Rams

Here are seven takeaways from the Rams' preseason win over the Chargers. 1. Logan Bruss still has work to do. Sean McVay had already indicated that Coleman ...

The undrafted rookie made a name for himself in the preseason opener, highlighted by his 60-yard touchdown in which he made a catch over a defender and shook off a tackle en route to the end zone. Kendrick and Decobie Durant will definitely make the team, but it might be hard to keep a guy like Haley off the roster after seeing him impress during Saturday’s preseason opener. That’s a great sign as the team looks to fill out its roster this season, needing some depth behind the starters at cornerback. After coming out early in the first half, he went back in during the fourth quarter, a sign that the coaches wanted to see more from him. When the second half opened, only one player was still at his original position: Kolone. Jackson moved to right guard, and Anchrum kicked outside to left tackle. Alaric Jackson started the game at left tackle, with Tremayne Anchrum Jr. next to him at left guard.

Third-string quarterback Bryce Perkins threw a pair of touchdown passes to Lance McCutcheon and the Los Angeles Rams held off the Los Angeles Chargers 29-22 ...

Stick then completed a pass to tight end Hunter Kampmoyer for the 2-point conversion to make it 22-all. AJ Rose — who spent last season on the Vikings' practice squad — bounced off a pair of Chargers' defenders and scored from 1 yard out to tie it at 7 midway through the second quarter. Brown had a sack during the second quarter. Went up in a contested catch, and was just able to move the ball away and get my arm in there,” McCutcheon said. Bandy temporarily had possession of the ball before Isom was able to strip it for the pick. "He’s a special, special player, and when he gets out of the pocket it’s even worse for us, so I’m a huge Bryce Perkins fan. Daniel threw for a pair of first-half touchdowns. He completed 9 of 16 passes for 126 yards and also showed off his mobility with 39 yards on eight carries, including a 1-yard TD midway through the third quarter. “I was really pleased with Bryce’s ability to be able to handle all the different situations that came up,” coach Sean McVay said of Perkins. “He’s a playmaker. “Whenever I’m out there, I'm really just trying compete my tail off for the guys. McCutcheon got leverage over Chargers safety Deane Leonard, caught it at the Chargers 29-yard line and then avoided a tackle attempt from JT Woods before scoring. “I think both played well," Chargers coach Brandon Staley said of his quarterbacks.

Perkins is set to be the third-string quarterback, but coach Sean McVay certainly can't ignore this Houdini-like run.

I think you're going to see that reflected in the way he plays in the preseason. "He's got a great way about himself and all the reps that he's getting out here is going to serve him well. Coach Sean McVay has been impressed with Perkins, and has previously said that fans should expect similar playing time for the former Virginia Cavalier in the preseason opener.

Rams quarterback Bryce Perkins once again finds himself in an enviable position. The Los Angeles third string QB has Sean McVay as his head coach so that ...

Daniel Hardy seems to be a natural havoc-wrecker.— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) August 14, 2022 Perkins’ 42 yards led the Rams on the ground. With Justin Herbert sitting this one out, backup Chase Daniel went 11-of-17 for 117 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams’ first half defense. Another interesting starter was rookie seventh round pick Daniel Hardy with the preseason “1s” on the edge. Daniel Hardy starting at one of the OLB spots. The starting offensive line included Logan Bruss at right guard, further confirming that Coleman Shelton is in line to start at that position. Jake Funk had six carries for 16 yards but also returned two kicks. His big play ability was evident against the Chargers and if McCutcheon has two more games like that, he’s going to make it very difficult for McVay to sneak him onto the practice squad. Perkins’ place on the roster is also an interesting consideration. The Los Angeles third string QB has Sean McVay as his head coach so that means that both players ahead of them on the depth chart will be protected for the entire offseason. Perkins also rushed for 42 yards and a third touchdown. McVay knows that he has a starter and a backup who aren’t going to budge and though Perkins finished with aesthetically acceptable stats, the extended preseason appearances may or may not have prepared him to actually start against a starting NFL defense.

Highlighting important storylines in the Chargers' loss to the Rams in the preseason opener.

On the other hand, Spiller was just as advertised: physical, patient, and decisive as a runner and a major contributor in the passing game, both as a receiver and blocker. His athleticism was on display as he carried the football twice, including one for a touchdown. A liability against the run, he was consistently pushed back off the line of scrimmage, which was an issue last season. There were three in particular that stood out: Morgan Fox, Breiden Fehoko, and Christian Covington. Fox, who was acquired to give the Chargers’ a boost in the pass rush department, showed some juice to apply pressure on a few reps. The time in the weight room and in the kitchen showed up on the playing field. On top of his athleticism, there was more power in Rumph’s pass rushes and when taking on blockers against the run.

The Los Angeles Rams know FCS wide receiver talent. They drafted Cooper Kupp out of Eastern Washington in the third round in 2017.

“I’ve got Cooper in front of me, Matthew Stafford in the front row. The specter of another free agent, Odell Beckham Jr., looms. The first two days I was a little star-struck. “You know, I’m sitting in the back and I’m looking around,” he said. The Los Angeles Rams know FCS wide receiver talent. It was a little surreal for me, but we got good with it.

Rams rookie Lance McCutcheon made one of the top plays of the preseason so far on this 60-yard touchdown catch.

While the Los Angeles Rams were able to claim the Lombardi Trophy after their Super Bowl LVI victory, they did so as a mostly one-dimensional offense for ...

It is unlikely that the Rams' offense just completely falls off a cliff, especially with Stafford at quarterback and a plethora of receiving threats to work with. The passing attack will remain potent for the Rams this season, especially with the addition of receiver Allen Robinson alongside Kupp for Stafford to work with. "It’s not lost on us that we didn’t run the football good enough," McVay said. Yes, that worked last season but Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged how crucial a strong running game is for an offense to be successful in the NFL. “It’s been a big point of emphasis because we’ve got to be more efficient running the football,” McVay said on SiriusXM NFL Radio recently. With quarterback Matthew Stafford and superstar receiver Cooper Kupp leading the way, the Rams offense was still one of the best in the league, despite any consistent run game.

Get a recap of the Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers football game.

Stick then completed a pass to tight end Hunter Kampmoyer for the 2-point conversion to make it 22-all. AJ Rose — who spent last season on the Vikings' practice squad — bounced off a pair of Chargers' defenders and scored from 1 yard out to tie it at 7 midway through the second quarter. Bandy temporarily had possession of the ball before Isom was able to strip it for the pick. Went up in a contested catch, and was just able to move the ball away and get my arm in there,” McCutcheon said. He completed 9 of 16 passes for 126 yards and also showed off his mobility with 39 yards on eight carries, including a 1-yard TD midway through the third quarter. “I was really pleased with Bryce’s ability to be able to handle all the different situations that came up,” coach Sean McVay said of Perkins. “He’s a playmaker.

The undrafted free agent put on a show in his preseason debut against the Los Angeles Chargers, hauling in two touchdowns on five catches for a game-high 87 ...

Rams' seventh-round draft pick and former Bobcat Daniel Hardy also made his preseason debut. McCutcheon's eye-catching performance continued in the second half when he caught a pass over the Chargers' Deane Leonard for a two-point conversion. 📱: Stream #LARvsLACon NFL+ https://t.co/uWNvagtj6A pic.twitter.com/V8kHTDWvlK August 14, 2022

Just as the Rams have always done under Sean McVay, the starters and key contributors remained on the sidelines. Bryce Perkins and other second and third ...

This suggests that the Rams have seen all they need to from him during practices, and that he will play an important part in filling the WR#3 role in Van Jefferson’s potential absence. The Atlanta Falcons also saw their first round receiver, Drake London, leave their preseason game with injury - though all indications is that he will be alright. Brown left the game in the second half but was able to limp off the field without putting any weight on his leg. I’m not saying they didn’t play well, but there was a lot more to be gained if they could have stood out. Two key plays that also don’t show up on the box score - McCutcheon caught a 2-point conversion and drew a defensive pass interference penalty on the goal line to set up a Rams touchdown. Rose ran well through contact and was an effective player in the passing game. Perkins simply refused to quit, and his ability to extend plays frustrated the Chargers defense. McCutcheon deserves a good portion of credit for winning contested catches on two downfield attempts, but this is already an improvement from Perkins’ deep passing from a year ago. Just as the Rams have always done under Sean McVay, the starters and key contributors remained on the sidelines. He’s suspended for the first six weeks of the season, but he still figured to be an important player for the Rams in his second year - both the suspension and injury cloud his future. If you nitpick his performance in the preseason last year and on Saturday night, there are still questions about his ability to push the ball down the field. His most impressive play was a 60-yard catch and run where he won a jump ball at the catch point and then out-muscled defenders on his way to the end zone.

Dan Isom capped things off with a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter, putting the icing on the cake for Los Angeles. NFL: Los Angeles Rams ...

Here are five things we learned from the Rams' 29-22 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.

In field goal situations, veteran punter Riley Dixon was the holder. The Rams also inserted rookie A.J. Arcuri at right tackle. In the second half, Jackson replaced Bruss at right guard, and Anchrum moved over to left tackle, with Chandler Brewer at left guard.

The defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams took the field for the first time since hoisting the Lombardi trophy in February on Saturday night, ...

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rams? Click Here to sign up for the Ram Digest Newsletter Brown III, who is suspended for the first six games of the regular season, had a sack in the first half of Saturday's game against the Chargers. After a slow start in the first quarter, the Rams were able to get back into the swing of things in the second, outscoring the Chargers 14-7 to tie things up at 14 heading into the locker room.

Bobby Brown appeared to injure his ankle badly against the Chargers, but Sean McVay believes he's going to be OK.

“I think he’s gonna be OK. Other than just talking to Reggie initially, we’ll wait and see exactly, but he was somewhat optimistic. But I want to wait before I get the final results,” he said. Brown had his right ankle rolled up on and was in visible pain.

A stellar game for the Rams in their preseason opener saw them take down their crosstown rivals.

Overall, though, it was not a game to write home about as they allowed the Chargers to put up 312 yards of total offense. He would finish with the game going 10 of 17 for 133 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards and a rushing score. Rather, they would rest several key players in this one, such as quarterback Matthew Stafford, a decision that is likely to carry throughout the rest of the preseason.

Brown III, who is suspended for the first six games of the regular season, had a sack in the first half of Saturday's game against the Chargers.

Want to join in on the discussion? Perkins continues to make plays in the preseason opener. Back up quarterback Bryce Perkins led the way in the Rams preseason opening win

Coach Archie Miller and his staff continue to build for the future of Rhode Island basketball with the addition of Connor Dubsky.

Nwafor is a 6-foot-7 forward from Rotorua, New Zealand. The Nigerian native is very mobile inside the paint and impactful when protecting the rim. Rhode Island assistant Kenny Johnson has been connected to Dubsky since his time as head coach of National Christian Academy in Maryland. He joins forwards KC Nwafor and Adrian Myers as Rhode Island’s third commit of the Class of 2023.

Lance McCutcheon put together a stellar performance in the Rams' preseason opener, but the team isn't surprised one bit.

I remember Greg Olson being around him and he said, ‘You watch, this guy’s going to have a really good preseason and I bet you he makes a lot of plays,’ and that was prophetic and I said that to Olson during the game. I remember when you were around this guy for only a couple of days and you kind of saw this coming. They saw it coming, and he didn’t let them down.

Chargers defenders bring down Rams running back A.J. Rose in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times).

“He’s one of the guys I highlighted,” Staley said. He’s got to make sure he has the confidence to do what he’s coached to do in practice and do what he does in practice.” He’s going to learn a lot about what it takes to play the ball in phase in the deep part of the field. “You can see the way his teammates feel about him when good things happen,” Staley said. He’s worked extremely hard coming off the injury.” “We’re really going to try to take a long look at him on special teams and see if he can carve a role for himself on offense,” Staley said. The Chargers are high on Woods because of his speed, range and ball skills. But his prospects for playing meaningful minutes in 2022 hinge on his tackling. [He] moved the pile.” Staley noted the power Spiller displayed “in traffic, where it was crowded. Spiller, a fourth-round pick, received the longest look. That was our goal for him tonight.”

Chargers defenders bring down Rams running back A.J. Rose in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times).

“He’s one of the guys I highlighted,” Staley said. He’s got to make sure he has the confidence to do what he’s coached to do in practice and do what he does in practice.” He’s going to learn a lot about what it takes to play the ball in phase in the deep part of the field. “You can see the way his teammates feel about him when good things happen,” Staley said. He’s worked extremely hard coming off the injury.” “We’re really going to try to take a long look at him on special teams and see if he can carve a role for himself on offense,” Staley said. The Chargers are high on Woods because of his speed, range and ball skills. But his prospects for playing meaningful minutes in 2022 hinge on his tackling. [He] moved the pile.” Staley noted the power Spiller displayed “in traffic, where it was crowded. Spiller, a fourth-round pick, received the longest look. That was our goal for him tonight.”

The snap counts from Saturday's Rams-Chargers game tell us how much playing time each player got in the preseason opener.

He played more than any other non-quarterback, earning 91% of the defensive snaps and 73% of the special teams plays. He and Rose each got eight carries, and they turned them into a total of 44 yards rushing. Austin Trammell made the most of his opportunities with three catches for 27 yards on four targets, though he did drop one pass. The offensive line was shuffled a bunch, with Tremayne Anchrum, Logan Bruss, Alaric Jackson, Jeremiah Kolone and Bobby Evans getting the start. Here’s a breakdown of the playing time from the preseason opener. Akers was targeted only once but finished the game with no receptions.

Rookie Zion Johnson more than held his own in his first NFL action. Although he only played in the first three drives, the rookie held strong in both the run ...

While he did not play a lot in this game, his presence was felt on the outside, also tallying a pass defended. He tallied a tackle on the Rams first drive and also showed up in run support, too. "Having the opportunity to go out there and compete and to play anytime I'm between those lines, I can't take it for granted," Reed said following the game. "It was a good opportunity to go against other guys than the guys on our team," Johnson said about his preseason action. He finished the game with 73 yards on seven catches, including a second-quarter touchdown thrown by quarterback Chase Daniel. I know that he was glad that he was out there.

Saturday night's preseason game against the Chargers marked a memorable performance and debut for Rams rookie wide receiver Lance McCutcheon.

"(Robinson) just always has something to coach me on," McCutcheon said. "Went up, made a contested catch and was able to just kind of move the ball away from him and get my arm out of there." With 5:17 left in the second quarter, McCutcheon made a contested catch on a deep pass down the sideline from quarterback Bryce Perkins, then shook off two Chargers defenders to cover the remaining distance of a 60-yard touchdown.

Brown III, who is suspended for the first six games of the regular season, had a sack in the first half of Saturday's game against the Chargers.

"Other than just talking to Reggie initially, we’ll wait and see exactly, but he was somewhat optimistic. Back up quarterback Bryce Perkins led the way in the Rams preseason opening win The Los Angeles Rams beat the Los Angeles Chargers 29-22 in Saturday's preseason showdown at SoFi Stadium.

There was plenty to get excited about in what was a far-from-perfect preseason opener for the Rams.

Kendrick had a pick-six right in his hands as the Chargers were pinned back on their own goal line at the end of the first quarter. Perkins pulled off a highlight-reel scramble in the second quarter that saw him break multiple sack attempts as he scurried for a first down. Early in the second, Bruss got blown by on the pass rush again, forcing Perkins to step up and take a hard hit against an unblocked man. He slowly found a rhythm with a few targets and a catch through most of the first half. This resulted in Fox grabbing hold of the ankles of Perkins as the Chargers rallied for the sack. But once they got rolling, coach Sean McVay's team picked up a 29-22 victory on the same field where their championship dreams came true in February.

Lance McCutcheon, an undrafted wide receiver out of Montana State, impressed Sean McVay and the Rams' coaching staff in preseason win over the Chargers.

Gaines and Robinson are tough in the middle. Kupp, Robinson and Jefferson are the starters, though Jefferson’s status for the opener is undetermined as he recovers from a second knee operation in five months. Williams, who suffered a broken foot during offseason workouts, came off the PUP list near the end of training camp. Copeland played well last season and Bobby Brown III’s suspension opens the door for Hoecht. Henderson is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he is determined to show that durability questions are not an issue. He returned for the season finale and the playoffs, but has said he was not satisfied with his performance. Jackson appears on track to be the swing tackle. Powell is mainly the punt returner, and the 6-6 Harris has been plagued by injuries. Stafford was limited in training camp because of right elbow tendinitis, but the 14th-year pro will be ready for the Sept. 8 opener against the Buffalo Bills and will almost certainly play through pain during the season. Perkins played well during the 2021 preseason and made the opening roster because the Rams feared another team would sign him if he were released. He knew making the roster would be a challenge. “We talked about it, and he was adamant about it: ‘If it’s close, just give me a jump ball and I’ll make a play,’ ” quarterback Bryce Perkins said.