Training camp 2026 … week 1

J.B. Long, D’Marco Farr, and Maurice Jones-Drew reunite to discuss what defensive end Myles Garrett will bring to the Los Angeles Rams’ defense, depth chart decisions, and who to watch at Training Camp.

0:00 Intro
2:10 Rams Revealed Live
3:40 Myles Garrett trade
16:00 Season expectations
16:42 Matthew Stafford
19:24 Quarterback depth chart
28:05 Rookie spotlight
33:28 Wide Receiver depth chart
41:32 Potential extensions

Rams training camp is underway at Loyola Marymount pic.twitter.com/vcu6Cu0C5F

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) July 26, 2026

One observation I made today was Myles Garrett is a physical specimen damn look like he got shoulder pads on 🤣🤣🤣 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 💙💛#Ramily #RamsNation #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/XfjycksYEz

— OGNam213 (@OgNam213) July 27, 2026

10 Observations from Day 1 of 2026 Rams Training Camp

by Stu Jackson & Zach Edwards

LOS ANGELES – The first practice of Rams Training Camp presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union took place Sunday, highlighted by an extended look at fourth-year quarterback Stetson Bennett IV on a scheduled Matthew Stafford day off, Myles Garrett participating in team drills with his new team for the first time, and a playmaking secondary.

Here are 10 things that stood out to Rams senior staff writer Stu Jackson and staff writer Zach Edwards.

Getting right to 11-on-11: The Rams appeared intentional about getting into full team drills early in camp, doing 11-on-11 on Day 1 with lots of competitive situations in those segments between the first-team offense and first-team defense, and second-team offense and second-team defense.

Garrett debuts in team drills: Los Angeles’ new edge rusher was getting acclimated and only did individual drills when he arrived the first week of June, in what ended up being the final week of the Rams’ offseason program, so Sunday’s practice marked Garrett’s first time participating in team drills with his new team. Unsurprisingly, Garrett looked as fast and explosive as advertised. “We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said, “and it definitely lived up to it.”

Bennett leads first team offense: As noted above, today was a scheduled day off for QB1 with it being Day 1 of the Rams’ first four-day practice block (McVay on Saturday said Stafford would be off Days 1 and 3). So Sunday was a big opportunity for Bennett stepping up to lead the first-team offense, with Simpson sliding into the backup role as the leader of the second team offense. “I appreciate his competitiveness in all moments,” offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said of Bennett. “And going back to last year, obviously you get to experience him in training camp, you get to experience him in preseason, and just seeing the way that he went to work, the way that guys would rally around him, he competes. And I think anybody enjoys playing with a quarterback who competes, who’s going to throw it all in there, and that’s the mentality he has. And so that’s only grown, you know, since being here, but that’s something that’s been his calling card since the jump.”

Cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Kam Kinchens team up for play of the day: One of the highlights of practice was Watson deflecting a Bennett deep pass intended for wide receiver Davante Adams, which Kinchens corralled for a diving interception.

Cornerback Cam Lampkin contributes to playmaking secondary: Lampkin made an impressive pass breakup during team drills with a one-armed/one-handed deflection of a Simpson pass intended for tight end Terrance Ferguson.

Tight end Tyler Higbee snags receiving touchdown: During redzone work, Bennett, running with the first-team offense, found Higbee on a crossing route in the endzone for the first touchdown of the afternoon. Higbee is entering Year 11 in the NFL and with the Rams.

Tight end unit making an impact across the board: After using the highest percentage of 13 personnel last season in the NFL, the Rams brought back the entire active roster of Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson. Adding rookie Max Klare in the 2026 NFL Draft could have seemed like overkill at the time, but at Day 1 of camp, the tight end room is already proving that iron sharpens iron and will play out to be a strong competition for the unit.

Running back Blake Corum looks explosive: Although Corum may not have had any highlight reel plays on Day 1 of training camp, he certainly looked explosive coming out of the backfield. Corum, known for his jump cuts and speed at the line of scrimmage, showcased his skillset early on for everyone to see.

Quarterback Ty Simpson constantly asking for feedback from coaching staff: Although Simpson didn’t run with the first-team offense during the 11-on-11 drills, after every time he got taken out, he would walk over to associate coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone for feedback. The eagerness and willingness to learn and receive feedback and criticism is good to see out of the rookie.

Second-team defense finished practice strong: With time winding down on the 11-on-11 period, the second team-offense was placed in the redzone against the second-team defense and had multiple plays from within the 10-yard line. Despite a completion and multiple runs, the second-team defense successfully kept the second-team offense out of the endzone as the clock ran out.

Eight thoughts from Rams training camp

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7474214/2026/07/28/rams-matthew-stafford-training-camp/?unlocked_article_code=1.1FA.1zkQ.o6OkXd5K4Z0q&source=emp_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are two training camp practices into a journey they hope can carry them all the way to a final game at SoFi Stadium in February.

The work starts on the grass fields at Loyola Marymount University. Here are eight thoughts on what we’ve seen through the first two sessions:

1. This was Matthew Stafford’s first time throwing passes in training camp in two years. A year after missing camp to manage a degenerative back issue that threatened the start of the season, it feels like he and the passing game are in a different place. The back issue hasn’t gone anywhere, and he’ll still miss every other practice to manage it. But there’s no longer the threat, the wonder or the fear.

That was on display Monday, when Stafford threw at will to Davante Adams on crossers and deep dig routes that showcased great timing and spatial awareness, and when he let it rip downfield to Puka Nacua. It took them just a couple snaps to create the highlight of the practice, with Nacua going deep down the left sideline on a fade route and Stafford lofting it for a smooth catch-and-run touchdown that got the crowd roaring.

Nacua came back shortly after that on a slant route across the middle. Stafford had to adjust the ball to fit it into a tight window, and Nacua reached up one hand to reel it in without breaking stride before taking it to the house.

Adams isn’t new anymore, Stafford can play and Nacua is simply Nacua. It’s arguably the highest-ceiling foundation of any unit in the NFL, and the reason the Rams were willing to get as aggressive as they’ve been on defense to maximize this group.

2. If Nacua has been the flashiest through two practices, the most under-the-radar has been the Rams’ newest receiver.

CJ Daniels turned in a terrific practice on Monday, working primarily with Stetson Bennett and the second-team offense. The sixth-round rookie out of Miami was Bennett’s go-to option and while it’s early, he’s starting to show glimpses of why the Rams traded up for him. He’s strong, tough, competitive and confident as both a run blocker and a receiver in traffic. The confidence with which he attacks the ball at the catch point is something Sean McVay has long looked for in a receiver.

But Daniels is not a burner, making how he’ll look in more difficult matchups an open question. But he’ll be insulated, with Nacua and Adams drawing top outside cornerbacks, and Daniels could find matchups where his 6-foot-2 size is enough of an advantage to mitigate the lack of speed.

Looking across the Rams’ skill positions, they don’t have a true burner with Tutu Atwell gone. In fact, the only player who could truly run away from defenders is running back Blake Corum. And yet that’s still the model the Rams carried to the No. 1 scoring offense last season.

3. The offense does have one new and important element and that’s coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who got a promotion from passing game coordinator when Mike LaFleur left to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. It could be a short stint for Scheelhaase as one of the hot head-coaching candidates entering next year’s cycle.

Scheelhaase is walking into a great infrastructure, complete with McVay’s system and oversight, balance in the offense, and versatility in the personnel. He has an MVP quarterback and two star receivers.

But perhaps what helps a 35-year-old first-time coordinator most is essentially having two coaches on the field in Stafford and Adams. The Stafford piece goes without explanation, but Adams may be equally as important because, unlike Stafford, he’s not on a pitch count or maintenance schedule. He’s the consistent rock right now.

“He’s a guy that, second to none, cares about his craft and what it looks like to be the best receiver he possibly can be,” Scheelhaase said of Adams. “And you just see over the course of years why he’s been successful. Him coming out here on the first day of a training camp in 10-plus seasons in the league, he’s got the same mentality. He’s trying to figure out small ways to get better, things he can do with his releases, things he can do at the top of his breaks. That’s the type of guy you love being around as a coach.”

4. That helps explain why the Rams did not pull the trigger on trading Adams for A.J. Brown this offseason. The idea was tantalizing, as Brown is the better player at this stage of their respective careers and could offer a cost-controlled No. 1 receiver in the event that the Rams don’t extend Nacua. But as they constantly preach, names on paper don’t win football games. It would have been messing with something that is far from broken — and the biggest effect might be in the steady, even-keeled way Adams has taken to a veteran No. 2 role.

His story will be a fascinating one to document, as Adams can feel the end closing in, but it’s the most unresolved of anyone’s. Adams is 0-5 in conference championship games. While every player hungers to hoist a Lombardi Trophy, Adams has a little more on the line with his attempt to win one. If he does and is a major piece, that could be his final argument for the Hall of Fame.

“I’ve given it some thought,” Adams said on retirement. “It wasn’t until the past couple of years where, for different reasons, that you start to think about when the end is going to come. Right now, I’m just enjoying it. I can’t tell you if it’s going to be after this year or after next year. I truly don’t know.”

5. Nacua did have one fade route he couldn’t win because Trent McDuffie was in good position. The two-time All-Pro cornerback matched him stride-for-stride and beat him to a Stafford deep pass to knock it away.

McDuffie will be at his best moving across a secondary trying to live in dime personnel as often as possible. He’s most effective in the slot due to his mix of toughness, tackling, communication and instincts. But reps like that against the NFL’s reigning leader in receptions showcase why he’s such a critical addition. The Rams didn’t have anyone who could reliably do it from an outside cornerback spot last season, freezing their creativity in the playoffs.

6. The most impressive play in Sunday’s practice Kam Kinchens’ diving interception along the sideline off a tipped pass from Cam Lampkin. The ability to see the ball off the ricochet, track it into his arms while falling and stay inbounds shows why Kinchens is one of the Rams’ three biggest breakout candidates.

Last season, Kinchens was left trying to play eraser at free safety behind the mistakes in run defense and coverage of the outside cornerbacks. That cut into his playing time, with the Rams leaning more on veterans like Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, which also spoiled a bit of that duo’s versatility and playmaking. Kinchens can be impactful in making plays on the ball, as his four interceptions, forced fumble, fumble recovery and defensive touchdown as a rookie in 2024 proved.

7. Stafford’s maintenance schedule is going to serve two purposes: keeping him fresh and ready for Week 1 in Melbourne against the San Francisco 49ers, and opening up reps for one of the Rams’ only position battles in camp — backup quarterback.

With Jimmy Garoppolo gone, that’s fallen on Bennett and No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson. Bennett, who is getting the first crack, has the lead with the playbook and scheme after spending the past three seasons here. He’s demonstrated a good command of the offense, but between offseason practices and the two training camp sessions, he’s also fallen victim to a couple of greedy mistakes.

Simpson also showed solid command in his limited reps. He isn’t going downfield much, but the Rams are working on small steps with him, and he’s displaying some solid accuracy and decision-making.

There is risk with Stafford’s back, and the expectations are so high and the schedule so challenging that the Rams can’t afford to take games off if their MVP does miss time.

Should Simpson be unable to rise to that level, it isn’t an indictment on him long term. He was a developmental pick. But it could set up a situation where Garoppolo is seen as an emergency option. The Rams viewed him as a starting-caliber quarterback these past two years, and though he doesn’t appear interested in going through a full training camp and backup routine, he did tell NFL Network he’s open to playing again in the right situation.

8. It was interesting to ask Byron Young about his offseason and hear most about managing his knee injury. It’s the same knee he hurt in the playoffs last season, which led him to wear an ice pack and sit out most of the later practices, and he just didn’t look like his normal speedy self in the NFC Championship Game. That, along with a lack of finishing from the rest of the pass rush, exposed the leak in the secondary and set up what this offseason was ultimately about for the Rams — finding weapons like McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and a true pass-rush closer in two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Young is healthy again, and he could be primed for a big season in a contract year. The ends opposite Garrett in Cleveland got to feast on one-on-one opportunities, which is what Jared Verse set Young up with last year for his 12-sack breakout. But if Aaron Donald returns — still an if, but a real one — Young could force opponents to plan for a third pass rusher.

That’s where the versatility of Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, plus a step from Josaiah Stewart, would help. Young played 76 percent of the snaps for a second straight season last year, but dialing that back just a bit could pay dividends for the Rams’ Super Bowl push — and for his market value as a free agent at such a coveted position.

‘Freddy F—ing Kruger is back,’ Matthew Stafford puts on a show

Vincent Bonsignore

https://nypost.com/2026/07/28/sports/rams-matthew-stafford-puts-on-a-show-freddy-f-ing-kruger-is-back/

With the pocket collapsing and a defensive tackle bearing down, Matthew Stafford didn’t flinch. He slid left, bought a sliver of space, and unleashed a 50-yard strike to Puka Nacua for a big gain during the Rams training camp practice on Monday.

As the reigning NFL MVP jogged to the sideline, an assistant coach greeted him with two emphatic hand slaps and a yell: “Freddy F— Kruger is back!”

Stafford just smiled and nodded.

“It was fun to be back out here today,” Stafford said after making his camp debut.

And just like that, the rest of the NFL felt it.

If this is what Stafford looks like on his first day of camp, what’s it going to look like in December and January?

Honestly, the day could’ve ended right there, and it would’ve qualified as a win. Stafford, Nacua and the Rams offense looked far closer to midseason form than a group still installing a Sean McVay playbook that probably grew by a hundred plays since last year.

“You give that guy too much time in the offseason, there’s going to be some tweaks and some fun stuff to come back to,” Stafford said, laughing.

Turns out, it was only the opening act.

In front of a packed crowd at Loyola Marymount University, the Rams put on a star-studded show that had fans buzzing from start to finish.

It all flowed through Stafford, who carved up the field with an efficiency and rhythm that felt more October than late July.

And while his 50-yard connection with Nacua turned heads, it wasn’t even his best moment. That belonged to Nacua’s spectacular one-handed snag on a crossing route that he turned into a long touchdown.

Not to be outdone, Davante Adams added his own highlight-reel moments, hauling in multiple catches and rounding out a receiver duo that already looks in sync with its quarterback.

“I’m surrounded by great players,” Stafford said in one of the understatements of the early season.

Lost in the offensive fireworks, the defense had its say, too.

A few snaps after Nacua’s one-handed grab, new Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie ran stride-for-stride with him on a post and broke up a would-be completion from Stafford.

Later, in the red zone, Myles Garrett blew through a double team for what would’ve been a sack.

The competitor in Stafford wants to win every rep, no exceptions. But the football player in him understands the give-and-take, because soon enough, it won’t be teammates pushing back. It’ll be opponents trying to survive a Rams defense that got a whole lot nastier this offseason.

“It would be concerning if we were out there just launching it over our defense,” Stafford said. “It’s so competitive out there and that’s so fun, right?”

And it was a reminder: this roster is loaded on both sides of the ball, and the possibilities are obvious.

Which makes McVay’s biggest challenge something most coaches don’t have: managing expectations, not masking flaws.

On a day like Monday, with stars flashing everywhere, it was easy to fast-forward to the fall.

McVay knows that.

“I think what’s great is people care about this game,” he said. “But I respectfully say that your guys’ opinions don’t mean S— to us.”

He smiled, but the message landed.

“I think you acknowledge it, but you also talk about how that doesn’t do anything,” McVay said. “In all seriousness, we’ve got to be inside-out. There’s going to be adversity that inevitably we hit. How we handle that will be key.”

McVay is right.

In a long season, it’s a given that unforeseen bumps in the road will rear their ugly head.

But on a spectacular late July afternoon in Los Angeles on Monday, and Freddy Kruger throwing daggers and a loaded Rams team putting on a show, you had to squint pretty hard through the sunshine to see any semblance of trouble.

Stetson Bennett to CJ Daniels!! #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/2IM05KC2Oi

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 29, 2026

10 Observations from Day 4 of 2026 Rams Training Camp: Practice absence updates; working in situational football; wide receiver core shining

by Stu Jackson & Zach Edwards

https://www.therams.com/news/10-oberservations-day-4-rams-training-camp-alaric-jackson-justin-dedich-puka-nacua-matthew-stafford-nate-landman

LOS ANGELES – The Rams held their fourth and final practice of the first block of training camp on Wednesday. After practice, head coach Sean McVay gave updates on a couple players not participating on Day 4. Wide receivers Puka Nacua and CJ Daniels continued to impress and Jordan Whittington also displayed a solid showing as quarterback Matthew Stafford led the first-team offense and quarterback Stetson Bennett IV continued to lead most of the second-team offense reps. While Stafford remained sharp as he was on Monday, the defense still had some noteworthy moments led the outside linebackers, inside linebacker Nate Landman and cornerback Jaylen Watson.

Senior staff writer Stu Jackson spent the afternoon watching the defense, while staff writer Zach Edwards watched the offense. Here are 10 things that stood out:

Updates on offensive linemen Alaric Jackson and Justin Dedich not participating in practice on Wednesday: Following practice, McVay provided an update on Jackson and Dedich not practicing. “It was nothing to do with fireworks or anything like that with his hand,” McVay said about Dedich. “We’re expecting him to be back in a little bit of time, but it wasn’t anything like that, it was a true accident where something fell on his hand, and so it’s kind of a blunt trauma injury.” As for Jackson, he was “just taking his medicine for some of the stuff with blood clots, so just managing that like what we’ve always been able to do, and this was just part of kind of just how the block situated,” McVay said. “He’s in good shape. It was exclusively just managing, you know, the medicine for the situation he’s dealt with.”

Wide receivers Puka Nacua and CJ Daniels continue to impress, Jordan Whittington nice series as well: After a strong practice on Day 2, Nacua and Daniels both continued to shine with their respective offenses on Day 4. Although Nacua didn’t have the same caliber highlight plays, quarterback Matthew Stafford found him all over the field. Whittington also made a three-play series of catches along the left sideline, the final was a leaping grab over a defender that brought applause from the training camp crowd.

Second-team offensive quarterback reps still led by Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson getting some: Through two practices with Stafford leading the first-team offense, Bennett has taken the majority of the snaps with the second-team, and Simpson has had his fair share as well. “I’ve been really pleased with Stetson Bennett through this first block,” McVay said. “He’s playing the position at a high level. Ty hasn’t gotten quite as many reps, but he’s really improved a lot from the spring until now.”

Two running backs capitalize on drives with receiving touchdowns: It was Déjà vu. Running back Kyren Williams scored on a reception across the middle with the first-team offense. On the ensuing drive with the second-team offense, running back Ronnie Rivers scored in a near identical way. Early on, the running back room has shown their ability to get involved in the pass game, and these two touchdowns were emblematic of that.

Offense in the early phase of implementing situational football: Wednesday was the first practice the Rams implemented some two-minute drill and other situations. It’s something McVay is looking to implement more as training camp moves along. “Today was the first day that we added two-minute,” McVay said. “It’s hard to call sacks, things like that. But I think the overall operation has been pretty good. … We try to be able to just incrementally introduce those types of things so that we, as coaches and players, can think alike in these situations.”

Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart’s speed off the edge stands out: Both outside linebackers were already known for being fast, so while it’s not a new revelation, it is worth nothing because of how they will be able to use that to their advantage when Myles Garrett draws attention and creates 1-on-1 matchups for the rest of the defensive front.

Nate Landman’s signature turnover creator makes an appearance: The inside linebacker punched the football out of Nacua’s grasp as he caught it and turned upfield to cause the incompletion.

A near-interception for cornerback Jaylen Watson: Defending Davante Adams, Watson almost came down with an impressive pick near the sideline, but the closest official ruled it incomplete. (Presumably he had only one feet inbounds instead of two, but was hard to tell from my vantage point.)

Sometimes there’s nothing more you can do: Landman leapt and reached his right arm high to try to deflect a Stafford pass, but Stafford placed the ball just high enough to be inches above Landman’s fingertips to fit into the window for a completion to Nacua.

Defensive end Desjuan Johnson applying pressure: Johnson also deserves a mention for the pressure he generated off the edge on one play that caused a Bennett incompletion. This is a deep and experienced defensive front, and that moment from Johnson reinforces it.