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znModerator6 takeaways from Rams’ joint practice with Saints
Cameron DaSilva
The Los Angeles Rams are doing their best to get ready for the start of the season despite being without Matthew Stafford for the last several weeks. They continued their prep on Thursday with a joint practice against the New Orleans Saints, their second such practice of the summer; the first was with the Dallas Cowboys.
The defense continues to be a major bright spot leading up to the season and though the offense is loaded with playmakers, it isn’t going to operate as well as it would with Stafford under center.
Overall, it appeared to be a good day for both teams, with some up-and-down performances from each. Here’s what we learned about the Rams on Thursday.
Offense did not look sharp
Sean McVay admitted after practice that the offense was “up and down,” with some sloppy mistakes throughout the practice. Puka Nacua had a drop in the flat, Stetson Bennett and Jimmy Garoppolo each threw interceptions and there simply didn’t appear to be many big plays early in practice.
Things got moving in the right direction during the two-minute session but prior to that, the Rams seemed to have trouble moving the ball through the air.
Defensive front was dominant (again)
Both Saints and Rams reporters raved about Los Angeles’ defensive front, which has been outstanding since the start of camp. It was great against the Cowboys and it was a force once again on Thursday.
Jared Verse and Byron Young did a good job generating pressure off the edge, while well-timed blitzes by the inside linebackers led to sacks, too. Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News specifically pointed out Tyler Davis as a player who “just keeps making plays.”
David Quessenberry was the starting left tackle
Interestingly, Quessenberry was the first-team left tackle in practice against the Saints, a job that D.J. Humphries had been holding down. There was no report of Humphries being out of practice but it’s possible he was either getting a vet rest day or is banged up because he wasn’t working with the second-team offense, either.
Regardless of the reason for Humphries’ absence, Quessenberry might’ve moved ahead of Warren McClendon Jr. in that competition to be the swing tackle/fourth tackle, depending on Alaric Jackson’s health.
Jackson was not on the field at all during team drills, for what it’s worth.
Nate Landman keeps making plays
Landman has been a stud for the Rams on defense in his first camp with the team, continuing to make plays on Thursday. He forced a fumble on Alvin Kamara, punching the ball out to create a turnover during team drills.
He’s locked down a starting spot in the middle and will likely be the signal caller on defense, too.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. gets run with first-team defense
The Rams were rotating their cornerbacks fairly often throughout practice, giving Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant, Darious Williams and Forbes all opportunities with the starting defense. Forbes seemed to be on the field with the starters often early in practice, a good sign as he returns from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks.
Forbes is inching closer to being a lock for the 53-man roster as a key contributor in the secondary.
Rushing attack is trending up
The Rams should have a lot of success on the ground this season with their three-headed monster of Kyren Williams, Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter. Williams and Corum both had some good runs during practice, as seen on the Saints’ livestream, but Hunter really flashes in this practice.
The rookie broke off a long run up the middle where he cut back to his right and housed it for a touchdown, showing off his breakaway speed. He’s going to be difficult to keep off the field this season.
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay said QB Matthew Stafford will conduct another workout Saturday similar to last weekend.znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
Initial takeaways from joint practice with Saints:– Offense wasn’t as crisp as it was against the Cowboys early on, but finished strong especially in 2-min situational work
– Defensive front was getting after it. Overall, Omar Speights and Kam Kinchens especially popped
znModeratorAdam Grosbard@AdamGrosbard
Whole Rams pass rush stood out today in joint practice vs Saints but man Tyler Davis just keeps making plays this camp. That four-man tackle rotation with Turner, Fiske and Ford is gonna be nastyBiggest offensive takeaway today was what happens when Jarquez Hunter hits the second or third level. Had three runs I saw today where he saw open grass and was just gone.
znModeratorPeter Schrager of ESPN said on the “Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday that if it were up to Stafford, he would probably be practicing right now. It’s the Rams who are being extra careful with their star quarterback, ensuring he doesn’t make his back worse before the regular season starts.
“There was an expectation that he was going to play Monday. Obviously, he doesn’t,” Schrager said. “The thing I’m hearing is this: They’re being ultra, ultra, ultra cautious and that Matthew, if it was up to him, would probably be out there. But they are not risking anything. He’s had some pain, they’re just going to let him sit until he feels he’s fully ready, until they feel he’s fully ready.”
znModeratorNate Valcarcel always hustles, reminds me a little of Adam Archuleta but not the same body type.
They say he's a ballhawk type .. that was not on display Sat. But his run support sure was.
He played both left and right safety in the game pic.twitter.com/WpggpEfXHQ
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) August 12, 2025
znModeratorJim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
who will 5th CB and 5th safety be? — assuming Rams keep 10 DBsSafeties
Kamren Curl
Kamren Kinchens
Quentin Lake
Jaylen McColloughCornerbacks
Darious Williams
Cobie Durant
Akello Witherspoon
Emmanuel Forbesthose 8 seem to be set
znModeratorHow concerning is history of QBs with Matthew Stafford’s back injury?
What does history say about Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s back injury?Blaine Grisak
The Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford have been one of the biggest stories of training camp and the preseason because of the quarterback’s back injury. Stafford is 37 years old and entering his 17th season in the NFL. He just missed training camp and while he was supposed to start practicing this week, he has yet to take the field. Back injuries, especially for an NFL quarterback is nothing to scoff at. While there are a lot of unknowns, it may not be a bad idea to look at other quarterbacks and how they’ve performed off of similar injuries.
Philip Rivers
When you think of gritty quarterbacks in NFL history, Matthew Stafford is one of the first that come to mind. Another one that would come up shortly after is Philip Rivers. Back in 2014, Rivers dealt with a bulging disc, a similar issue to what Stafford is facing now. Said reports at the time,
“Team sources tell ESPN that Rivers is playing with a bulging disc in his lower back that doctors fear is on the brink of being herniated. The disc caused Rivers to miss practice for the first time since 2007 even though the injury began to bother him some three weeks ago. Rivers has taken epidural injections to reduce swelling, according to sources. He hopes to avoid offseason surgery, but it is an option, according to sources.”
Like Stafford, Rivers was also on the plus side of 30 at 33 years of age. Still, Stafford is dealing with this issue at 37. In order to continue playing, Rivers had to take multiple epidural injections to deal with the pain. While the Rams denied that surgery has been discussed for Stafford up to this point, it was something that was discussed with Rivers, but was ultimately avoided.
The main point here is that Rivers was one of the toughest quarterbacks in the NFL and the bulging disc in his back was severe enough to the point that he considered shutting down his season. It’s also worth noting how the bulging disc affected Rivers’ play down the stretch.
From Weeks 1-13, Rivers was arguably a MVP candidate with the Chargers sitting at 8-4 and having thrown 25 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. Rivers was fifth in EPA per dropback and third in success rate. That changed dramatically over the final four games. From Weeks 14-17, Rivers ranked 27th in EPA per play and 24th in success rate. Rivers threw six touchdowns to eight interceptions.
This was an injury that Rivers was managing over the final stretch of the season. For a quarterback as tough as Rivers, it caused him to miss practice and consider shutting down his season. This might be the best case scenario for Stafford.
Tony Romo
Before Philip Rivers, there was Tony Romo.
Back in December of 2013, Romo was ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury. It was later reported that Romo had been diagnosed with a herniated disc and surgery was necessary. As of now, Stafford just has an aggravated disc and not a herniated disc which is a big difference. However, it does give an idea of what this type of injury can develop into.
Heading into the final week of the season in a winner-take-all game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys quarterback injured his back in a game against Washington the week before and had hoped to play in the finale. ESPN reported at the time,
Sometime after the Cowboys returned to Dallas following their victory at Washington on Sunday, quarterback Tony Romo received an epidural injection to relieve pain and reduce inflammation related to the herniated disc in his lower back, according to sources…But sources close to the quarterback consider that a long shot and remain skeptical he can safely play and function as an NFL quarterback, especially in such a short time…At this time, Romo has been advised that he likely will need surgery eventually.
Romo, who was 33 at the time, ended up being placed on injured reserve and having surgery before the season finale and the Cowboys lost, 24-22. It’s worth noting that Romo had undergone surgery to remove a cyst in the summer. After the game against Washington, Romo said, “I tweaked it in the game. For whatever reason, just the twist or whatever it was definitely just made it not feel comfortable.”
This would be the worst case scenario for Stafford depending on how the aggravated disc progresses. It’s not a good sign that Stafford hasn’t practiced since throwing 60 passes in a private workout over the weekend.
Matt Hasselbeck
Modern medicine has certainly progressed since 2008, but Hasselbeck’s situation may be the most similar to Stafford’s. While Stafford is certainly more talented than Hasselbeck, Hasselbeck’s injury is the only one on this list that started before the regular season.
As the Seattle Times reported,
“The back problem is affecting a nerve in Hasselbeck’s lower back, coach Mike Holmgren said, and is also creating a weakness in Hasselbeck’s leg that brought on the knee injury. Hasselbeck left for Los Angeles to see a medical specialist…Hasselbeck twisted his back awkwardly while avoiding a hit and throwing a touchdown pass in the preseason opener on Aug. 8 at Minnesota, and missed the entire preseason while he dealt with back spasms. His bulging disc was diagnosed and treated with injections.”
The specialist that Hasselbeck saw was Dr. Robert Watkins who is the same specialist that Stafford has met with at least twice this summer. Like Stafford and the other quarterbacks on this list, Hasselbeck also received an epidural injection to help manage the pain.
Hasselbeck was coming off of a Pro Bowl season in 2008 that was completely derailed by the bulging disc in his back. While he played the first four games of the season, he missed the next five. Hasselbeck did play the following three games before missing the final four weeks.
After ranking eighth in EPA per play in 2007, Hasselbeck ranked just 26th during the first four weeks in 2008 with two touchdowns to four interceptions. That didn’t improve when the Seahawks quarterback returned as he ranked 24th in EPA per play in Weeks 11-13. Had Hasselbeck played enough in 2008, he would have been the NFL’s lowest-rated passer. After the season, Hasselbeck voiced to ESPN that he wished he would have just been shut down.
“Doctors told him in October that if nothing more happened to his back he could avoid surgery. Hasselbeck says now he should have just been shut down for the end of an already lost season that ended with a 4-12 record…‘I know last year was really hard and frustrating,’ Hasselbeck said. ‘And, personally, on how it was handled — every week wondering — I think that made it harder. Instead of just knowing, knowing the truth.’”
What does this mean for Matthew Stafford?
There are a few differences with these situations and the one that Stafford is currently managing. Both Rivers’ and Romo’s injuries occurred during the season. In Rivers’ case, he received an in-season epidural and kept playing. Even in Hasselbeck’s case, while his injury occurred the first week of the preseason and he was able to rest leading up to Week 1, it still took place close to the beginning of the regular season. Stafford’s injury was first reported before training camp.
With that being said, the Rams can remain confident that Stafford would play this week if there were a game with their primary goal being Week 1. However, it is fair to be concerned about anything that may take place after that. What happens after the first big hit? Stafford just threw 60 balls in a private workout and has apparently reacted negatively to that workout. What happens if Stafford has to throw 40 passes in a game?
This isn’t meant to be ‘doom and gloom’, but at the same time, it would be naive to think that this injury isn’t going to affect Stafford even when he finally gets on the field. Again, that has potentially already happened after Stafford’s workout given that he hasn’t felt good enough to practice since.
Even with an epidural, Rivers’ play dipped after his injury. Hasselbeck went from a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback to one with the worst passer rating in the NFL. The more concerning part is how Hasselbeck’s bulging disc affected his legs. That’s where Stafford gets most of his throwing power.
The situation continues to be one of ‘we don’t know what we don’t know.’ We likely won’t know anything until Stafford does take the field and we see him throw and take the first hit. Everyone will be watching to see how Stafford reacts. Even then, there’s no guarantee that the injury won’t pop up or get re-aggravated at some point during the season.
znModeratorI wonder if D.Adams would have come to LA, had he known about this situation.
w
vBreer’s take is that worst case, MS is back later in the season. I think Adams would come under those conditions had he known. He has already worked with Garoppolo but under worse circumstances.
znModeratorznModeratorThe team managed to sneak some excellent players onto the practice squad last season, but not all made it. The New England Patriots claimed Zachary Thomas off the Rams’ waiver wire last year. The same fate could await these four offensive linemen if the team tries to slip them through to the practice squad…., fans should prepare for some, if not all, to be claimed off waivers before making it to the Rams’ practice squad.
(4) – IOL Justin Dedich
The Rams are loaded with offensive line talent this year, and Dedich presents the first real challenge for the team. He won’t start over Beaux Limmer and is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with McMahon for a roster spot. But with his starting experience from 2024, his versatility in playing all three interior offensive line positions, and his affordable price, he would almost certainly be claimed the moment he hits the Rams’ waiver wire.
(3) – David Quessenberry
The plan was to have a veteran right tackle in reserve in case Rob Havenstein struggled to bounce back after offseason procedures cleaned up his shoulders. Quessenberry has proven to be far more than just a warm camp body or an insurance policy.
Per Rams beat writer Eric Lambkins II, both he and Justin Dedich displayed athleticism and range in Game 1 of the preseason. If the 34-year-old is released, another NFL team looking to strengthen its offensive tackle position will scoop him up quickly.
(2) – Willie Lampkins
The NFL wasn’t quick to give 5-foot-11, 290-pound rookie Willie Lampkin a chance. Now, with legitimate game footage showing him manhandling and pancaking NFL defensive linemen, multiple teams would line up to add him to their active roster. Strengthening that case is his inclusion among Pro Football Focus’s top-graded offensive players.
The eyes don’t lie — the 23-year-old is a future NFL star. The challenge is that he’s fighting for a roster spot on a team with very few to spare. If the team tries to sign him to their practice squad, could they lose him to another team? After his latest performance, it would take a miracle to sneak him through.
(1) – Wyatt Bowles
Shrine Bowl scout Noah Chang loved the Rams’ signing of Utah State’s Wyatt Bowles — and so did we. He racked up 51 pancake blocks at Utah State, and now the 6-foot-5, 300-pound behemoth is manhandling NFL defensive linemen. The Rams clearly liked what they saw, giving him nearly the entire game at left guard.
He reportedly played 24 pass protection snaps, and did not allow a single pressure.
Bowles might sneak onto the practice squad if his workload is limited in the final two preseason games. However, that strategy would defeat the purpose of preseason — preparing players for future roles in the regular season.
znModeratorThis is so satisfying to watch 💯 pic.twitter.com/5Z7q1WiAZ2
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) August 12, 2025
znModeratorRams legend and broadcaster D'Marco Farr admits Matthew Stafford's back injury "could be a big deal" for Los Angeles. https://t.co/GuahuiUvCj pic.twitter.com/PzkDYnNoVj
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 12, 2025
znModeratorLes Snead after the Niners released Cody Schrader pic.twitter.com/oyBLatR3VR
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) August 12, 2025
znModeratorznModeratorJim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
week 1 preseasonstock up
Nate Valcarcel
Mumfield
Paul
Dolac
Willie Lampkin
Josiahstock down
Ty Hamilton
Brennon Jackson
DK
Jolly
MurchStewart, IMO, will move to be the 3rd edge … but (of course) it’s only one game … lots of football left and B.Jackson may tear it up rest of August.
znModeratorThe Rams and Saints are officially practicing together this week and we've got everything you need to know. https://t.co/nHoS3OnUMe pic.twitter.com/LRTsagBFpf
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 12, 2025
znModeratorThe concentration from @konata_b on this play. 😤@Pitt_FB | 🎥 More highlights on https://t.co/m9oFPQ0GVI pic.twitter.com/ocpxt95uEZ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 11, 2025
August 12, 2025 at 11:22 am in reply to: Stafford thread…from the contract to recent rankings #157483znModeratorESPN analyst and ex-NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky (who was also a one-time Rams quarterback and teammate of Matthew Stafford on the Detroit Lions) made his own top 10 rankings before the season, but with his twist: He looked at top 10 starting NFL quarterbacks through the lens of seven traits: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, rushing ability and second-reaction creativity. Each trait got its own top-10 list
Stafford made the top 10 in four of those seven: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics and decision-making. He ranked fifth in arm strength, sixth in ball placement, third in mechanics and sixth in decision-making. Stafford didn’t make the top 10 in second-reaction, rushing or pocket presence.
While Stafford didn’t make the top 10 for all seven traits, he was among the seven quarterbacks to be in at least four of the lists. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson made all seven, while Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes made six. Stafford tied Justin Herbert with four top 10 traits.
***
Link to the Orlovsky: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45913841/2025-ranking-best-nfl-quarterbacks-top-10-trait-skill-arm-accuracy-rushing
znModeratorThink the starting LBs for LAR are Omar Speights and Nate Landman. However, Pooh Paul Jr. can be another one of those impact draft picks Les Snead has been nailing lately.
Good w/ green dot – plays disciplined/bigger than frame – good movement skills. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/LwHn4isgwz
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) August 11, 2025
znModeratorI thought the OLine was the actual story of the game. Played well.
It seems pretty evident the Rams are trying to prevent the situation they had at the start of the 2024 season, when 2 OL were out before game 1 then 2 were injured in game 1. They are establishing OL depth. They picked up 3 bargain FAs, they are continuing the development of 2024 rookies who saw the field last last year, and they added a new batch of UDFAs.
Plus, no Noteboom, who was always just another injury waiting to happen.
In fact this year they added more veteran OL FAs before the season than they have the last few years (Shelton, Humphries, Quessenberry). They have a mess of 2024 rookies to develop and choose from (Arcuri, Dedich, Leveston, Limmer, McClendon, McMahon). A couple of those guys already did okay last year (like Dedich). They have 4 or 5 new rookie UDFAs from this year. They are using the pre-season to play all these guys, sorting it all out.
I even think they will be okay before Jackson comes back.
Last year’s disastrously slow start before the bye came from 2 things: the OL injuries, and a green as grass defense. It’s obvious they worked on the defense, but to me it’s just as obvious they worked on the OL.
znModeratorBrandon Thorn@BrandonThornNFL
Studying Kobie Turner for a huge project. Turner was one of the few higher-end DTs I hadn’t sat down and really studied yet. But to me this is a clone of Jurrell Casey for how adept he is on stunts. Slasher with natural leverage, excellent hands and motor.znModeratorRams Wire@TheRamsWire
Rams rookie Willie Lampkin might be the smallest center in the NFL but he proved in his preseason debut that size doesn’t matterJim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Yeah, great outing -posted a handful of clips,but still, the 5-11 may not be an issue but 31-1/2 arms will be,We all love a David-Goliath story, and would be fun t have an anomoly — if he can play — but it’s fait to also ask if his hustle and good feet can totally compensate
what happens when the next two opponents look at film? They will now be aware he can dominate and will be extra prepared.
I suggest we watch him over next couple of weeks. There is tape on him now. All I am suggesting is we pump the brakes a bit on to if he’s the future center
Kelce was 6-2-1/2, ran a 4.9, arms an inch longer, better vertical -in other words Kelce was among best-ever athletes coming out at his postiion .. so he could compensate for being on the light side. He was best or second-best athlete among OL in 2011.
So, for me, not the same
znModeratorHow Concerning Is Matthew Stafford’s Back Injury?
August 6, 2025
https://sicscore.com/news/how-concerning-is-matthew-stafford-s-back-injury-
How Concerning Is Matthew Stafford’s Back Injury?
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is reportedly dealing with a herniated disc in his lower back, a development that casts doubt on his readiness for the 2025 season. According to Dr. David Chao, Pro Football Doc, the injury is more serious than initially believed and could range in impact from minor discomfort to a potential season-ending issue. Here’s a breakdown of what this means for Stafford and the Rams moving forward.
Why It Could Be Good News
“Look, this is what we said — the type of injury, there’s no trauma. He’s better off if there’s like a transverse process fracture. It’s a limited time, 2 weeks, he’s good to go. This just crept up. That’s why I said low back pain, discogenic back pain, herniated disc are on the equation, and now it’s a herniated disc.”
Best Case Scenario
“Best-case scenario is Philip Rivers. He had it, 2014, and took epidurals, finished the season, didn’t miss much time — a practice or two. Philip is the Ironman of all time — just saw him at the Hall of Fame stuff. Matt Stafford is the next Ironman in quarterbacks, right? And so that’s the good news side of it, but missing practice — not a big deal for Matt Stafford.”
Worst Case Scenario
“This is Tony Romo, who in the past had a herniated disc, had surgery, missed the end of the season, returned to play. That’s the worst-case scenario. Not saying that’s gonna happen.”
While Stafford’s herniated disc is a cause for concern, the severity and impact will depend on how his body responds to treatment, including possible epidural injections. The Rams are likely to proceed with caution, hoping to avoid surgery and preserve his availability for the regular season. As Dr. Chao notes, this is a condition that requires close monitoring, not panic. With the regular season approaching, Stafford’s status remains uncertain, but not yet alarming.
znModeratorThe Rams Forum@RamsFansForum
Ethan Evans is the real punt God. Yesterday, one punt of 81 yards, and averaged 72.5 yards. No punter on the planet is stronger.znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay said QB Matthew Stafford (back) didn’t end up practicing today as expected because he didn’t feel good enough coming into today. Rams opted for cautious approach.McVay said the will take things a day at a time with Stafford.
znModeratorGuys, Cody Shrader is a gamer
Good decisiveness and hop to hit the hole and go! He displayed grit, power, and drive last night. I don’t want to utter Danny Woodhead but sheesh….I hope McVay was impressed as well. pic.twitter.com/8wF0aQlLFi
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) August 10, 2025
znModeratorCredit where credit is due!
Stetson Bennett made some damn good NFL throws in game 1 of the preseason. Throws that you need to have pure confidence in taking. He stepped up for sure.
Xavier Smith made two fantastic catches on the highlight of Bennetts evening. pic.twitter.com/CTsKtJqznE
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) August 10, 2025
August 11, 2025 at 3:45 pm in reply to: WE HAVE TO CHANGE CHAT ROOMS & WE NEED TO SIGN UP FOR IT #157458znModeratorSpent quite awhile trying to get signed up but their app kept hanging on are you a human testing asking 20 or so times finally when I had enough and said fuck it. I too old to be chatting and watching football at the same time anyway
I don’t know what the problem is but we can fix it. I count you as a valuable chatter and the game wouldn’t be the same without you there.
znModeratorfrom Albert Breer: https://www.si.com/nfl/rams-training-camp-2025-high-hopes-for-davante-adams-in-los-angeles
The defensive front might be the best in football. Jared Verse and Byron Young give the unit real strength on the edges, and rookie Josaiah Stewart is positioned to back them up. And the hope is that the Rams can get Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner attacking upfield more, with steady veteran nose Poona Ford capable of eating up blockers and taking hits off of them. Second-year man Tyler Davis and rookie Ty Hamilton should be part of the equation as well, as rotational run stoppers. Overall, the massive investment the Rams are making post–Aaron Donald in their front—-one that showed up in the playoffs in a big way—is paying off.
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