Roster Still in Flux

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Los Angeles Rams
Rams News & Notes: Roster Still in Flux

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Myles Simmons Rams Insider @MylesASimmons

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PHOTOS: Rams 53-Man Roster

While the Rams made the requisite moves to reduce their active roster to 53 players by yesterday’s deadline, the club still has plenty of work to do before the season officially kicks off a week from Labor Day.

“Yeah, there’s moving parts,” head coach Jeff Fisher said on Sunday. “I can’t stand up in front of them tomorrow and say, ‘Hey, this is the group we’re going to war with,’ because there’s [going to be change]. And you see it across the league, nobody is settled right now.”

Fisher noted there are a few positions in particular where Los Angeles could potentially make a move or two.

“We have numbers that are unusual, that we have not had at a number of positions — receivers, offensive line, secondary,” Fisher said. “Again, it falls under that same category: If you were to assume that this is the group we’re going to San Francisco with, it would be incorrect.”

The Rams currently have seven wide receivers, only three safeties, and 10 offensive linemen, which is why there may still be some changes.

One of the standout roster moves made over the weekend was the termination of Akeem Ayers’ contract. The linebacker out of UCLA started 11 games for the Rams in 2015 and appeared set to start alongside Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron as the strongside LB.

That plan appeared to have change with Ayers’ release on Saturday. But Fisher appeared to leave the door wide open for the linebacker to return.

“All of the decisions that you make are difficult, and some of the decisions that you make are not permanent. That’s all I can say,” Fisher said. “Akeem has played well for us. We’ve enjoyed having him. But, we’re kind of hopeful that this is not the end between us and Akeem — I’ll just say that.”

Other moves might have a bit more staying power. Fisher was complimentary of two players who made the initial squad, wide receiver Nelson Spruce and cornerback Troy Hill. Both are local products, having played their high school football in the Los Angeles area. And while the Rams picked up Hill off waivers at the end of last year, Spruce makes the team as an undrafted free agent.

“Troy has played good defense and Troy has shown us some extraordinary things on special teams. that’s why he’s here,” Fisher said. “We saw a little bit at the end of last year, but he’s taken his stuff from the [practice] field to the game. He’s going to be a big contributor for us.”

“Nelson did a lot of things well, in addition to the preseason game that he played in. It made sense [to keep him],” Fisher added. “He’s healing up, we feel like he has a chance to contribute and make plays.”

Also of note, Fisher said running back Tre Mason will remain on the Did Not Report list, which does not count against the 53-man roster limit.

“We’ve been in communication with the family — not Tre, but with the family,” Fisher said. “The organization’s position, including the league and the players’ association, is to take care of him and help him to get the help that he needs to get through this life crisis that he’s having.”

PICKING UP AT CAL LUTHERAN

After an offseason in transition, the Rams have made their final move to what’s being called their “temporary-permanent” facility in Thousand Oaks. Stationed on Cal Lutheran’s campus, the Rams are getting settled into the place they will call home for the next few years until the organization’s permanent global headquarters is constructed.

“We had a team meeting Friday afternoon after we made the majority of the decisions there at Irvine. Everybody got in a car, I came up here — just really impressed to see how prepared everybody was for us, our IT and everybody. They were all set up,” Fisher said.

While the players had Sunday off, Fisher said some came through just to get a feel for the new facility before Monday’s walk through.

“They all said, ‘Boy, this is a lot better than I thought it was.’ They’re excited about it,” Fisher said. “In a lot of ways, there’s more space than what we had in St. Louis. There’s a newness to it. Guys are excited about the fields. It flows well.”

The Rams are still unpacking — Fisher joked he’s had a little trouble finding his clock — but folks are happy to finally be where they’re going to be.

“Everybody has worked really hard to move in, get settled,” Fisher said. “We’re all in the midst of unpacking boxes, and [then we’ll] get ready for the practice week.”

PRACTICE SQUAD

The Rams have officially signed seven players to their practice squad, all of whom were on the team through the preseason.

“We’re not there — we’re not at 10 yet. We still have a few spots that we have to confirm,” Fisher said, adding that those players may be confirmed by tomorrow afternoon.

Until then, here are the seven practice squad players:

OT Isaiah Battle (Clemson)
LB Brandon Chubb (Wake Forest)
DE Morgan Fox (Colorado State Pueblo)
RB Aaron Green (TCU)
DB Michael Jordan (Missouri Western) 
RB Terrence Magee (LSU)
WR Paul McRoberts (Southeast Missouri State)