Rams face tough roster decisions
Perkins as No. 3 QB, starting punter are top questions
Bryce Perkins played well in the Rams’ preseason games this month, the young quarterback’s improving passing touch and running ability offering hope for a bright future.
Soon, he’ll find out if that future is with the Rams or another team.
“Whatever happens these next few days,” Perkins said after the Rams’ 17-12 loss to the Broncos in Denver on Saturday, “I know that I’m a better player because these guys gave me a shot.”
What will happen to Perkins is a deceptively important decision to watch as the Rams make the deep cuts needed to reduce their roster to the regularseason limit of 53 before the deadline today at 1 p.m.
Monday, the Rams announced they waived six
players, wide receiver Jeremiah Haydel, offensive linemen Jeremiah Kolone and Jordan Meredith, cornerback Donovan Olumba and safeties Brontae Harris and Troy Warner.
All were undrafted rookies and minor free-agent pickups, and none played for the team last season, although Harris intercepted a pass in this year’s second preseason game.
About two dozen more cuts must be made today, the exact number depending on the possibility of trades and injury list moves. The Rams can bring back or add 16 players for their practice squad. But first, they must see who goes through waivers without being claimed by another team.
It was unclear if the decision about whether to go with four-time All-Pro Johnny Hekker or Bellflower native Corey Bojorquez as punter is complicated by the fact that teams can’t release players who are on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Hekker went on the list on Aug. 21 and remained on it Monday. Bojorquez went on the list at the same time but was activated two days later and had a spectacular game against the Broncos on Saturday.
Perkins’ future is a curious question — actually, more than one question — after he led NFC quarterbacks with 451 yards passing (to go with 114 rushing yards) in the Rams’ three preseason losses, beating out former Pittsburgh Steelers backup Duck Hodges for the No. 3 quarterback job.
Will Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay make the unusual move to keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, in addition to Matthew Stafford and John Wolford?
If they decide to cut Perkins in hope of getting him back for the practice squad, will another team claim him on waivers, a move that would require that team to place him on its active roster?
Could Snead trade him? Perkins, an Arizona native who was sixth in the nation in total yards (4,299) as a senior at Virginia before the Rams signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2020, could be one of those NFL players who get attention only in the preseason while regulars sit out games.
Or he could turn into a significant player for the Rams, who stand to lose Wolford to free agency after this season.
“He’s a resilient competitor,” McVay said of Perkins on Saturday, saying he was “making it a very difficult decision” whether to protect him from a waiver claim by putting him on the roster.
Perkins spoke as if he expects to leave, expressing gratitude to the Rams for signing him and coaching him.
“In practice, you’d think I’m the star, the way the coaches coached me,” Perkins said. “Whether I’m here or somewhere else, I’ll be able to take the teachings of the players and the coaches and the staff anywhere I go.”