Sometimes a team’s chances of winning a game are only as good as the reinforcements they can call up from the practice squad. The Los Angeles Rams have one of the most talented starting lineups in the NFL going into next season, but who do they have backing up the backups?
On Monday, I wrote a 53-man roster projection. Who could that leave to L.A.’s 16-man practice squad?
Rams 2026 practice squad projection
WR Tru Edwards
WR Brennan Presley
T Bryce Henderson
G Wyatt Bowles
TE Mark Redman
TE Dan Villari
RB Dean Connors
QB Matthew Caldwell
LB Tomon Fox
LB Elias Neal
DT Bill Norton
DT Payton Zdroik
OLB Keir Thomas
S Tanner Ingle
S Nick Andersen
CB Cam Lampkin
This would be 16 players who the Rams could keep on their practice squad at the end of the training camp.
Practice Squad Notes
Veteran presence
These days, a veteran presence
can be as important as having players to develop on the practice squad. There used to be limits on who you could keep based on years accrued, but not anymore. Players like Keir Thomas, Tanner Ingle, Cam Lampkin, and Elias Neal are putting in their hours for the Rams.
Each of them is going into at least his third season with L.A..
Well, just because last year wasn’t your year, it doesn’t mean next year won’t be.
QB addition – Matthew Caldwell
Caldwell had his share of stops in college:
- Jacksonville State
- Gardner-Webb
- Troy
- Texas
He ended up throwing fewer than 300 passes in college and spent last year as Arch Manning’s backup. Despite that, here he is in the NFL, playing for Sean McVay.
Caldwell is a long shot to make the final roster, to put it mildly, but practice squad? Clearly there are tools there with the 6’2 Caldwell that Les Snead likes and wants to see if maybe he’s been under-utilized throughout his career so far.
Key Offensive Depth
Assuming that A.J. Jackson is out for a while now, the Rams must take care of their offensive line. My original 53-man projection assumed Jackson would be on it and available. However, now the Rams could turn to a new left tackle and will probably need to sign someone, not bump someone up from the practice squad.
Here we now have Bryce Henderson making the practice squad.
Henderson is a massive 6’8 graduate of Vanderbilt, following a long career at South Dakota State. Even Jackson himself is a former undrafted free agent. You never know what gems you can find there.
Tight End depth
Not only do the Rams have extreme depth on the 53-man roster, but Villari and Redman could be the best practice squad tight end duo in the NFL if this happens. L.A. spent a good “UDFA” sized penny on Villari and they really like Redman. This doesn’t even include Rohan Jones, who is also on the roster, and might be better than either of them.
