfortunate truth is that this guaranteed money likely limits their ability to find the quarterback a new home via trade, which was certainly on the table this past offseason. Who would trade for an older veteran with injury concerns after watching the likes of Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins flame out in recent years? You must strike while the iron is hot.

Is there a world where the Rams instead traded Stafford to either New York or Las Vegas and don’t end up with two first round picks in 2026 as they have now? Sure. It was also possible they acquired an early second round pick plus other mid-round selections for Stafford in addition to making their draft day trade with the Atlanta Falcons. In theory they could be sitting on a war chest of picks, which significantly lowers the difficulty of acquiring a new franchise quarterback next offseason.

We can only analyze what we know. The Rams must compete in order for 2025 to be a success, and this is coupled with their short-term signing of Davante Adams.

You can’t afford 2022-like outcomes when you push all your chips into the middle. It’s eerie to be on this path already.

for how important of a player he is and how much his play can fall off when injured, this matthew stafford back story is very much worth tracking. the rams chose to go year-to-year with his contract, probably for a reason. https://t.co/YDLVGjUUbw

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) July 24, 2025​

Why we can’t believe Sean McVay​

Remember when McVay told us to not worry about Todd Gurley’s rapidly deteriorating knee fresh off his market-flipping contract? At Turf Show Times we referred to this as the Patella Novella.

McVay used to following words to describe Stafford’s 2022 elbow injury:

• “A little soreness”
• “No hesitation”

The veteran went on to play nine games. He completed 68% of his passes and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt versus his usual figure with the Rams of 7.3-8.1 yards. He finished with 10 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a passer rating of just 87.4.

The truth is that—if this was nothing to worry about—Stafford would be on the field at training camp. He participated heavily the last two preseasons, which uncoincidentally were two of his better years in Los Angeles.

I hope with everything in my being that Matthew Stafford stays healthy all season and he kicks ass with a really fun WR duo…

…but that said, there is a non 0% chance Davante Adams is catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo, who is the Rams backup, again this year.

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) July 23, 2025​

If we are going to knock someone like Aaron Rodgers for missing offseason team workouts, then we should also ding Stafford for sitting out of important reps. The Rams are acclimating newcomers Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson and they’d benefit from time with their starting quarterback.

We have ample reason not to believe McVay’s comments early in camp. I’ll stop being worried when I see this offense perform at a high level. Instead, we’ve watched the Rams stumble out of the gate the last two seasons—although to their credit they turned the ship around late to make the playoffs.

You can’t fool me.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/24/24474057/rams-matthew-stafford-injury-fantasy-2025

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

One Rams undrafted free agent to rule them all

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Linebacker Shaun Dolac is the UDFA that Rams fans expect to come out of camp with a job

One of the reasons that Rams fans expect an undrafted linebacker to stand out in training camp is that the team has made it so clear to everyone that it is not a position that the franchise values. You probably would not expect an undrafted player to take Matthew Stafford’s job at quarterback or Puka Nacua’s at receiver, but put that rookie behind Omar Speights and Nate Landman and now anything becomes possible by Week 1.

As such, in Thursday’s Reverse Q and A asking Rams fans for training camp predictions, linebacker Shaun Dolac easily dominated your answers when it comes to which undrafted free agent rookie will win the month:

VIRamLove
Dolac
oldfartramfan
Dolac. I think he will be a steal...........just a gut feeling.
Pmahc-AL
great film....only downside..it was at Buffalo....D1...but small D1
CLTRams
Dolac is the obvious answer (and really hope Lampkin), but I really think Nate Valcarcel has a real shot at the 53 and Bill Norton makes the PS.
PAramsfan1972
Dolac.. only 1 to make the team​

As noted earlier, this is a position that Les Snead and Sean McVay annually use as a “money saver” to help support L.A.’s spending habits at other roles.

• In 2019, it was Cory Littleton
• In 2020, it was Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, and Troy Reeder
• In 2021, it was Reeder, Ernest Jones, Justin Hollins, Travin Howard, and Young
• In 2022, the Rams went outside the box to sign Bobby Wagner, which only seemed to solidify that their previous belief in being cheap was better for them
• In 2023, it was Jones and Christian Rozeboom
• In 2024, it was Rozeboom and Speights

Now entering 2025, the Rams have settled on Speights and Landman, a former undrafted free agent who spent the last three years with the Atlanta Falcons.

There is little standing in the way of Dolac and a job on the 53-man roster, potentially even getting immediate snaps on defense.

Josiah Stewart and Shaun Dolac. pic.twitter.com/sWEKGbWHaA

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 25, 2025​

An undrafted free agent out of Buffalo, Dolac has been a tackling machine in college and won MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. When a player is that productive but undrafted, it typically indicates a lack of ideal size and athleticism, which is the case for Dolac too.

But these are not traits that the L.A. Rams have typically shown an interest in at the off-ball linebacker positions and therefore Dolac should be fine. Coaches expressed a belief in the offseason that Dolac has picked up the defense quickly and could already “teach it” to others. The team did draft fifth round linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul and have retained Reeder as additional depth once again. Overall, Dolac has as good of a chance as any undrafted free agent and that’s something that fans can see whether you’re at training camp or not.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/25/24474662/rams-undrafted-free-agent-shaun-dolac

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Week 1 flashpoints and buzz from Rams training camp

Davante Adams stretches out to haul in a pass | Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

One player from each position that could make difference in 2025

For many of us fans, opening day of the Los Angeles Rams training camp couldn’t come soon enough. OTAs, speculation and debate are fine, appetizers to sate us through the post-draft lull, but now we get to see some real meat on the bone.

It’s only the first week and most of the workouts have not been in pads, but position and roster battles are in full rage. Week 1 hasn’t been without it’s drama or unexpected good news. In this exercise, I have targeted players at each position that are flashpoints, spots that could easily ignite— into heat to drive Rams machine or a devastating fire. I also dug through all the on-location reports, video, and X posts I could round up and posted the most interesting tidbits. I tried to cite, at least once, each of the on-site reporters. If I missed, I am sorry, their hard work to relay reports from camp are greatly appreciated.

Quarterback​

Matthew Stafford

Is his back really something to worry about or simply a case of a veteran who knows how best to manage his workload? A day or so before camp’s opening whistle, Staff was co-chairing and participating in a day long walkathon/community event.

Update:

McVay told reporters that Stafford will now be a “week at a time” and added that’s probably what he should have said in the first place.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) July 26, 2025​

Camp Buzz: Jimmy Garappolo is taking the #1 snaps and his play has been up and down. He’s been having success hooking up with his tight ends, not surprising considering his background with Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle. Reports are that Stetson Bennett is looking much improved and in command of the offense, navigating the pocket, making his reads, and flashing some move skills when flushed.

Running back​

Blake Corum

Recently profiled here at TST. While Kyren Williams is still RB#1 for 2025, fans need to keep in mind that he and the Rams are no closer to signing an extension. Should the Rams compensate him with Tier 1 backs? Or is his production based on the L.A. offense and large share of touches?

Camp buzz: KWill is getting a lot of receiving reps. Both Corum and Jarquez Hunter are showing off burst and speed, breaking long runs.

Good second day of practice for Rams RB Blake Corum. Even for touch, he was making guys miss with his cuts

And you can really see Jarquez Hunter's speed on the field. Bounced one run outside and was off for a 20 yard gain.

— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) July 25, 2025​

Wide receiver​

Jordan Whittington

I favored Tutu Atwell over bigger wide receivers because I thought his insertion into the offense made the Rams offense more multiple. I still do, but feel that Whittington can potentially offer much of the same versatility, just in a more physical package. Whit spent the off-season working out with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and with a solid rookie season under his belt, looks to blossom.

Camp buzz: It’s been a case of Puka being Puka, ferociously diving and fighting for catches, the Rams will have to protect him from himself. According to Sean McVay, Davante Adams is imparting his experience with the other Rams wide outs. Watching out pattern drills, he is just so smooth and sharp out of his breaks.

Tight end​

Terrance Ferguson

While he may not be a starter, Ferguson adds playmaking capability to the unit and has been catching everything thrown near him, whereas Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen are considered athletically to be in the workhorse category. When Ferguson eventually carves out a good-sized role, the L.A. offense becomes more multiple.

Camp buzz: Ferguson, along with the three vets are sharing first team reps. Although there were no details why, UDFA Mark Redman, a $20k bonus signee, was put on the PUP list. That leaves Anthony Torres as TE#5. He really looks big and agile

Offensive line​

DJ Humphries

Huge question mark at an important position, currently splitting reps with Warren McClendon. Joining the Rams after OTAs, Humphries is certainly stepping into a tough situation and his play on the field centers him in the eye of the storm. A history of knee injuries has plagued a big chunk of his career and kept him from living up to his Round 1 draft pedigree.

Camp buzz: While Alaric Jackson’s blood clots were a major letdown, there’s also a little sunshine. AJax is in camp and not starting the season on the PUP list. He’s been working on the side with training staff, but was spotted in some 11on11 drills on Friday. These are good signs and he has not been ruled out for Week 1 of the regular season. The return of center Coleman Shelton has raised the communication level on the offensive line.

Good to see Alaric Jackson out there. pic.twitter.com/HQaneQYP9t

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 25, 2025​

Special teams​

With place kickerJosh Karty, punter Ethan Evans, and long snapper Alex Ward entering their second full season together, Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn expects the cohesiveness to improve. He feels “confident” about the competition between Xavier Smith and Britain Covey at punt returner, citing Smith’s four phase versatility from last year and Covey’s “highly-rated” draft projection.

Defensive line​

Poona Ford

The veteran steps in to the nose tackle role, an area where L.A. has been inconsistent since losing Sebastian Joseph-Day. Although the position is generally considered a run-stopping job, teammates have been impressed with Ford’s ability to win 1on1 matchups and get after the passer.

Camp buzz: The pass rush has been dominant at this early stage, forcing the Rams QB’s to a lot of short stuff and check downs. Turner looks to be the leader of this group, gathering his mates around him for motivational words.

Edge​

Brennan Jackson

The second-year player was profiled here on TST, and has been working as E#3. He’s been showing the power and effort the Rams scouting staff saw in him. Someone has to fill the 639 rep and 56 tackle void of Michael Hoecht’s departure. Jackson’s chances are good if he can evade the minor injury bug as well as opposing lineman.

Camp buzz: Jared Verse and Byron Young have become the vocal leaders of a chippy, chirpy defense, according to Defensive Coordinator David Shula. These two provide a very high ceiling for the team’s edge work.

Off-ball linebacker​

Nate Landman

The free agent signee is drawing raves from the coaching staff for his command of the position and has the full attention of teammates in the huddle. He’s continuing his showing from OTAs as profiled here on TST.

Camp buzz: Landman has wrested away the green dot and it is his to lose. He and Omar Speights are getting a lot of reps in pass coverage. UDFA Shaun Dolac has been shown he already has a grasp on the Rams defense and his play has been physical and aggressive. Although unreported, Chris Paul could be fighting an injury.

Chris “Pooh” Paul didnt practice today or yesterday. pic.twitter.com/HuJltE2ZYa

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 26, 2025​

Safety​

Jaylen McCollough

If the L.A. cornerbacks and/or linebackers up their game, limiting the Rams four-safety “dime” packages, McCollough stands to be the odd man out. He makes up for his lack of elite athleticism with instincts, football IQ and toughness. Even if only entering his second season, these traits make him a player that needs to be on the field.

Camp buzz: Not much scuttlebutt on this unit, but DC Shula called Quentin Lake the “linchpin” of the Rams secondary.

Cornerback​

Darious Williams

You could make an argument for Emmanuel Forbes here, but Williams is at a crossroads. At 32, he’s carved out a career after joining the league as a UDFA. Over his career, he’s battled injury, as he did last year. Small in stature, Williams is a solid cover guy and willing tackler against the run with a strong performance as recently as 2023.

Camp buzz: As a unit, they have been aggressive and ball-hawking. McVay is pleased with the group, citing their “energy.” Jared Verse said, “They are locking everything up.” Cobie Durant has been singled out for his coverage work. Forbes has been getting reps with the first team and the love from his OTA efforts is carrying over through the first week of camp.

Jared Verse on who's stood out so far through the first two days of camp:

"Defensively, I think our secondary. They are locking everything up. They're giving us time to get back there. Honestly, we have minutes to get back there."

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) July 25, 2025​

Surprises from Week 1?​

It’s only been a few practices, so there hasn't been a lot of buzz about the youngsters. Rams Round 2 pick Terrance Ferguson is getting plenty of run and UDFA Shaun Dolac has gotten props, but it’s been fairly quiet on the rest.

Offensively, two things stand out. One, Alaric Jackson being in camp and on the field, not on the PUP/NFI list is really big news. Two, how many playmakers the Rams potentially have. Three good running backs, four wide receivers and four tight ends should create a multiple offense, offering a good mix of size, speed, and savvy. Opposing defenses will be stretched to cover both vertically and horizontally.

Defensively, the only news better than the expected strong play of the L.A. pass rush is the secondary playing fast and aggressively. Coaches have been raving about Cobie Durant and the improvement of Emmanuel Forbes, while newcomer Nate Landman is set to wear the green dot at middle linebacker.

The promise shown Week 1 should whet fans appetite for more.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/27/24473726/rams-training-camp-week-sean-mcvay

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

We were wrong about the longevity of quarterbacks

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Tom Brady is an outlier, not a role model, and we’re seeing that in Stafford, Rodgers, and Wilson

The modern game of football was supposed to be “easier than ever” for quarterbacks because of more rules that favor them, fewer hits, and easier passing concepts. Just a year ago, Troy Aikman said 40 would be “the new norm” for quarterbacks. Tom Brady won two Super Bowls in his 40s, Peyton Manning won one just before his 40th birthday, Drew Brees was still competing over 70% of his passes after 40, and Aaron Rodgers was destined to be the next, right?

Wrong.

Just a few years after Brady’s retirement, the premise that “quarterbacks are aging gracefully” and that “all of the good ones will be able to play until they are 40” is fading away faster than Russell Wilson’s career. Just have a look at 2025’s probable Week 1 starters:

• Aaron Rodgers is the only QB older than Matthew Stafford to be guaranteed a job, if healthy
• Joe Flacco is in a competition against three other (much younger) quarterbacks
• Stafford is the third-oldest starter in the NFL
• The only two close to him are Wilson and Kirk Cousins, the latter of whom has a much better chance of starting for another team than ever playing for the Falcons again

By these marks, it may not be long before the oldest starters in the NFL are Stafford, who is 37, and Geno Smith, who turns 35 in October. Not so coincidentally, the Las Vegas Raiders tried to trade for the former and when that failed they ended up trading for the latter.

Now here we sit not even a week into training camp and the second-oldest starter in the league is being rested on a “week to week” basis per Sean McVay because of a sore back. Not exactly the ringing endorsement of mid-30s quarterbacks that Aikman was talking about last year when he was referring to the overtly-safe nature of the position.

Tom Brady's comment on Seahawks QB Geno Smith from a (2022) press conference in Germany.

"He's making great decisions, passing the football very well to open receivers, and hasn't had many turnovers. He has enough athletic ability to extend some plays."

(Via @Buccaneers)… pic.twitter.com/o0Su9QfC8s

— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) March 8, 2025​

35 is not 40. It’s as far from 40 as it is from 30. And there aren’t even that many quarterbacks who are 30!

How quickly they fall!​

So 2023 was the first year without Brady and the passing of the 40+ torch to Aaron Rodgers was an immediate failure. Look at how quickly all the over-30 quarterbacks started to drop like flies once Brady retired:

• Rodgers, turned 40 in 2023 and missed the entire season; is entering his farewell season for the Steelers at age 42, by most accounts
• Wilson, turned 35 in 2023, was released by the Broncos, signed by the Steelers in 2024, and is now on his third team since turning 35
• Cousins, turned 35 in 2023, the Vikings let him walk after 2024, signed with the Falcons, benched in December for Michael Penix, looking for another opportunity but no teams want to trade for his contract
• Ryan Tannehill, turned 35 in 2023, benched by the Titans midseason, has not been able to find work since then
• Geno Smith, turned 33 in 2023, has not replicated the same success he had in 2022, traded to the Raiders in 2025
• Derek Carr, turned 32 in 2023, was let go by the Raiders that offseason, signed with the Saints and just retired a few months ago
• Jimmy Garoppolo, turned 32 in 2023, signed by Raiders to replace Carr, was one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL that year, is now backing up Stafford
• Dak Prescott, turned 30 in 2023, led the NFL in touchdown passes that year, but struggled mightily in 2024 and missed nine games

The only over-30 starting quarterback in 2023 who I did not mention is Stafford. He is by far the greatest success story of any over-30 quarterback right now. And what is that “success” exactly?

Stafford’s numbers have dropped significantly since winning the Super Bowl in 2021. He was a magnet for health problems in 2022. He continues to prove that he’s extremely talented, but can he stay on the field? Can he will an offense to score points when something goes wrong? Now he’s 37. Can the Rams really expect him to still be in the league when he’s 39? Or even 38?

There isn’t a lot of good external evidence out there that he can despite a narrative that “ah, now quarterbacks play until they’re 40s!”

As you can see, there’s not even good evidence out there that many quarterbacks can play into their 30s.

Current 30+ starting QBs​

These are the over-30 quarterbacks expected to be Week 1 starters:

• Aaron Rodgers, 42
• Matthew Stafford, 37 (hurt)
• Russell Wilson, 37 (in a competition)
• Geno Smith, 35
• Dak Prescott, 32 (returning from injury)
• Jared Goff, 31
• Patrick Mahomes, 30
• Baker Mayfield, 30

That’s eight quarterbacks, so one-fourth of the NFL’s expected starters. If Flacco wins the job in Cleveland, that’s nine. It almost seems like that’s a high number, but we all sort of agree that it’s not a high number at all, right? It means that actually 75% of the NFL’s starting quarterbacks, including most of the ones we think of as “elite”, are under 30.

And that’s only EXPECTED WEEK 1 starters.​

How long will it take Jaxson Dart to replace Wilson?

What if Rodgers is terrible?

What if Stafford’s injury problems cause him to miss regular season games?

What if Geno doesn’t take well to his new surroundings?

#Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart had “by far” his best practice of training camp today, according to @art_stapleton

He’s coming along nicely this summer. pic.twitter.com/V8jnUHvPaY

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) July 27, 2025​

It takes very little to chop this number in half, which essentially means that they best half of his list is made of quarterbacks who are BARELY 30. Mahomes being 30 is not a big deal. But Carson Wentz being 32 essentially ended his career. Jameis Winston is 31 and nobody thinks of him as a starter. Deshaun Watson is 30 and doesn’t seem to have a future in the NFL. 30 is young for Patrick Mahomes, but 28 is old as shit for Daniel Jones.

At one point or another, any of these “aging out of the league” quarterbacks were considered QBOTFs for a franchise. Maybe it took an injury, a bad season, or just a bad month, but all of them washed out a lot faster than most of us predicted when they were 25.

What makes any of us so certain that a Kyler Murray, a Brock Purdy, a Jalen Hurts, a Justin Herbert, or even a Lamar Jackson take so well to turning 30?

Actually, we can probably start doubting plenty of starting quarterbacks in their 20s from being probable starters in their 30s. For instance, Tua Tagovailoa. Is Tua going to play in the NFL when he’s 35? I don’t know anyone who believes that.

The reality of “Who will be the best quarterbacks in 5 years” is that we will probably still have Mahomes, but we probably won’t have Goff, Dak, or Mayfield. We may not have Trevor Lawrence, Lamar, Hurts, or Jordan Love.

The best quarterbacks in 2030 are probably quarterbacks who have yet to turn 25. Jayden Daniels. C.J. Stroud. Drake Maye. Someone just starting his college career right now.

We may have already witnessed the last good season of certain quarterbacks who don’t seem old now but will age five years in the next 18 months. The fact that Stafford is even entering a training cap as a team’s starter at age 37 is in itself remarkable and far more remarkable than the conversation people were having towards the end of Brady’s career that “QBs will play into their late 30s and early 40s now!”

That may only happen to one out of 50 starting quarterbacks.​

Stafford would have to play four more seasons just to get to 40. Here we are in late July and fans are just hoping that he can play for four more months.

Pump the brakes on 40. We need to do more work on 32.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/27/24475619/rams-matthew-stafford-tom-brady-aging-quarterbacks

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

The 10 most important Rams in 2025

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Where do Puka Nacua and Jared Verse fall on the Rams top-10 list?

The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2025 season with one of the team’s most interesting balance of offensive and defensive players in the franchise’s 89-year history. Just a year after Aaron Donald’s retirement, the defense is in better shape than they were during AD’s last season in 2023.

But offensively, the team is stacked and Sean McVay has a chance to have the Rams back in the top-5 for scoring despite only ranking 20th in 2024.

Those odds depend heavily on certain players being healthy, of course including Matthew Stafford, and any one of their key starters going down for a prolonged period of time could swiftly end those chances of a breakout offensive season.

So who are the 10 most important players on the 2025 Los Angeles Rams?​

I made my top-10 list, but I won’t be posting it in the body of the article: I’ll post each of them in the comments section below. Scroll down to the comments to find out my top-10 Rams list, respond to the rankings you really disagree with the most, and post your own!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/28/24476202/most-important-rams-rankings-2025

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Do Rams still have the best young talent in the NFL?

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

ESPN ranks Rams 18th in under-25 rankings

Over the past two years, the Los Angeles Rams have done a good job replenishing older talent with a younger core of players to oversee the next era. This is a team that went from Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, and Cooper Kupp to Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, and Kobie Turner.

The front office’s ability to draft young talent is a big reason for the team’s success in recent years. Following the “F Them Picks” era, many expected the Rams to fall apart given the lack of draft capital. The only way the Rams were going to sustain success and dig themselves out of that hole was to find success in the draft.

That’s exactly what they did, finding Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner later in the draft. When Aaron Donald retired, the Rams were able to replace him with another special defensive talent in Jared Verse. It’s that core of players that is going to help the Rams push for a champinoship at the end of the Matthew Stafford era and then allow them to sustain success after it.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently ranked each team’s under-25 talent. Coming in at 18th was the Rams. Said Schatz,

“The top two young talents on the Rams’ roster are two of the best young talents in the league, period. Nacua won’t turn 25 until next May, and last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Verse turns 25 in November. However, note that Verse’s fellow ex-Florida State running mate from the class of 2024, Fiske, is already 25 years old. There is some more young talent here, too. Center Beaux Limmer is 24 years old, as is linebacker Omar Speights, who started 10 games as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2024. Safety Kamren Kinchens turns 23 near the end of September. The Rams did not have a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, but second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson will likely be a starter at age 22 and third-round edge Josaiah Stewart is also 22.”

This is a huge drop off from last season in which the Rams came in at number eight. The methodology for the ranking was based on a combination of factors ranging from starts/snaps, quality of play, contract value, and the importance of the position. Still 18th seems a little low. That’s especially considering teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers came in ahead of them.

The Rams are no longer one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, coming in at number 16. With that said, they do have two of the most talented players under 25 on each side of the ball in Nacua and Verse. Here is a list of the Rams’ significant players under the age of 25:

• TE Terrance Ferguson
• S Kam Kinchens
• LB Omar Speights
• WR Puka Nacua
• iOL Beaux Limmer

That also doesn’t mention Kyren Williams, Steve Avila, and Braden Fiske who either just turned 25 or will be 25 when the season starts. While those players just missed the cut for this list, the others on it should still be ranked inside the top-half of the NFL.

If a player like Kinchens takes a step forward in 2025, the Rams will have a young player in the secondary that they can build around. It’s also possible that a rookie or two contributes this season more than expected.

Despite coming in at 18th in ESPN’s under-25 rankings, the Rams’ young core is still loaded with potential. Nacua and Verse lead that charge with Ferguson, Kinchens, and others looking to play important roles. For a team trying to stay competitive while also building for the future, the Rams’ balance of youth and experience could be enough to help them when it matters late in the season.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/30/24477582/rams-roster-under-25-ranking-espn-jared-verse

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Random Ramsdom: Former RB, just 24, retires

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 7/31/25

Zach Evans was drafted to the NFL, and that’s more than many can say, he also is retiring from the NFL at age 24, so for whatever reason, his time in the league was short, but hey, he got there!

Evans was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and it didn’t really work out for him with the Rams, and it seems that by his admission, he is done with trying to make his skillset work with any team at the NFL level.

Things can change, Tom Brady once unretired, but I think it’s fair to say that is totally different than this situation.

It’s too bad Evans didn’t take off at the NFL level because I thought “Zach Heavens” could have been a sweet nickname, but it’s not about me and my silly ideas, I wish Evans all the best and congratulate him on entering the next phase of his life post-NFL. I am sure this decision was not easy.

Please comment on whatever you want and thanks for checking out Turf Show Times!

Jets Place RB Zach Evans on Reserve/Retired List (newyorkjets.com)​

“Evans (5-11, 211) signed a reserve/futures contract with the Green & White on Jan. 6. He played 10 games for the Rams last season and rushed 9 times for 19 yards before joining the Jets’ practice squad on Dec. 18. A sixth-round pick (No. 215 overall) of the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft, Evans played collegiately at TCU and Ole Miss.”

Gettin' after it. pic.twitter.com/KcaFx4nfTy

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 30, 2025

‘A Dark Moment’ — Rams Star Davante Adams Gets Brutally Honest About ‘Miserable’ Stint With Raiders (profootballnetwork)​

“I love Jimmy, and it was never a personal thing,” he said, “we got to catch up and get on the same page.”

Adams then blamed the atmosphere within the Raiders locker room in 2023 for his frustrations. McDaniels was known to have lost the locker room’s support by the time he was fired, prompting the team to celebrate with cigars following their first win without him.”

#puntersarepeopletoo pic.twitter.com/oPx1OjY6Wo

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 30, 2025

7 takeaways from Day 6 of Rams training camp: Backup RBs keep making plays (ramswire)​

“For the second time in camp, the Los Angeles Rams held a padded practice on Tuesday, continuing to ramp up the intensity before Week 1. They’ll de-load on Wednesday with a lighter day of work, but the performance of both the offense and defense stood out on Day 2 with pads.

Jimmy Garoppolo continues to lead the first-team offense and he seems to be getting more comfortable by the day. Stetson Bennett has done a nice job with the backups, as well, building a rapport with players such as Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield.

Here’s what we learned from Day 6 of Rams training camp.”

All smiles cuz football season is almost here! pic.twitter.com/nzIrH94Lzq

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 30, 2025

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/7/31/24477695/rams-news-zach-evans-retire-nfl

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams get a positive sign along the offensive line

Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Alaric Jackson has been participating more in practice after being out with blood clots

The Los Angeles Rams look to be inching closer to getting a key piece of their offensive line back, as left tackle Alaric Jackson continues to take steps towards getting back on the field. Jackson has been sidelined most of this offseason with issues stemming from blood clots, a similar situation to the one that forced him to miss significant time back in 2022.

According to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, Jackson was able to take part in team activities for the first time since camp started, being limited to only individual drills through the first few days.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the belief is that Jackson will play in 2025 but there are “still questions” as he works through this health scare for the second time in his career. Jackson starting to get on the field more is, at the minimum, an encouraging sign.

Jackson signed a three-year, $57 million extension in February after a solid first season as the full time starting left tackle. Head coach Sean McVay touched on how crucial the position will be for the team going forward.

“Left tackle is going to be a really important spot for us to be able to develop, with an optimistic and a hopeful approach that Alaric is going to continue to work and be ready whenever he gets cleared.”

Putting even more pressure on the left tackle questions is the lack of mobility of veteran QB Matthew Stafford, who has also not been participating in practice with back soreness. Considering that Jackson is responsible for watching Stafford’s backside makes it all the more pressing that LA is secure at the position.

Luckily, Sports Illustrated is reporting that the offensive depth for Los Angeles thus far has been playing well in practice, specifically noting that tackles D.J. Humphries and Warren McClendon Jr have found their rhythm.

That is good, considering that either could be the next man up in the event that Jackson is not ready for Week 1. Still, the team is hopeful they will have him back in time for the regular season and Jackson getting back into practice is the first step.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/...alaric-jackson-update-left-tackle-blood-clots

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Random Ramsdom: What are your questions as we head into August?

Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 8/1/25

So, you can ask any questions you want, but what the headline really should say is: What are your questions about the Los Angeles Rams as head into August?

However, that’s a tad long, so I shortened it. That aside, ask any question you want! I just don’t know that I’ll have an answer, nor do I know you’ll find any answers here, but ask away! Hopefully there will be some good discussion in the comments section, but if not, we’ll try again next Random Ramsdom.

Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times and please comment on whatever you want! Happy Friday!

Answering Questions From Rams Fans: 2025 Training Camp (si.com)​

“The good thing about having a player like Higbee is that once defenses assign defenders to stop Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and whoever the WR3 is, who do they have left that is physically able to guard Higbee?

Ferguson looks like his ceiling is Travis Kelce and his floor is Gerald Everett. He’s dangerous in open space, knows how to catch in stride, and when Matthew Stafford was throwing the ball in OTAs, Ferguson received targets in the end zone and was hauling them in.

Davis Allen might be a threat going down the middle, in between seams, and Colby Parkinson has a little something to him that could make him dangerous off play action. Even Anthony Torres looks nice in limited usage.”

Getting the guys hyped @FSUFootball | @JaredVerse1 pic.twitter.com/O3DUyZlEKQ

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 31, 2025

The Good and Not So Good from Rams Training Camp (si.com)​

“It can’t be stated enough how big of an impact Nate Landman has been on this defense. He reads the game perfectly, he’s in great position, and he creates turnovers. Poona Ford has been putting on his best Vince Wilfork impression on the inside while the usual names, the Jared Verse, Kobie Turners of the world play at a high and consistent level.”

A dawg. #RamsHouse | @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/2QOsxMUnLl

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 31, 2025

Terrance Ferguson reflects on joining the Rams, his first Training Camp & rookie season goals | Vamos Rams Player Interview (therams.com)​

“Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson sits down for a Vamos Rams Player Interview. On the show, Terrance talks about initial impressions coming to Los Angeles, how his first training camps has gone, and expectations heading into his rookie season.”

All smiles at Rams Camp. pic.twitter.com/jgpkCsS6CK

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 31, 2025

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/8/1/24478521/rams-news-questions-training-camp-nfl

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams need to make move for this disgruntled star who just requested a trade

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Should the Rams trade for Micah Parsons?

The Los Angeles Rams are entering a season in which they will be looking to capitalize one more time with Matthew Stafford leading the offense. While they simultaneously have one foot in the future, that doesn’t mean they would be dissuaded from making a move if it meant getting over the hump and putting them in position to win a Super Bowl.

That type of move became possible on Friday when linebacker and edge rusher Micah Parsons requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons and the Cowboys have been in a contract dispute this summer. The two were close back in the spring, but have since been grown apart when Parson’s agent got involved. Last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was quoted saying, “Just because we sign him, doesn’t mean we’re going to have him.” The quote was taken as a dig on Parsons who got hurt last year.

Micah Parsons requests a trade. https://t.co/BbXTAEaBEF

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 1, 2025​

It’s very possible that Parsons and the Cowboys come together. Contract negotiations can get messy with players holding out and then requesting a trade before a deal gets done. It’s all meant to put pressure on the team to get a deal done. At the same time, this is a relationship that may be past reconciliation. Things have been said by ownership and the front office that may make it difficult for Parsons to want to play in Dallas going forward.

In the past, general manager Les Snead hasn’t been afraid to take a swing and make the big move. The Rams are generally in a different spot than they have been when Snead made moves for Jalen Ramsey and others.

At the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Snead make the call. Parsons is a Defensive Player of the Year caliber of player and the franchise player worth making this type of trade for. He’s a two-time first-team All Pro and has 13 or more sacks in each of the last three seasons.

This is exactly why the Rams made the trade in April for the extra first round pick. It’s an asset that gives them flexibility. While it has been assumed that they use the extra first round pick to make a move for a rookie quarterback, it also doesn’t have to be used for that purpose. The Rams could also use that pick to make a trade for a player that puts them in position to win. No player in the 2026 draft is more valuable than Micah Parsons.

A player of Parson’s caliber doesn’t come around very often and the price for a franchise caliber player can be astronomical. Ideally, the Rams would be able to move Byron Young and a first round pick plus some rather than multiple first rounds picks in addition to more.

There’s also the aspect of Parsons wanting a new contract. Parson’s is currently counting for $24 million against the cap in 2025 and is in the final year of his deal. If the Rams were to trade for Parsons, they would need to make some space as they would take on the entirety of the $24 million.

As one of the top edge rushers in the NFL and just 26 years old, Parsons is likely going to want $40 million per season to align with Myles Garrett and TJ Watt. The Rams could structure the deal to line up with Verse and when his contract will come up. They currently have $73 million in cap space next offseason and a clean slate in 2027 with a projected $189 million to work with.

When it comes to these types of moves, Snead and the Rams can never be counted out. While they are a few years removed from “F Them Picks”, it should be assumed that they would at least make a call on Parsons.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/8/1/24479091/rams-trade-target-micah-parsons

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Can you guess this Rams defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Rams player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Do you want to play “Wordle” but for Rams players instead of words?

With your in-depth knowledge of the Rams, can you guess a Rams players in 5 clues or less? 3 clues or less? 2 clues? Test yourself! You’re the expert! Whether you love it or hate it, we’d appreciate feedback at this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Friday, August 1, 2025
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Turf Show Times in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Rams player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/8/2/24479491/sb-nation-rams-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

The Rams have a surprising standout in camp

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

3rd year quarterback Stetson Bennett is making a case for LA to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster

Matthew Stafford’s back soreness has kept the veteran QB off the field for the Los Angeles Rams thus far through camp, and while he is crucial to the success of the team this season, his absence has allowed some other players to shine in relief. Third-year QB Stetson Bennett, who may be playing for a roster spot this year, is one of those players. According to Sports Illustrated, Bennett has been lights out thus far in camp, specifically noting how he has cut down on bad decision making in the pass game.

When asked about Bennett’s improvement this year, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur was not shy with his praise:

“How much time you got? [Laughter] Like I said the other day, he’s grown up so much,” stated LaFleur. “He’s in such a good spot mentally. [Quarterbacks Coach] Dave Ragone and the quarterback shave done an awesome job collectively of just being one cohesive group and learning off each other. The meetings that we have, the discussions are just collaborative and organic. He’s had great command of the huddle compared to what it used to be, but what I think is even better is when that ball snaps, he’s just playing so fast.”

“He has a knack, you can see it from his college film, and it’s coming through here in year three. He has a knack of space and feeling space, when to speed up his drops and when to tempo it down. What’s been most impressive, particularly the first few days when he was going against the one defense a lot, that pocket is collapsed and he just knows where his outlets are. Hey, don’t make a bad play worse. He’s done a great job of that. He continues to stack days. He’s going to get a lot of ops in the preseason, which will be great for him.”

Bennett has been a bit of an enigma since entering the league. After being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, many expected him to go into the season as the team’s top backup quarterback. Instead, Bennett was forced to step away for his entire rookie year, and while the exact reasoning was kept in house by the team, the consensus belief is that the young quarterback was dealing with some mental health issues at the time of his absence.

Fast forward to 2025 and Bennett now could find himself as a surprise cut candidate if the Rams do not feel the need to carry three quarterbacks. A strong summer and preseason would go a long way in making a case for a spot on the active roster. So far, it sounds like Bennett has been doing all the right things. It was noted that he was showing off his playmaking ability, while at the same time, noticeably cutting down on turnover issues that plagued him in 2024.

Head coach Sean McVay has never been one to play his starters in the preseason, and considering that starting QB Matthew Stafford has been out of practice with back soreness already, Bennett should get a ton of playing time to show what he can do through the team’s three exhibition games. If the young quarterback can get back to the level of play that won him national championships in college, he might just be able to convince the team to believe in the potential they original saw in him again.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/...-rams-stetson-bennett-training-camp-stand-out

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Matthew Stafford sees Rams back specialist for second time

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

For the second time, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has spoken with No. 1 back surgeon, Dr. Robert Watkins.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford met with the team’s back specialist for the second time according to head coach Sean McVay. As reported by the LA Time’s Gary Klein, “Stafford, 37, saw back specialist Dr. Watkins again on Saturday, McVay said.”

It’s the second time that Stafford and the Rams have consulted with Dr. Watkins. Reported by Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News last Tuesday, “After speaking with Stafford, vice president of sports medicine Reggie Scott and Dr. Robert G. Watkins IV – the Rams’ spine surgeon – the team has decided to take a week-to-week approach with Stafford’s recovery.”

Stafford has yet to take snaps during training camp as backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo takes all of the first team reps. The Rams quarterback was originally meant to just miss the first week of training camp before being given a week-to-week designation. McVay confirmed on Saturday that Stafford would miss the team’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys that’s to be held in Oxnard, California on Tuesday.

That’s certainly noteworthy as the Rams value the joint practices more than preaseason games. The Rams tend to rest their starters during the preseason and instead get more controlled, focused reps during joint practices. For Stafford to be missing that is certainly notable.

As it stands, the Rams are one month away from the practice week leading up to Week 1 against the Houston Texans. The next joint practice will take place on August 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. McVay didn’t commit one way or the other to say whether or not Stafford would be available. However, it seems much more likely that Week 1 is the priority.

Stafford’s back soreness is yet another injury to a key player that the Rams have been extremely vague about and downplayed the severity. Two meetings with Dr. Watkins is something that should not be ignored.

Dr. Watkins is the top spinal surgeon in the nation who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, and computer-guided spine surgery. He is the current spine surgeon for the Rams among the other Los Angeles sports teams. Dr. Watkins has a long history of working with high-profile athletes. He was the neck surgeon for Peyton Manning in 2011 and 2013 and performed the back surgeries on tight end Rob Gronkowski in 2013 and 2016. When former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was shut down in 2021, Dr. Watkins was the surgeon who was consulted.

At 37 years old, there’s a chance that this was always the plan with Stafford as he enters his 17th season. After 17 years, there’s a lot of wear and tear on the body, especially for a player that has played through as much as Stafford has. However, even if it is being done with player maintenance in mind, it’s certainly a situation that’s worth monitoring over the next couple of weeks. Rams training camp ends on August 4 before the team begins their normal practice routine in prep for the regular season.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/8/3/24480027/rams-news-matthew-stafford-back-injury