Preseason Updates: Los Angeles Rams

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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.

Updates from Week 2

Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford worked out on August 9, and Adam Grosbard reported the session was successful, but despite expectations that Stafford would return to practice on Monday, he was again in street clothes. Coach Sean McVay explained that Stafford "didn't feel good enough coming into today" and the team opted for a cautious approach, adding, "We're going to be flexible and fluid." While the team is not signaling major concern publicly, another missed practice after anticipating his return raises the possibility of a more significant issue. This is not a one-to-one comparison to Christian McCaffrey's situation last year. Still, recent history reminds us that we cannot take every team's public stance at face value when repeated absences tell a different story. In Stafford's absence, Jimmy Garoppolo has handled the first-team offense effectively, taking all starting reps in camp and delivering one of the offense's sharpest performances of the summer in the Cowboys' joint practice. McVay said Garoppolo "did a great job" and praised his precision: "The ball didn't touch the ground much for him." He followed that up with another strong showing in the scrimmage before resting during the preseason game. Stetson Bennett took over preseason duties, looking more poised and in control than at any point last year. Bennett said his improvement comes from simply playing more football and developing a clearer understanding of his teammates and the offense. His progress locks him in as the No. 3 quarterback behind Stafford and Garoppolo.

Preseason Updates: Running Backs

Kyren Williams signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension with $23 million guaranteed, saying he was surprised the team met his price. "It means a whole lot that this organization believes in me," Williams said. "I'm going to continue to keep giving them everything that I have of my soul to make sure that they know that." The deal gives him the seventh-highest average annual salary at the position, secures him from being traded this season, and solidifies his role as the centerpiece of the backfield. His security was underscored by preseason usage patterns, as he rested while both Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter played. That marks a notable departure from recent years when all of the team's expected regular-season backs sat out August games. In 2023 and 2024, Williams, Corum, and Ronnie Rivers were all held out, and in 2023, Cam Akers and Williams both rested. The last time only one running back sat in the preseason was 2018, when Todd Gurley II was the starter and the backups played. Corum opened the preseason game, playing nearly every snap on the first drive before rotating with Hunter. Hunter saw more passing-down usage, while Corum handled most rushing situations. One of the two could have significant value as an injury replacement, but neither is expected to cut into Williams' workload. Ronnie Rivers, a contributor for the past three seasons, is favored for a fourth running back spot if the team keeps one, but a rib injury from the preseason game will sideline him "a while."