RamsActive@ramsactive
Training Camp Day 6 takeaways:

– D looks strong, even without the presence of Garrett

– Ty Simpson starting to get comfortable, backup QB battle may be closer than some think

– CJ Daniels looks like the frontrunner for the WR3 nod due to sheer performance

1st & Tuna@1standtuna
Went back through my scribbled notes from yesterday’s #Rams practice. For those curious on the trenches, here’s what I could gather:

wow…3 of them…the only other team w/ more than 1 is Houston with 2

and to top this off, Garrett last year with the Browns played with a lead in the 4th quarter in just 2 games…

…

NFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
Most total disruptions (sacks + QB hits + TFL + pressures) in the 4th quarter/OT in 2025…

1. Aidan Hutchinson – 56
2. Micah Parsons – 46
3. Jared Verse – 44
4. Myles Garrett – 41
4. Josh Hines-Allen – 41
6. Will Anderson Jr. – 39
7. Danielle Hunter – 38
8. Nik Bonitto – 37
9. Kobie Turner – 32
10. Byron Young – 31

Stafford & Davante picking up right where they left off for the #Rams Offense with that TD connection!

Also, NEW CB Trent McDuffie was in a great spot to defend, but the pass was even better#RamsHouse� pic.twitter.com/gEc6WICT3U

— Ian (Rams Up Podcast) (@RamsUp_Ian) August 2, 2026

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Davante Adams caught a nifty back-shoulder touchdown right over Trent McDuffie from Matthew Stafford in the red zone to get the crowd roaring.

The most fun part of camp so far has been these WR-CB battles. So much talent on both sides.

Ty Simpson had a nice TD throw to CJ Daniels between two defenders in the back of the end zone.

Another day of the 6th-round rookie WR making some plays,

SleeperNFL@SleeperNFL
@AlbertBreer on the Rams’ additions of Myles Garrett & Trent McDuffie:

“Myles Garrett has been, believe it or not, better than advertised, has fit in seamlessly and should benefit from having a deep, loaded group of defensive linemen around him.

“Trent McDuffie has checked every box, as a guy who can play field, boundary and slot corner, and is a tough, physical tone-setter—I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a captain in his first year as a Ram.”

Rams’ first day in pads: Ty Simpson cuts it loose, Aaron Donald buzz builds

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7484424/2026/08/01/rams-training-camp-aaron-donald-ty-simpson/?unlocked_article_code=1.2FA.sZbX.GIyLDGuA7YAE&source=emp_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

The Los Angeles Rams put on the pads for the first time in training camp, and it made for a livelier day on the grass fields at Loyola Marymount University. Five days into camp, some elements of this team are starting to come into better view.

Here are six thoughts on what took place during Friday’s practice:

1. Ty Simpson saw his most action yet as a Rams quarterback, and it led to an eventful day with some highs and lows.

After four days of a slow buildup for the No. 13 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the Rams unleashed a bit more of Simpson’s playmaking. Matthew Stafford was resting as part of his maintenance plan, and Simpson split reps evenly with Stetson Bennett, with Bennett taking the first crack.

The Rams finally had Simpson operating on longer dropbacks and with fewer predetermined, short-range throws than in previous settings.

In this one, he went to the intermediate part of the field for a nice strike to sixth-round rookie wide receiver CJ Daniels for a chunk gain. He scrambled deep to the left on another play before reversing course with a turn back to his right and delivering an on-target strike along the sideline, although it was dropped.

The day had some lowlights, too, as Simpson had two passes nearly picked off, including one where he didn’t appear to see Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and Forbes dropped what should have been an easy interception. He also bobbled one snap for a fumble.

However, Simpson at least didn’t look timid in going across the middle despite holding the ball a little longer, which is something he can do with better mobility than Stafford at this stage in his career.

“Just being able to call the plays in the huddle where we get in and out,” McVay said of Simpson’s growth from the spring to now. “And then I think some of the things mechanically about being able to speed up his release, some of the timing and rhythm in terms of with his lower half being married up with the routes.”

Simpson’s internal clock will need to speed up over time, but this is a long development process for a rookie who started just 15 games at Alabama. He isn’t supposed to see the field until at least next season, if the Rams can keep Stafford upright.

For Simpson, working through highs and lows in real time is exactly what they will be looking for in these settings that don’t offer a true pass rush, while knowing that preseason games will offer those live rush situations.

2. The Rams don’t have an update on Aaron Donald’s potential return from retirement. However, there was some buzz on Friday.

McVay said the team won’t have any news on this topic until training camp is finished. The Rams remain in contact with Donald, who continues training as he decides whether to return at age 35, two years after he retired as a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

However, the vibes remain strong about the potential to re-add the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“If there’s an arrow, it’s trending upward,” McVay said.

3. The biggest highlight of the day for the offense was a wheel-route touchdown by Kyren Williams. He beat a linebacker around the right edge, caught a Bennett pass and high-strided into the end zone to a chorus of cheers.

It was a glimpse at an area of Williams’ game that I think has been underutilized with the Rams, though understandably so. Williams caught 77 passes for 672 yards and four touchdowns in his final two seasons at Notre Dame, but he has yet to top 300 receiving yards in any season with the Rams.

Last season was his best, with 36 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns, and he showcased his potential in the first matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, when he caught eight passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Williams is one of the best pass-protecting running backs in the league, and that strength is key to how McVay designs passing concepts for Stafford and ensures the most important function of the offense: keeping Stafford upright.

Picking up the blitz is critical in eliminating the most dangerous hits to Stafford’s back from free rushers with a running start, and it’s been hard not to use Williams in this way when he’s so elite at it.

However, if the Rams can field another healthy offensive line and expand their two- and three-tight-end sets to manipulate blocking numbers, this is a wrinkle they could tap into more.

The advantage to running it with extra tight ends on the field would be in forcing defenses into heavier personnel, where Williams could feast on some matchups against linebackers, much like he showcased with that touchdown in Friday’s practice.

4. Puka Nacua didn’t quite have as high of a volume day as in other practices, likely due to not having his MVP quarterback on the field. However, he did turn in one impressive grab by going up high over a defender in the middle of the field, reeling the ball into his hands and contorting his body to land safely on his feet.

With a noticeably slimmer frame than the one he played with last season, Nacua has been working to balance his across-the-middle physical style with a bit more finesse and burst in perimeter alignments.

He’s entering a unique stage of his career in his fourth season as a two-time Pro Bowl WR, with an understanding of defenses and spacing that the Rams can hope will translate his skills into a more sustainable and versatile style.

“Repetition is the mother of learning, and he’s got a quarterback that he’s got an incredible amount of rapport with,” McVay said. “He’s one of those guys that when you watch him, even when you go back to his career at BYU, the game just makes sense to him.

“Certain guys have a great spatial awareness. And he’s so tough. He doesn’t flinch on inside routes. He showed a real capacity to win on the perimeter last year. And the way he works at it, he’s only getting better.”

5. The Rams are working on a maintenance schedule for several of their top players. It isn’t just Stafford, who will practice two out of every four days, with one of the off days being a jog-through.

Pro Bowl outside linebacker Byron Young sat out Tuesday’s practice to manage the right knee that bothered him in last season’s playoffs and led to an extended recovery. Left tackle Alaric Jackson sat out Wednesday’s practice to manage a blood-clot issue.

Newly acquired two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett sat out Friday’s practice, as did Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams, though neither appeared to be health-related.

The Rams also won’t play their starters in the preseason, as is tradition under McVay.

Not only do the Rams have 17 games of a critical season approaching, but they have a unique Week 1 trip to play the 49ers in the NFL’s first game in Australia. The long flight and time change will be a hurdle to adjust to, and they don’t want to push it with players they already feel are too established to need training camp as much as rookies and players attempting to earn a roster spot.

6. Daniels has had a busy camp, easily leading the second team in catches through the first five practices of training camp.

And on Friday, he showed a little more versatility by lining up on the outside for more snaps, including the one where he ran an intermediate route and settled in for a chunk play on a throw from Simpson.

Daniels is in an interesting spot, as the Rams have an opening for a No. 3 wide receiver behind Nacua and Adams. However, they also have a potential roster crunch at the position. Behind those top two options, Los Angeles needs to reserve roster spots for Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith due to their special teams presence.

The team could keep all six of its top receivers, ensuring spots for Konata Mumpfield and Daniels, but four tight ends with the return of Tyler Higbee and the second-round selection of Max Klare could eat into the numbers. Also, the Rams could carry three quarterbacks if they hold on to Bennett, along with Simpson and Stafford.

from PFF Running Back Rankings: Assessing all 32 starters ahead of the 2026 NFL season: https://www.pff.com/news/pff-running-back-rankings-assessing-all-32-starters-ahead-of-the-2026-nfl-season?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null

10. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Williams was taken in the fifth round back in 2022 and has significantly outperformed that draft position over the last few seasons.

His 220 carries that have gone for a first down or touchdown since 2023 are second to only Derrick Henry. Williams is also fifth among all running backs in that span with 143 forced missed tackles and 2,434 yards after contact.

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Honorable Mentions

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams is the star of the Rams’ backfield, but Corum should not be forgotten as a productive option. In 2025, he was one of just seven running backs to average at least 5.0 yards per carry. Corum also ranked seventh among that same group with an 85.8 PFF rushing grade and has yet to fumble any of his 229 career carries.

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Today was the most comfortable rookie QB Ty Simpson has looked so far. Mechanically, his release looked quicker. His best throw of the day was on a deep completion to TE Terrance Ferguson during 11-on-11.

Sean McVay on where he’s seen improvement in Simpson between when he arrived to where he’s at now (h/t
@NateAtkins_ question):

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/07/31/rams-puka-nacua-nate-scheelhaase-slow-down/91127458007/?taid=6a6d4525ef02360001bd17e9&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

During a recent presser, Nacua was asked about reading defenses and how that skill has evolved over the course of his professional career. In his response, Nacua spoke about how it’s the way Scheelhaase teaches that gives him the ultimate edge.

“I’d say the game has definitely slowed down,” Nacua said. “I can still vividly remember my first pass from Matthew Stafford in Seattle in 2023. Just sprinting full speed in there and him being like, ‘Yo, slow down.’ So I think the game has definitely slowed down, but then also having communication. I think as somebody said just recently, having Coach Nate Scheelhaase move into the offensive coordinator position, some of the things that he is communicating, some of the changes in our offense are things that he’s said in our receiver room.

“So being on the same page with him and then, obviously, being on the same page as Matthew. There are a lot of times where the defense feels like they’re in the best position and then No. 9 finds a way to create holes that aren’t really there. It’s always fun to be on the same pages and we continue to work.”

NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Naming Some Dudes!
Gregg Rosenthal, Jourdan Rodrigue and Patrick Claybon name some guys!

Myles Garrett turning and dipping but getting a bit wide, then eliminating surface … LT in good position but Garrett just makes him whiff pic.twitter.com/ac2OBMs7VQ

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) June 3, 2026

Myles Garrett starts outside, stays outside, attacks outside shoulder and gets inside hand inside and basically a head butt … and them outside club to slip the LT pic.twitter.com/Y66DzrzQZl

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) June 6, 2026

LAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Ty Simpson has quietly put together a solid start to camp. Even as the Rams’ third quarterback, he’s looked poised, decisive and comfortable operating Sean McVay’s offense.

The future isn’t here yet, but it’s worth watching.