the 53

The Rams have announced their 53 man roster with the attached being the players that have been waived. Which players hat were waived stand out to you the most?
I feel like most fans will be shocked by Jacob Harris. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/wXD0volkOu

— RAMS REPORT🗯 (@RamsNFLReport) August 30, 2022

Rams initial roster set: 10 takeaways from 53-man cutdowns and beyond

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3550929/2022/08/30/rams-53-man-roster-analysis/?source=emp_shared_article

The Rams’ initial 53-man roster is set, but note it’s also likely fluid for the next several days as teams scan the waiver wire and get on the phones regarding any last-minute changes before the season-opener.

The team will also establish its practice squad after waivers clear (notes on top candidates for this below).

For now, here are my 10 top takeaways about a roster that had only a few short-term surprises — and even those moves had long-term clarity — plus insight from general manager Les Snead:

1. Three quarterbacks. This isn’t a surprise to anybody who has been following along here over the past two seasons — whether you agree or disagree with the Rams’ process. The Rams, for now, are keeping Matthew Stafford, Bryce Perkins and John Wolford on the active roster (although it’s unlikely both backups will consistently dress for game day). As always, multiple things can be true about this decision:

• A backup quarterback winning football games in the worst-case scenario of a starter getting hurt is important, yes. But that backup also winning or being competitive in, say, a half-season’s worth of games is a huge outlier. The Rams have illustrated that their preference here is to operate within the mean, not the outlier, in that their larger priority is the wide variety of scout-team looks both quarterbacks give their defense each day of practice. Since 2020, they have run a live scout team. Defensive players will tell you that it has made them better. Because the Rams haven’t had to live in a world of quarterback outliers (Jared Goff and Stafford rarely miss time), their more efficient, and cost-effective, priority is to operate within the mean.

• Anything past a hypothetical two- or three-game absence for a starter of Stafford’s caliber would be a catastrophe for most NFL teams and an outlier for preparations. Let’s flip it: Why would a team keep, and pay at the rate required of the talent, a second starting-caliber quarterback solely for a situation that might never happen, who may not be able to run practices the way the Rams do? The Rams believe that either, or both, backups could buy them enough time in an emergency to at least decide what to do next (if not beyond that).

• The Rams know that there are enough teams with former Sean McVay assistant coaches and a need for a viable backup quarterback, to risk introducing one of their quarterbacks to those waivers.

• The Rams decided that keeping a third quarterback (for any or all reasons listed above) is more valuable than keeping a rotational special teams player, which is where the pool of open roster spots on a top-heavy roster focuses for them during cutdowns.

“We go into the 53 not really having this cookie-cutter number at a position,” Snead said. “It’s really, like, who do we think are the best players? Who do we think … we need to protect from getting claimed? Who do we think we might (be able) to slide through (waivers)?”

2. Two tight ends. In part, this is because the Rams consider TE1 Tyler Higbee and TE2 Brycen Hopkins to be complete tight ends. But further, many of their receivers run what some might consider to be “traditionalist” tight end concepts — Ben Skowronek, Cooper Kupp and even Van Jefferson among them — and so a larger priority became keeping a player such as Lance McCutcheon, who can contribute earlier and in more phases than a possible TE3.

The Rams could bring back Roger Carter Jr. to the practice squad (and I hear they are interested in doing so). Whichever tight ends are on their practice squad would be eligible to bring up for a game, if there’s a multi-week emergency.

3. Surprise cut — receiver? Second-year player Jacob Harris was waived instead of becoming a No. 3 tight end or a No. 7/8 receiver. The Rams very much want Harris back on their practice squad, likely because of his effectiveness on special teams as a possible game day call-up. Harris also needs development and missed almost the entire 2021 season due to injury, which is why the Rams probably felt like they could try sending him through waivers even though he was a fourth-round pick.

Snead indicated that McCutcheon beat out Harris, but added that Harris is a player the Rams would want to elevate and activate on game days to play in all four special teams phases if they can.

4. Surprise cut — outside linebacker? Second-year player Chris Garrett was also waived Tuesday. Garrett struggled with injuries in the preseason but was supposed to take command of a rotational role through this summer — it’s possible he didn’t quite get to where the team wanted him to be. Further, though rookie Daniel Hardy is hurt, he had to make the initial roster should the Rams want to issue a short-term injury designation in which he could return later in the season.

Two possibilities can be true here: If the Rams want Garrett back on their practice squad, they believed he’d have an easier time getting through waivers than undrafted rookie Keir Thomas, who made the initial roster. It could also be that Thomas simply beat out Garrett. Whether or not the Rams eventually bring Garrett back to the practice squad will shed some light on this.

5. Bobby Evans over AJ Arcuri. Evans, a veteran offensive lineman who played deep into the preseason (rare on a McVay-led team), may be able to credit his experience in beating out Arcuri, a rookie who the Rams will likely try to bring back on the practice squad and continue to develop. As the preseason continued, it seemed that the two were competing for the No. 8 spot on the offensive line. Any player in this role has to be able to play multiple positions, which Evans can, but also which Arcuri is still learning how to do.

6. Lance McCutcheon’s moment. It wasn’t just during his league-leading preseason receiving yards campaign that Rams brass felt undrafted free agent receiver McCutcheon would have a real chance to stick. Their scouts already loved him, but McCutcheon caught the eye of coaches and No. 1 receiver Cooper Kupp in spring OTAs. Then, McCutcheon was thrown into some first-team installations and jog-through snaps in absence of other players — and started making plays. His current hold on a roster spot comes as little surprise to teammates.

7. Fought for their spot. It was an impressive spring and summer for three under-the-radar players in particular: Guard Coleman Shelton, a former undrafted free agent who is now a starter, safety Terrell Burgess and receiver/return specialist Brandon Powell.

Regardless of rookie guard Logan Bruss’ unfortunate injury, Shelton wrestled ahold of the position vacancy early in the spring and showed no signs of letting it go. Meanwhile Burgess, who didn’t get a lot of time last season after recovering from a serious ankle injury, took important notes from special teams coaches Joe DeCamillis and Jeremy Springer to solidify his own spot in a crowded defensive backs room.

“It’s also neat to see players like Terrell Burgess, who last year was inactive some because of not necessarily being a stalwart on (special) teams, but applied some lessons from 2021 and into this year,” said Snead, “and now is someone that Joe DeCamillis definitely wants on (special) teams. Every year that dynamic is very important.”

8. Enter the young DBs. Three of the four rookie defensive backs the Rams drafted this spring made the initial roster: cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, and safety Russ Yeast. As I reported Sunday, the only reason safety Quentin Lake didn’t make it is because he has been moved to reserve/PUP after missing the entire spring and summer (knee). McVay said that both Yeast and Lake will be long-term contributors for the Rams, which makes a lot of sense with two of their three starters in a contract year.

9. Strong UDFA class. Teams won’t (and shouldn’t) pat themselves on the back for a strong UDFA class before real football is played, but cracking this roster as a rookie, let alone an undrafted free agent, is difficult. Three undrafted free agents — McCutcheon, Thomas and promising inside linebacker Jake Hummel all made the initial roster.

Snead said that in April, the scouting staff “pods” together players who they feel would be “priority” UDFAs, which sometimes include players they end up drafting if outside interest increases or they fall the right way on the board in the seventh round. This year, Arcuri and Yeast started in the “pod” but were ultimately drafted. Others, such as the three who did make the roster, were either in the priority “pod” or moved into it as the board changed.

“Jake, Mr. Hummel, is probably someone who is gonna be on our 48-man roster,” said Snead, citing Hummel’s skill on special teams. “Lance is probably someone who will not be, but definitely made our 53 … Keir Thomas … is a player who has a chance to be active on game day. All three of those players carved out a role.”

10. Top practice squad candidates (or at least, in my estimation) include Harris (if he doesn’t get claimed), Carter, outside linebacker Benton Whitley, cornerbacks Dan Isom and Duron Lowe, Arcuri and offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, defensive back Grant Haley, receiver Austin Trammell, defensive lineman Elijah Garcia, linebacker Jake Gervase and of course offensive lineman Max Pircher, who would not take up a practice squad roster spot as a member of the NFL’s International Pathways program. There are 16 practice squad spots available and Pircher’s exempt status makes 17.

Analysis: Rams’ initial 53-man roster for 2022

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/analysis-rams-initial-53-man-roster-for-2022

The Rams reduced their roster to the 53-man limit on Tuesday. Here’s a position-by-position look at Los Angeles’ first 53-man roster of the 2022 season, presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.

Italicized names = rookies

QUARTERBACKS (3): Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins

Just like last season, the Rams elect to keep three quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster. Perkins once again made a strong case for the 53 with his preseason play. With both Wolford and Perkins playing in the preseason, Los Angeles’ backup signal-callers have more live game experience.

RUNNING BACKS (4): Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., Kyren Williams, Jake Funk

Los Angeles will have four running backs on its 53-man roster after carrying three at first in 2022. Williams is intriguing after head coach Sean McVay last week said that he would be a “big part” of what they’re going to do this season.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson II, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Powell, Lance McCutcheon

Led by Kupp and Robinson, the Rams carry seven receivers on their initial 53-man roster. Atwell and Skowronek made positive progress during training camp and the preseason, and Powell brings speed. Cementing what seemed like a formality by the end of the preseason finale, fan favorite McCutcheon makes the roster. Jacob Harris was waived.

TIGHT ENDS (2): Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins

Higbee is a mainstay as the Rams’ No. 1 tight end, but Hopkins slides into the No. 2 role after a strong preseason. One notable difference here is that the Rams are keeping two fewer players at this spot than they did on last year’s initial 53-man roster.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Joe Noteboom, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, Rob Havenstein, Alaric Jackson, Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum Jr.,  A.J. Arcuri

Lots of familiar faces among this group, with Noteboom taking over as the Rams’ starting left tackle and Shelton as the starting right guard. Arcuri’s inclusion doesn’t come as too much of a surprise after showing his positional versatility in the preseason, and McVay also saying that he was a real consideration to make the 53 as the eighth or ninth offensive lineman.

Note: Rookie Logan Bruss was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a season-ending torn ACL and MCL against the Texans in the second week of the preseason.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6): A’Shawn Robinson, Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Marquise Copeland, Michael Hoecht, Jonah Wiliams

The trio of Donald, Robinson and Gaines returns, each of whom played pivotal roles in the team’s Super Bowl-winning playoff run last season. Robinson, who was an important piece to Los Angeles’ stout run defense in the postseason, will be especially important to that phase again this year with Sebastian Joseph-Day departing in free agency. Hoecht was mentioned by Gaines as a player who could

Brown was placed on the Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner list for his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, Daniel Hardy, Keir Thomas

Although Von Miller and Ogbo Okoronkwo departed this offseason, there’s still a decent amount of continuity among the edge defenders between Floyd, Hollins and Lewis. Thomas make a strong case to make the 53 with his performance in the preseason finale against the Bengals, likewise with Hardy in training camp and the preseason prior to his ankle injury.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Bobby Wagner, Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel

With Wagner in the fold, Jones is poised to potentially take a big step forward in his second season after a strong rookie year. Rozeboom is also on the initial 53 after starting last season on the Rams’ practice squad. Hummel

Note: Travin Howard was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. A player who begins the season on NFI can be activated after the team has played its first four regular season games, according to NFL.com.

CORNERBACKS (6): Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr., Troy Hill, Robert Rochell, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick

The cornerback position felt a lot like safety on last year’s 53-man roster given the depth of the position. The difference this year, though, is the game experience between Ramsey, Long, Hill (who is back for his second stint with the Rams) and Rochell. Durant and Kendrick’s fearless play in training camp and the preseason made a strong first impression.

SAFETIES (5): Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Russ Yeast

Three players with starting experience in Rapp, Scott and Fuller highlight this group. Yeast received praise for his performance on the back end of the Rams’ defense in training camp and also played well in the preseason.

Rookie Quentin Lake was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. A player placed on this list must miss at least the team’s first four games, according to NFL.com.

SPECIALISTS (3): Matt Gay (kicker), Riley Dixon (punter), Matthew Orzech (long snapper)

Gay begins his second full season with the Rams as their starting kicker, while Dixon is in his first as longtime punter Johnny Hekker’s replacement after Hekker was released this spring. Orzech is in his second full season as the Rams’ long snapper.

Transactions
To get to 53, the Rams made the following moves:

Waived/No Recall

WR Landen Akers
T Chandler Brewer
DE Earnest Brown IV
TE Roger Carter
DB T.J. Carter
DE T.J. Carter
DT Elijah Garcia
LB Chris Garrett
DB Jake Gervase
DB Grant Haley
TE Jacob Harris
LB Anthony Hines
DB Daniel Isom
G Jeremiah Kolone
DB Duron Lowe
TE Jared Pinkney
T Max Pircher
RB Trey Ragas
G Jack Snyder
DE Brayden Thomas
WR Austin Trammell
DE Benton Whitley

Reserve/Injured

G Logan Bruss

Reserve/Non-Football Injury

LB Travin Howard

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

DB Quentin Lake

Reserve/Suspended By Commissioner

NT Bobby Brown III

wv wrote:

zn wrote:

whether you agree or disagree with the Rams’ process. The Rams, for now, are keeping Matthew Stafford,…

Another surprise. w v

Any genuine Rams fan who knows the team well would not be the least bit surprised by that. I mean if Stafford does not get that near-sack on Burrow at the end of the game, do the Rams win?

The Rams made their final roster cuts to reduce their roster to 53 players and a few of them were a bit surprising. https://t.co/6V0ZQGxEWH

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) September 1, 2022

How does the Rams’ initial 53-man roster this year compare to last year’s group? https://t.co/9qiX0cX08J

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) September 4, 2022