We’ve nearly made it. The preseason will wrap up on Thursday night for all 32 teams, and less than 48 hours later, every squad will have to trim its roster from 90 players to the league-mandated 53-man maximum. Things can certainly change between now and Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, but we feel good about predicting the Rams’ final roster now ahead of Thursday’s preseason finale. Here is our final projection of the year, which is sure to be 100 percent accurate with no incorrect picks. Quarterback (2) Jared Goff, Sean Mannion For weeks, we’ve had Brandon Allen penciled in as Goff’s backup. However, with Mannion sitting out Thursday’s preseason game and Sean McVay saying the Rams “feel good” about him as the No. 2 guy, all indications point toward him winning the job. Allen will most likely be cut and Luis Perez will be signed to the practice squad, assuming he doesn’t get snatched up by another team. Running back (3) Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, John Kelly It was hard leaving Justin Davis off this roster, but his hamstring injury simply hasn’t provided him the chance to prove himself quite enough. The Rams could easily keep four running backs, but with Brown and Kelly likely entrenched as Gurley’s backups, three seems like the right number.<doc-sep>Previous versions Post-2018 NFL Draft (April 30) Pre-training camp (July 28) Training camp Week 2 (August 3) Training camp Week 3 (August 13) QB (2) (2017: 2 kept on initial 53-man roster) In: Jared Goff, Sean Mannion Out: Brandon Allen, Luis Perez No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Barring a trade, I’m comfortable locking this in. I’m also comfortable 100% not locking it in for 2019. RB (3) (2017: 3) In: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, John Kelly Out: Justin Davis, Nick Holley No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Had Davis been available the last two weeks, I could have been willing to put him here. But dealing with a hamstring issue, he’s been unable to get on the field. And while Kelly might have had the best cumulative preseason performance of any Ram on the roster, Brown’s still right there in the mix for his role. The question of course would be two-fold: workload and special teams contributions. Behind Just Todd Gurley, there’s not going to be a ton of work available. So loading up here likely will require significant special teams contributions and not be based on running ability per se. WR (6) (2017: 6) In: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas Out: Steven Mitchell, Fred Brown, KhaDarel Hodge, Codey McElroy, Jojo Natson, Kendal Thompson No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A This one’s really close. Mitchell, Brown and Hodge are right there behind Thomas. The key to remember here is that Thomas isn’t practice squad-eligible. So a decision to have someone jump Thomas would end his time with the Rams. For now, I’ve got him in there, but I could totally see any of the three doing it. TE/FB (3) (2017: 3) In: Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway Out: Johnny Mundt, Henry Krieger-Coble No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Has Hemingway done enough? Even if he hasn’t, have Mundt or HKC? OL (9) (2017: 10) In: Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Rodger Saffold, Jamil Demby, John Sullivan, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Austin Blythe, Jake Eldrenkamp Out: Darrell Williams, Cornelius Lucas, Aaron Neary, Jeremiah Kolone Suspended: Jamon Brown No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: Eldrenkamp IN, Williams OUT I just can’t anymore. I wish Williams all the best, but I can’t abide by his play on the roster. I’ll plug in Eldrenkamp, but the truth is the Rams will need to make investments here again next offseason after making so many this year. They were simply behind on the timeline, and one year isn’t going to catch them up. DL (7) (2017: 5) In: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, Dominique Easley, Ethan Westbrooks, Sebastian Joseph-Day, John Franklin-Myers Out: Tanzel Smart, Omarius Bryant, McKay Murphy, Chunky Clements, Lord Hyeamang No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Still like this group. And I think the Easley move to OLB may have just been temporary, but we’ll see. Nonetheless, I’m keeping him here for now. OLB/EDGE (4) (2017: 6) In: Samson Ebukam, Matt Longacre, Justin Lawler, Ejuan Price Out: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Brian Womac, Trevon Young, Ryan Davis, Marcus Martin IR: Morgan Fox No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: Price IN, Okoronkwo OUT Like Davis at RB, I can’t comfortably include Oko at this point having missed out on all of training camp and all of the preseason to this point. ILB (5) (2017: 4) In: Mark Barron, Micah Kiser, Ramik Wilson, Cory Littleton, Tegray Scales Out: Bryce Hager No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A I could see Scales completely on the outs as a linebacker but making the 53-man for his special teams contributions. He continues to be a core component there. CB (6) (2017: 5) In: Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill, Sam Shields, Dominique Hatfield Out: Taurean Nixon, Ramon Richards, Curtis Mikell IR: Kevin Peterson No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Has any of the depth done enough on defense or on teams to get to the threshold for a roster decision? S (5) (2017: 6) In: Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson III, Marqui Christian, Blake Countess, Travin Howard Out: Steven Parker, Isaiah Johnson, Afolabi Laguda, Nate Holley No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Nobody played more special teams snaps on Saturday than Howard. Not sure if that’s a direct indication of his teams value, but there’s obviously interest there. ST (3) (2017: 3) In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide Out: Sam Ficken No longer on roster: N/A Changes from last projection: N/A Yup. Practice Squad RB Justin Davis, WR Steven Mitchell, WR KhaDarel Hodge, TE Johnny Mundt, OL Aaron Neary, DT Omarius Bryant, EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB Trevon Young, CB Curtis Mikell, S Steven Parker Now there’s a bit of insincerity here. Teams usually take a group of their own roster fringe and then add a couple outsiders to put together their initial practice squad. In the days after forming their initial squad last year, the Rams made a handful of moves to chop it up. So don’t take this one with nearly as much confidence as the 53-man projections. What did I get way wrong? Who didn’t make the practice squad that you like? Who are you looking at on Thursday that could change this projection fundamentally? Sound off in the comments and as always, hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram if you’re so inclined.<doc-sep>With the preseason wrapped up, NFL teams are going to have to reduce their roster to 53 players. Players that have been making plays in the fourth quarters of preseason action might never lace up their cleats again. Sometimes, joy is followed by sadness, and that’s what will transpire over the next 24 hours and some as players will be released or traded. Throughout the preseason, I have highlighted true roster bubble players, rookies and new players on the Los Angeles Rams’ roster. Instead of talking about the slate of players that have been mentioned as trying to make the roster, it’s time to talk about veterans that could have played their last snaps on the Rams roster. LB Mark Barron (release or trade) Barron has been a surprise since he joined the Rams via trade in 2014 and transitioned into a linebacker. Barron is not an amazing technician, but he is a good tackler and was a good coverage linebacker. Last season, Barron grabbed three interceptions, four pass deflections and 86 total tackles. Releasing Barron would save the Rams $7m, and if he is traded it appears that the team would save $9m. I’m a big fan of Barron but I am encouraged by the play of the new inside linebackers such as rookie Micah Kiser and veteran Ramik Wilson With Cory Littleton calling plays on defense. The Rams would miss Barron. but maybe this is what would be needed to help clear the way for Aaron Donald’s return. RB Malcolm Brown (release) With the emergence of 2018 NFL Draft sixth-round rookie RB John Kelly, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Rams released the veteran and just went with Kelly and Justin Davis. Brown has been a fan favorite throughout his tenure with the Rams with his smash mouthbrand of football, but Kelly brings more to the table as a player as a potential threat in the passing game as well. The Rams could keep Brown, or they could have more depth on the DL or OL. S Lamarcus Joyner (trade) The Rams respected Joyner enough to deem him a franchise-caliber player designating their 2018 franchise tag towards the safety and allowing new Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins to change the market at receiver. Joyner was a force in his first year as a starter at safety creating four turnovers, nine pass deflections and 49 combined tackles and ranked as an elite safety by Pro Football Focus grading out at a 90.3: The best safeties in the NFL in 2017! pic.twitter.com/jUsNmTM6QE — Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 10, 2018 If the Rams could find a trade partner for Joyner, it would increase their cap situation by more than $10m. However, finding a trade partner would be tough. If not traded, it is unlikely that he will be re-signed. On the other hand, if he has another solid season the Rams should be able to obtain a high compensatory pick for him in the 2019 NFL Draft. WR Josh Reynolds / WR Mike Thomas (release or trade) Both young wide receivers have flashed some talent, but that talent has not translated to the field in major quantities. Both players have a role as backup players on the roster and could be an asset if a starter such as WR Robert Woods goes down for an extended amount of time which given his history isn’t unthinkable. But do the Rams need both players on the roster? The team could likely gain a 6th- or 7th-round pick in a trade. There is a small possibility in one of them being released. DL Ethan Westbrooks (trade) Westbrooks has been a mainstay on the defensive line as rotational player since joining the Rams. He might be a notch below a starter, but he makes his mark on the field finishing last season with four sacks. The only reason to trade Westbrooks would be to acquire draft picks. With the depth on the defensive line, it would be interesting if the Rams decided to deal Westbrooks. Most NFL teams could use a player of his caliber, and it could result in a 4th- or 5th-round choice. Although it may be tough to imagine the Rams trading him, the team did trade former starting insider linebacker Alec Ogletree and pass rusher Robert Quinn. EDGE Ejuan Price (release or trade) Price is an interesting case. With ability to rush the passer in college, he battled injuries and made the Rams’ practice squad last year though he wasn’t really mentioned after. This preseason, he has been a stud. Price has been making the most of the preseason demonstrating the ability to rush the passer and showing he could develop into a solid rotational player. Teams need pass rushers. Although the Rams could keep him, Price is a player that is kind of on the bubble. Will the real Ejuan Price stans please stand up (Part 1)? pic.twitter.com/acUXkU9RX0 — Sosa (@QBsMVP) August 27, 2018 Are there any candidates that I missed? Who do you think could be a surprise release or trade? Sound off in the comments.<doc-sep>
Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay suggested in his remarks to the media today that rookie EGDE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo could remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list heading into the regular season when asked if they were going to take him off the list: I think right now, probably not. But nothing is finalized with that yet. He’s working hard with that rehab. I would say not anything that he can control, but I think just the way that the foot’s responded hasn’t been ideal. It doesn’t have anything to do with the way that he’s worked. He’s doing everything he can to control that. (Senior Director, Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie and his staff, you guys know what a great job those guys do. We’ll continue to monitor ‘Obo’ (Okoronkwo) one day at a time. As of right now, Okoronkwo is on the preseason version of the PUP which is known as the Active PUP. On Saturday at 4pm ET/1pm PT, all 32 NFL clubs will need to reduce their 90-man rosters to 53-man rosters. At the same deadline, they will be required to transfer anyone from the Active PUP (or the Active Non-Football Injury (NFI) list) to the Reserve version of the list for the regular season unless they waive the player, terminate his contract, trade him or move him to the active 53-man roster. Players placed on the Reserve PUP may not practice or play during the first six weeks of the season. After that, teams have five weeks to return the player to practice and then a 21-day window from their first practice to activate the player to the 53-man roster. So for Okoronkwo, if he’s put on the regular season Reserve PUP, he won’t be available until the Rams’ Week 7 game on Sunday Night Football up north to reignite the Rams’ rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers at the earliest. Obo broke his foot in organized team activities before training camp even got going. So no camp, no preseason. And now no regular season after at least a month and a half. Since the Rams drafted him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 160th overall pick, Okoronkwo’s rookie season is not going according to plan...