news-engine

Analysis Based on factual reporting, although it incorporates the expertise of the author and may offer interpretations and conclusions. Projecting the Rams’ 53-man roster with cutdown day set for Sunday Most of the roster appears solid after the team closed a 3-0 preseason with a 20-18 victory over the Chargers on Thursday night, but potential suspensions could throw a wrench into the team’s plans Chargers defensive lineman Nick Barrett, left, tips a pass by Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson, right, during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams running back Dean Connors eludes Chargers linebacker Nadame Tucker as he runs with the ball during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson, right, slides after a scramble as Chargers linebacker Nadame Tucker chases after him during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, left, fumbles the ball as he tries to hand it off to running back Omarion Hampton during the first half of their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Rams recovered the ball. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams safety Nick Andersen celebrates after recovering a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, not pictured, during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams tight end Mark Redman, right, tries to evade Chargers linebacker Junior Colson as he runs with the ball during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers tight end Johnny Pascuzzi, right, is tackled by Rams cornerback Alex Johnson during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Kimani Vidal, left, gets pulled down to the turf by Rams safety Alex Cook during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston celebrates after his 65-yard touchdown catch during the first half of their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams running back Jordan Waters dives for yardage during the first half of their preseason finale against the Chargers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams running back Dean Connors dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Chargers linebacker Emany Johnson (50) and safety Devin Grant, right, defend during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams running back Dean Connors (33) dives for a touchdown during the second half of their preseason finale against the Chargers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Amar Johnson, right, tries to evade Rams safety Tanner Ingle as he runs with the ball during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Amar Johnson runs with the ball while evading a tackle by Rams safety Tanner Ingle (34) during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Amar Johnson, right, drives for extra yardage as Rams cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean tries to tackle him during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (7) fumbles the ball as Rams linebacker Larrell Murchison, top, chases after it during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams defensive lineman Payton Zdroik (62) and Chargers offensive lineman Alex Harkey (73) pursue a fumble by Chargers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Gregory Desrosiers, right, hurdles his way past Rams cornerback Cam Lampkin during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers running back Gregory Desrosiers, right, carries the ball as Rams cornerback Cam Lampkin defends during the second half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers tight end Evan Svoboda catches a touchdown pass during the second half of their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches his team warm up before their preseason finale against the Rams on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) Rams head coach Sean McVay watches his team warm up before their preseason finale against the Chargers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) 1 of 22 Chargers defensive lineman Nick Barrett, left, tips a pass by Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson, right, during the first half of their preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) INGLEWOOD — During the offseason, the Rams added plenty of talent to a roster that was already considered one of the Super Bowl favorites entering the 2026 season. The biggest question arguably in the NFL and within the Rams remains as Sunday’s 53-man roster deadline creeps closer. Outside of Donald, two projected starters on the Rams could be suspended by the league before the season opener and their availability could impact the roster makeup when all is revealed on Sunday. Here’s a look at the projected 53-man roster after rookie quarterback Ty Simpson led the Rams to a 20-18 victory over the Chargers in the preseason finale for both teams. QUARTERBACK (3) Projected starter: Matthew Stafford. Projected backups: Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson. Coach Sean McVay said earlier this week that both Bennett and Simpson had guaranteed spots on the 53-man roster, meaning the Rams were going to roster three quarterbacks for the season ahead. If Simpson, the Rams’ first-round draft pick, was the surefire backup, maybe Bennett would have been waived – that’s not the case in 2026. McVay didn’t commit to either quarterback after Thursday’s preseason game. RUNNING BACK (3) Projected starter: Kyren Williams. Projected backups: Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers. On Tuesday, McVay said how much he trusted Rivers in a backup position to Williams and Corum should one of them go down with an injury. Whether the Rams would roster four running backs was unclear. Thursday provided some clarity when the Rams traded 2025 fourth-rounder Jarquez Hunter to Miami with the roster deadline looming. WIDE RECEIVER (7) Projected starters: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington. Projected backups: Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels. The Rams traded for Atwell on Thursday – in the trade that sent Hunter to the Dolphins – and welcomed back the speedy wideout. McVay said the trade was not made with a potential suspension for Nacua in mind, adding that Atwell won’t affect the receivers “originally slotted” for the roster. TIGHT END (5) Projected starters: Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson. Projected backups: Davis Allen, Terrance Ferguson, Max Klare. Tight ends have become the bread and butter of the Rams’ offense. It’s not surprising that McVay would want all five – adding Klare, a second-rounder to the fold – as a part of 13-personnel schemes. OFFENSIVE LINE (10) Projected starters: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr. Projected backups: David Quessenberry, Beaux Limmer, Keagen Trost, Dylan McMahon, Justin Dedich. Jackson’s status, similarly to Nacua with a potential suspension looming, is keeping this offensive line group from being certain ahead of the opener. But outside of a hamstring injury to Trost, a rookie, the Rams’ only other availability uncertainty is with Dedich (hand), who missed all of training camp and most of the preseason. DEFENSIVE LINE (5) Projected starters: Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford. Projected backups: Tyler Davis, Tim Keenan III. The league and the Rams are waiting on Donald’s decision. Keenan might be the odd man out if Donald returns, despite him being a 2026 draftee (seventh round). OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4) Projected starters: Myles Garrett, Byron Young. Projected backups: Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson. Look out for a potential switch in this group should McVay deem that he would rather carry undrafted edge rusher Wesley Bailey, who has impressed during training camp and preseason play. At the front of the defense altogether, adding Garrett to this group makes it instantly the strongest in the NFL. INSIDE LINEBACKER (4) Projected starters: Omar Speights, Nate Landman. Projected backups: Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula called Speights a “steady” player during training camp, and it feels like the right word to describe the continuity of having him alongside Landman leading this group. CORNERBACK (5) Projected starters: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson. Projected backups: Emmanuel Forbes, Josh Wallace, Cam Lampkin. Revamping the cornerbacks group entirely, the Rams went out and added a pair of two-time Super Bowl winners in McDuffie and Watson, turning a place of relative weakness last season into a strength. SAFETY (4) Projected starters: Quentin Lake, Kam Curl. Projected backups: Kam Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough. Ask anyone in the Rams’ defensive structure – Kinchens is primed for a breakout season. Lake returns as the captain of the defense and is a leading voice in the locker room and secondary, even working with McDuffie and Watson early in training camp on new communication signals. SPECIALISTS (3) Projected starters: Harrison Mevis (kicker), Ethan Evans (punter), Joe Cardona (long snapper). After special teams issues throughout the 2025 season, the Rams have settled on three players they hope will be reliable options for new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone.