cut-downs & new practice squad rules…update, Rams cut 17

JackPMiller wrote:

Are we over or under the cap?

We are simultaneously infinitely over AND infinitely under the cap.

I don’t quite understand it. Math is not my thing.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Just a friendly reminder that players have to clear waivers before they can be brought back to the practice squad, so even if they are a strong *candidate* for the PS, nothing there is official until they are released, clear waivers and are re-signed with that designation.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Johnston had an uphill climb after such a significant knee injury/surgery his senior season at Baylor. A year on a practice squad to get his feet back under him and get those mental reps handled will probably be really good for him, though it doesn’t take away how tough today is

—

Can confirm Johnston has been waived per source. The #Rams definitely will look to keep him on the practice squad. The hope is they don’t lose grip of him like last year’s 7th-round pick Dakota Allen. UDFA Christian Rozeboom has likely made the 53. https://t.co/mQ5ASKSTH5

— DOWNTOWN RAMS [DTR] (@DowntownRams) September 5, 2020

zn wrote:

. After six weeks, a player can begin practicing with their team but cannot be moved to the active roster until after the team has played its first eight games of the season.

So he’s back to play in 8 weeks at the soonest. Which, since the Rams have a bye in week 9, means he’s back in season week 10 (Rams 9th game) against Seattle on Nov. 15th.

Since the Rams play against NFC West teams 5 times in the final 8 weeks–including 3 against Seattle’s and SF’s running games–they might be able to use a fresh set of big guy legs in those games.

….

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
The Rams’ roster is at 52 players. So, yeah, they’re on the hunt.

In fact they have probably already signed someone since they have to be at 53 by 1 pm.

Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
OLB Jachai Polite, a third-round pick by the NY Jets in 2019, has made the Rams roster. He spent last season on the Rams practice squad after the Jets released him.

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
As of now — things can change fast — Rams also kept six receivers, four tight ends(!) and 10 offensive linemen(!!)

And, of course: OLB – Terrell lewis.

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) September 5, 2020

==

Steve Wyche@wyche89
That’s Samuel Sloman….

Position by position, what to make of the Rams’ initial roster

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2045050/2020/09/05/position-by-position-what-to-make-of-the-rams-initial-roster/?source=emp_shared_article

Before you read this column, please be aware: Many roster-related items can change, and quickly, over the next few days!

Please also be aware of the following facts:

• The Rams do not have to release an official injury report until Wednesday, as they enter the first week of the official regular season. While head coach Sean McVay did officially rule out rookie outside linebacker Terrell Lewis ahead of the Sept. 13 season opener against Dallas, he said he’d have further clarity about what is being described as a unique, complicated knee issue by Wednesday. Also by Wednesday, McVay hopes to offer further news about running back Darrell Henderson, who is rehabbing a hamstring injury. Henderson has progressed to route-running in his rehab process, McVay said, and he is not ruled out for the Dallas game.

• The Rams might even have a roster change by the end of Saturday. They are at 52 players, one fewer than the maximum, and as I type this they are preparing to sit at the No. 20 spot on the waiver wire, waiting to see who is around at that point. If they don’t like anybody more than a couple of the guys they released (hint: inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom), they will bring one of their own guys back.

• The Rams officially placed linebacker Travin Howard (knee) on injured reserve on Saturday, and waived outside linebacker Justin Lawler with an injury settlement. Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, who they’d like to get back this season, was designated to the non-football injury list and no longer counts against the roster; as The Athletic reported at the beginning of training camp, Robinson is dealing with a cardiovascular issue that team physicians found during the routine testing process.

OK, let’s get right to it, with analysis, notables and relevant tidbits about the Rams’ first iteration of a 53-man roster:

Quarterbacks (2)
Jared Goff, John Wolford

This has been pretty much a no-brainer all spring and summer, made official on Saturday. But the guy I’m keeping an eye on is undrafted free agent quarterback Bryce Perkins, who really impressed in camp. The Rams would love to sneak him through the waiver wire over the weekend, and perhaps would even go so far as to place him on their “protected” practice squad on Tuesday.

But I have some doubts about Perkins escaping another team’s grasp. The Rams were clever in their release announcements, in that the two guys they like, but who are really at risk on waivers — Perkins and Rozeboom — were not included in the initial wave of 17 cuts on Friday. Instead, the Rams sent Perkins and Rozeboom into the breach right at the buzzer, when the wire is absolutely flooded with names, perhaps hoping the sheer mass of bodies will help them go unnoticed.

Running backs (4)
Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones

Good for Jones, who, as McVay said on Saturday afternoon, earned this spot. The undrafted free agent rookie out of SMU ran really hard in the last week and a half or so of camp, when he got more reps due to Henderson’s injury. Jones even got a shout-out — by name! — from star defensive tackle Aaron Donald near the end of camp. After that, he felt like an obvious addition.

Wide receivers (6)
Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds, Nsimba Webster, Trishton Jackson

I had the Rams pegged at keeping five receivers instead of six; however, I understand taking a little precaution against injury. Plus, McVay does love his receivers. Jackson and Webster both have return ability.

Tight ends (4)
Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt, Brycen Hopkins

The Rams actually got a few calls on Everett about potential trades through the summer, two league sources told me, but were shut down by the Rams. The team will continue to get as much production as it can out of the Higbee-Everett tandem, and I predict more 12 personnel to start this season. They also have Hopkins waiting in the wings as both a red-zone threat and as an option if they move on from Everett (a free agent after this season) or Higbee (whose contract has an out clause in 2021).

Offensive linemen (10)
Andrew Whitworth, Joe Noteboom, Austin Blythe, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, Brian Allen, David Edwards, Bobby Evans, Coleman Shelton, Tremayne Anchrum

Keeping 10 offensive linemen might seem like a lot at first — and on paper what appears to be three centers — but look closer. Several of the depth guys can play multiple positions on the interior, and I would imagine Anchrum, the promising rookie out of Clemson, also is picking up some left tackle reps in case of an emergency. The Rams had a position catastrophe last season due to injuries, so more bodies here (who have more flexibility) might be smart. Plus, without a spring to work together, the Rams can keep the group intact long enough to really get a feel for these guys.

Defensive linemen (6)
Michael Brockers, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Morgan Fox, Eric Banks

This is pretty much who we expected, except you love to see the addition of Banks, the undrafted free agent out of Texas-San Antonio (also a previous stop for current Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson).

This spring, Banks worked at a local feed-and-tack store, according to the San Antonio Express News, as he waited for training camp to start. He’s also one of three undrafted free agents in the 2020 class kept by the Rams (with Jones and Jackson).

Outside linebackers (5)
Leonard Floyd, Samson Ebukam, Terrell Lewis, Obo Okoronkwo, Jachai Polite

I had Polite sneaking onto the 53-man after watching him rep among the top five outside linebackers through camp. Polite is a bit of an enigma after a tumultuous 2019 season, and has been quiet so far with the Rams. I’m looking forward to getting to know him more and learning about his journey.

Inside linebackers (3, so far)
Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, Troy Reeder

I super-duper do not expect the inside linebacker rotation to stay this thin — there is a total of 14 games of starting experience among these three — and if the Rams don’t find someone they like on waivers, they probably will bring back Rozeboom (if he clears).

Meanwhile, as I’ve repeated probably to the annoyance of some who have followed closely, if defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s scheme does indeed draw some roots from that of former boss Vic Fangio, he will use heavier nickel and dime packages, which in turn will alleviate some of the pressure put on the middle of the field. In fact, I asked safety John Johnson on Saturday how much more influence his position specfically will have in “quarterbacking” the defense, and he said he’s ready to relish the opportunity.

Defensive backs (9)
Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Troy Hill, John Johnson, Taylor Rapp, David Long Jr, Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott

No surprises here, although I’m eager for Rams fans to see how these guys are all used in rotation. The two rookies, Burgess and Fuller, especially impressed coaches with how quickly they were able to fill in at various spots in the defensive backfield, especially with Rapp out the first week and a half with an injury. Characteristics I’m expecting from Staley’s defense include safeties being aggressive and commanding, asserting matchups between smaller and larger-bodied nickels, and outside cornerbacks who play physically and contain the flat in run support. Exciting stuff, guys.

Specialists (3)
Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide, Samuel Sloman

As I reported Friday, it wasn’t just Sloman’s status as a draft pick that helped cement his status over competing kickers Austin MacGinnis and Lirim Hajrullahu. Sloman apparently was really impressive in the last week of camp after a slower start, and both his accuracy and leg strength (including on kickoffs) impressed special-teams coach John Bonamego.

It will be a massive first week in the NFL for the rookie kicker. He’s kicking at SoFi Stadiu against the Dallas Cowboys, who now employ former longtime Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein.

What a difference a year makes. Blessed and thankful to be where I am right now. Hard work pays off. Never out of the fight… #ComebackSzn pic.twitter.com/0oWBmJlmUW

— Micah Kiser (@kiser_rollin) September 6, 2020