For some players on the roster bubble, it all comes down to this. The Rams will play their final preseason game of 2022 on Saturday night against the Bengals, giving a large group of players one last chance to prove themselves and earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Teams will have to trim their rosters down from 80 players to 53 next Tuesday, so time is running out for guys on the roster bubble. The Rams have plenty of players in that position, and while their jobs won’t be decided by one single game, this contest will have a big impact on the final impression left on the coaching staff.
These seven players must stand out on Saturday in Cincinnati.
OL Bobby Evans
Logan Bruss’ season-ending injury helps Evans’ chances of making the 53-man roster, and maybe he was going to make it anyway. But he’s struggled in the preseason and last week against the Texans, he played every offensive snap – not a great sign for a fourth-year lineman.
Evans is likely to get a lot of playing time again this Saturday in Cincinnati as he makes one last push to secure a spot on the team. He might be competing with rookie A.J. Arcuri for one of the final positions on the 53-man roster.
DL Jonah Williams
Williams stood out in a big way against the Texans, recording four tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss. The Rams have essentially locked in four defensive linemen already (Donald, Gaines, Robinson, Copeland), so there are limited spots available behind them.
Williams is on his way to potentially earning one, but he’ll need another strong performance against the Bengals on Saturday. Defensive line depth is important and the Rams will probably keep five, but that final spot could come down to Michael Hoecht and Williams.
CB Grant Haley
Haley has done a nice job this preseason, particularly in the opener against the Chargers. He ranked second on the team with eight tackles in that win, finding himself around the ball fairly often. Whether Haley makes the team will come down to the Rams possibly keeping seven cornerbacks because six are already guaranteed to make the team.
Haley and Duron Lowe could be fighting for one spot if the Rams want to go deeper in the secondary and both would be deserving of a roster spot. Haley might have a slight edge based on experience, however.
OLB Benton Whitley
Whitley has come close to sacking the quarterback a few times this preseason but he still doesn’t have one yet. His path to the 53-man roster got a little easier with Daniel Hardy spraining his ankle, but Whitley still has plenty of work to do.
He’ll need to beat out Brayden Thomas and Keir Thomas, and also convince the coaching staff that he deserves a roster spot more than the oft-injured Chris Garrett. Dominating against the Bengals this weekend would go a long way toward his chances of making the team as an undrafted rookie.
OL Chandler Brewer
Brewer is in a similar position as Evans, only he might have a slight advantage in the race to a roster spot. He can play tackle or guard and has looked good in the preseason, a step above Evans. The Rams’ offensive line room is filled with young talent, however, and Sean McVay has gone out of his way to praise both Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and A.J. Jackson this offseason.
Brewer would be one of the final linemen on the roster if he makes it, and after losing Bruss for the year, he might just find himself on the team come September.
RB Jake Funk
It doesn’t seem very likely that the Rams will only keep three running backs on the 53-man roster, but you just never know. Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr. and Kyren Williams are locks, which means Funk will have to earn his spot. He hasn’t done much to impress in the preseason so far and while it’s encouraging that he’s been able to stay healthy, he needs to make a big play or two in order to really show he should be RB3 behind the starters.
DE Earnest Brown IV
Brown didn’t make the 53-man roster as a rookie last year, so he’s under a microscope already. He had a sack in the preseason opener, which was a positive step for the second-year defensive lineman, but it’s not going to be enough to ensure he makes the team – even with Bobby Brown III suspended.
Earnest Brown should get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer on Saturday and hopefully he can deliver with a sack – or at least some pressure on the Bengals’ backups quarterbacks.
