A look at Rams, Chargers depth charts.
Here’s a look at the Rams roster as the team prepares to open training camp Wednesday at UC Irvine. It will be updated throughout camp and the season. Players are listed in the likely playing-time pecking order at each position, as seen by Rams beat writer Kevin Modesti. Offseason additions are noted by T for trade acquisitions, FA for free-agent signings, W for waiver pickups, R-F for reserve-future contracts, D for drafted rookies and U for undrafted rookies.
QUARTERBACK
Matthew Stafford (T), John Wolford, Devlin Hodges (R-F), Bryce Perkins: The Rams hope the January swap of Jared Goff for the more dynamic Stafford proves to be the NFL’s biggest roster move of 2021. Wolford rewarded coach Sean McVay’s confidence in the playoff win over Seattle. Ex-Steeler Hodges is insurance in case something happens to Stafford or Wolford.
RUNNING BACKS
Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Jake Funk (D), Otis Anderson (U), Cam Akers (injured): Akers’ Achilles injury a week before players report to camp brought a sobering end to the Rams’ productive offseason. They’re expressing faith that Henderson and Jones can replace the team’s 2020 leading rusher, but can’t rule out pursuing a starter in a trade or free-agent signing.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, DeSean Jackson (FA), Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell (D), Ben Skowronek (D), J.J. Koski, Trishton Jackson, Landen Akers (U), Jeremiah Haydel (U): If the 34-year-old Jackson and 165-pound Atwell avoid injuries, they can team with Stafford to provide the deep passing threat McVay’s offense has missed the past two years, giving Kupp and Woods more room to turn short catches into long gains.
TIGHT ENDS
Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Johnny Mundt, Jacob Harris (D), Kendall Blanton: Harris, the fourthround pick from Central Florida, earned high praise from McVay after spring practices and could be the replacement for Gerald Everett behind Higbee in an offense that values tight ends.
OFFENSIVE LINE Andrew Whitworth (left tackle), Rob Havenstein (right tackle), David Edwards (left guard), Bobby Evans (right guard/tackle), Austin Corbett (center/guard), Joe Noteboom (left guard/tackle), Tremayne
Anchrum (right tackle/guard), Chandler Brewer (tackle), Max Pircher (tackle, International Players Pathway), Jamil Demby (guard), Alaric Jackson (tackle, U), Brian Allen (center), Coleman Shelton (center), Jordan Meredith (U): No offensive linemen were added through free agency or the draft, so the Rams hope their emphasis on O-line versatility and cross-training pays off with Corbett (moving over from right guard) replacing Austin Blythe at center and Evans (who has played tackle) filling the right guard slot.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Aaron Donald, Sebastian JosephDay, A’Shawn Robinson, Bobby Brown III (D), Earnest Brown IV (D), Greg Gaines, Marquise Copeland, Eric Banks, Jonah Williams, Michael Hoecht, George Silvanic (U): Donald, a seven-time All-Pro before he turned 30, remains the best interior defensive lineman in the league. This group lost Michael Brockers and Morgan Fox but expects another step forward by Joseph-Day, a return to health and fitness by Robinson, and big contributions by fourth-round pick Brown.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Terrell Lewis, Chris Garrett (D), Max Roberts (U), Justin Lawler, John Daka (W): The Rams spent big to retain Floyd, needing another big year from the edge rusher. McVay gave a mention to Hollins at the start of training camp when the coach discussed who’ll man the other side after Samson Ebukam was signed away by the 49ers.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS Troy Reeder, Kenny Young, Micah
Kiser, Ernest Jones (D), Travin Howard, Derrick Moncrief, Christian
Rozeboom: It’s hard to see any of the above having a first-string role sewed up, meaning the door is open for Jones to step right in after the third-rounder from South Carolina showed command of the playbook and an ILB’s signalcalling role during OTAs.
CORNERBACKS
Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, David Long, Robert Rochell (D), Brontae Harris (U), Dont’e Deayon, Dayan Lake (FA), Kareem Orr
(FA): Two-time All-Pro Ramsey and breakout star Williams should man the corners while Long gets first crack at nickel defensive back. The need to replace slot corner Troy Hill is one reason the secondary is a question mark going into training camp (see the next position).
SAFETIES
Taylor Rapp, Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott, JuJu Hughes, J.R. Reed, Jake Jervase, Paris Ford (U), Jovan Grant (U), Troy Warner (U): Safety and defensive signal-caller John Johnson’s departure as a free agent – to the Browns, same as Hill – means at least one of the top three must step up in tangible and intangible ways. Rapp goes into his third NFL season, Fuller and Burgess their second.
KICKER
Matt Gay, Austin MacGinnis:
With Gay proven, it’s quite a difference from a year ago when a three-way training camp battle to replace Greg Zuerlein touched off a half-season circus at the position.
PUNTER
Johnny Hekker, Corey Bojorquez (FA), Brandon Wright (punter/ kicker): Hekker has four All-Pro honors but acknowledges that being the NFL’s highest-paid punter, coming off a down season, leaves him vulnerable to a challenge from Bellflower native Bojorquez.
LONG SNAPPER
Steven Wirtel (FA), Matthew
Orzech (W): Wirtel, 23, and Orzech, 26, battle to succeed Jake McQuaide, whose departure as a free agent after 10 seasons completed the breakup of the Rams’ longtime kicking unit.
RETURNERS
Tutu Atwell (D), Raymond Calais: The Rams will have a new punt and kick returner — or that could be more than one guy — after moving on from Nsimba Webster (waived July 20). This is where Atwell’s speed could make its first impact. Several young players were tested during OTAs.