The playing time for edge rusher Wesley Bailey and safety Nick Andersen in Saturday’s preseason win over the Chargers could indicate that the two undrafted free agents will make Sean McVay’s final 53-man roster. Bailey was pulled from the game after only two snaps, while Andersen only played in eight snaps. Historically, the less that McVay wants to see of you in the preseason, the better.
This should leave McVay with very few unknown bubble decisions, although several of the names in consideration
for not making the roster could surprise fans, such as Stetson Bennett and C.J. Daniels.
A week ago, we highlighted the players who either had not played in the preseason at all or who had been held out of the second game after playing in the first. By all accounts, every single one of those decisions by McVay does indicate that the player is making the roster, with the exception of cornerback Zech McPhearson, who was released due to injury.
But while there was pushback on why some players sat out, like Ronnie Rivers, a running back who the majority of fans wanted to see cut in favor of Jarquez Hunter, McVay reiterated how important Rivers is to him because of “trust”. Then Hunter was traded to the Dolphins for Tutu Atwell, clearing the way for Rivers and opening the door for Atwell to make the roster out of left field.
A field once thought to be occupied by Daniels.
Rams notable snap counts vs. Chargers
Per PFF, here are some key snap decisions by McVay on defense:
- LB Nikhai Green-Hill, 49 snaps
- EDGE Tomon Fox, 45 snaps
- CB AZ Hamilton, 42 snaps
- EDGE Darryl Peterson, 42 snaps
- CB Cam Lampkin, 36 snaps
- DT Bill Norton, 30 snaps
- DT Payton Zdroik, 27 snaps
- DT Larrell Murchison, 26 snaps
- DT Tim Keenan, 24 snaps
- S Nick Andersen, 8 snaps
- EDGE Wesley Bailey, 2 snaps
That’s not the complete list. It just indicates that McVay didn’t want to see a lot of Anderson or Bailey, but he did want to give those snaps to players like Peterson, Fox, and Tanner Ingle and Alex Cook.
As of last week, there were 21 defensive players held out of the preseason game against the Saints, not including McPhearson.
If we add in Andersen and Bailey, that makes 23. There aren’t many more players on a defensive roster than that. Maybe 2.
Here were some key snap decisions on offense:
- OT AJ Arcuri, 74 snaps
- OL Austin Blaske, 74 snaps
- OL Bryce Henderson, 74 snaps
- G Wyatt Bowles, 74 snaps
- WR Brennan Presley, 53 snaps
- QB Ty Simpson, 48 snaps
- TE Max Klare, 41 snaps
- RB Dean Connors, 38 snaps
- WR CJ Daniels, 34 snaps
Last time we did this, 19 players were held out on offense, with Xavier Smith joining the group in preseason week 2.
So if you take 19 and you add in obvious “made it” candidates Simpson and Klare, that adds up to 21. If the team keeps Tutu Atwell and Xavier Smith (they are similar, but not the same, as Atwell is not a known punt returner), that makes 22.
Do the math:
- 23 on defense
- 22 on offense
- 3 on special teams
That’s already 48 players, leaving only five available spots.
This is a list of 48 that does not include:
- Bennett
- Daniels
- Connors
- Blaske
- Arcuri
- Keenan
- Lampkin
- Keagen Trost
Unless Trost is placed on IR, he will also be on the 53-man roster. That would only leave four spots.
If the Rams keep Daniels, in addition to the ones already mentioned, that would be seven wide receivers. Not only would it be seven receivers, it would be seven receivers on a team that has five tight ends.
And if the team keeps Bennett and Connors, it’s an offense with three quarterbacks, four running backs, seven receivers, and five tight ends. A little unusual.
However, if A.J Jackson and Puka Nacua are suspended, then McVay has to keep two additional offensive players on the roster anyway. It’s a bit strange that the NFL hasn’t announced anything on that this close to the season.
Barring that though, it’s hard to see how the Rams can keep every player who outsiders think they should keep or will keep. Certainly C.J. Daniels is 100% on the bubble and not a lock to make the team. He may be the one most “hopeful”, if you can call it that, that Nacua is suspended.
Bennett is taking a roster spot from someone else, if Ty Simpson is named as the backup.
Blaske would be an 11th offensive lineman, which is a luxury teams can usually only afford if they don’t have high numbers at every other offensive position.
So what’s it going to be?
The Rams had good news for Bailey and Andersen with how little they played on Thursday. They can only give out so much more good news in the next couple of days.
