In his first game back with the Los Angeles Rams after a seven-year absence, Alex Bachman was clearly the team’s best receiver in Saturday’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints. It was not C.J. Daniels, who the team’s quarterbacks had to force feed 13 targets just to get 68 yards — an average of 5.2 yards per target — but Bachman who stood out as not only the Rams’ best receiver, but also as the team’s punt returner.
Bachman’s four-yard punt return won’t make SportsCenter. And his four catches for
48 yards don’t eclipse the eight catches for 68 yards that Daniels finished with on Saturday. But his consistency when he was targeted (four-of-four) and his ability to make those plays for Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson that really helped Bachman feel like Sean McVay’s best weapon in L.A.‘s second preseason game.
Can you “steal the show” though when nobody seems to realize you were often the best player on the field?
As nice as it would be to say that Bachman’s strong day as a receiver is an indication that he will make the 53-man roster or help the team, it’s probably just more of a signal that the Rams four viable receivers didn’t suit up: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, and Konata Mumpfield.
Those are the four receivers who McVay will use in 2026. Unless, or until one of them gets injured, players like Daniels and Bachman will continue to make more of an impact in practice than on game day.
There was also no sign of Xavier Smith on Saturday, a potential indication that McVay has him locked in as the team’s 2026 punt returner, which everybody should have expected.
And if you could only keep one of those two receivers including Bachman, of course you would protect C.J. Daniels, who did have a nice sideline “catch” and certainly showed why Rams coaches are high on his potential. They should be and Daniels is ahead of Bachman in terms of priorities.
After all, we’ve seen guys like “Alex Bachman” come through the league many times before. This is not the first time he’s had a good preseason performance. Bachman entered the NFL in 2019 with the Rams and he’s so good at training camp and preseason that he’s still at it seven years later.
That’s amazing. But it doesn’t get you onto the 53-man roster.
However, we must call a spade a spade:
Judging the quality of every receiver on the field on Saturday against the Saints, Bachman was the most consistent and dependable.
- Daniels was given every chance to show out with his 13 targets. If he gets that much run next week against the Chargers, fans should hope he is able to do even more with it.
- Tyler Scott had the day’s longest play at 20 yards
- Brennan Presley had three catches for 30 yards
- Tru Edwards had two catches for 24 yards
Not a receiver, but Max Klare was the game’s biggest disappointment, catching four passes for 12 yards on six targets with a drop.
If we had to guess as of now, the Rams will keep six receivers, including Daniels and Smith. Bachman, Presley, and Scott would seem to be the favorites for the practice squad and if something happens to Smith, Bachman may find himself on a game day roster again.
He was the best receiver on the field. We didn’t need 13 targets to see that.
