Category: Rams training camp

Sean McVay is proud of Stetson Bennett’s progress but still evaluating backup QB spot

Sean McVay must decide if Stetson Bennett has earned the backup QB spot in Weeks 1 and 2, and he’ll take as much time as he needs to make that choice

As the Los Angeles Rams have just one preseason game left, they will have to choose who will back up Matthew Stafford in Weeks 1 and 2 while Jimmy Garoppolo serves his two-game suspension.

Garropolo’s resume says that he is good enough to start and play under any center in the NFL but has struggled throughout camp and is suspended to start the year. Stetson Bennett has been solid throughout camp and is coming off an improved performance in Saturday’s 13-9 win over the Chargers.

On Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay said he’s still unsure of who will be backing up Stafford to open the season but he will “use all the time that we have” before deciding whether it will be Bennett or someone else.

“What I try to do is take it a little bit at a time. That’s where if you really said, ‘Okay, are you worried about Matthew? If we have to err on the side of caution, it’s going to give us more chances to evaluate Stetson and also Jimmy in some of these practice settings.” Said McVay. “I don’t necessarily have a timeline. I know the latest timeline is as it relates to that, but if (Bennett) continues to progress, you’ll be pleased.”

After being absent from the roster due to personal reasons last season, Bennett has played every preseason snap this year while Stafford and Garroppolo have played none. Fourth-string quarterback Dresser Winn has hasn’t played a snap this preseason, either.

This preseason, Bennett has had one game he’d like to forget and one where he looked better but still committed two turnovers..

In the first game of the preseason against the Cowboys, Bennett went 24-for-38 for 244 yards, one touchdown and a miserable four interceptions. In Saturday’s win over the Chargers, he was better than that dreaded performance the week before, going 17-for-31 with 213 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“… where he’s come from and the way he has acted, interacted, and responded to all the different things thrown at him. I’ve been proud of Stetson. I really have,” said McVay.

Before his arrival to the Rams last season, he was a two-time college football National Champion with the Georgia Bulldogs, while also being awarded as the National Championship offensive player MVP and was a two-time second-team SEC All-American.

While it’s unknown what the Rams might do at quarterback this season, one thing is for sure and that is Garroppolo will not be on the sideline for the first two games of the season due to his PED suspension.

Garroppolo has had quite a career in the NFL. From winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots as a backup quarterback to Tom Brady to leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback in the 2019-20 season where he was just shy of 4,000 yards passing with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Rams CB Cobie Durant could turn standout camp into breakout season

Cobie Durant is shining in camp and appears poised to be a key member of the starting secondary this season

Cobie Durant was one of the few bright spots in what was a very disappointing 2022 season for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing four games, Durant made the most of his opportunities as a third-round rookie, even leading the NFL in interception return yards (151) while playing just 33% of the Rams’ defensive snaps.

Many expected Durant to take the next step in 2023 but he was fairly inconsistent at corner and fell out of favor in the middle of the season before reemerging in the final three weeks.

The Rams signed Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White in free agency this offseason but they still need a third cornerback to round out the secondary when they’re in nickel packages, which has essentially become their base defense.

Durant could be the all-important nickel defender for Los Angeles.

Reports of Durant’s play in training camp have been unanimously positive, which is encouraging for the Rams. He has the talent to be a high-end starting cornerback, showing off his ball skills and instincts as a rookie in 2023, and he seems to be putting it all together this year.

“A guy that’s really grown,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Wednesday. “He’s playing a lot more outside now, where, his first year, I was actually the DBs coach, and he was playing more inside all the time. It’s a guy that’s really understanding. Tre White actually took him under his wing in the offseason. He’s really understanding route combinations, splits, exactly what he is going to get. A guy that has just been playing consistent and he really has all offseason.”

With the injuries suffered by Derion Kendrick (ACL) and Williams (hamstring), the Rams need Durant more than ever. He’s the favorite to be the third starting cornerback after the Rams seemingly made the decision to primarily play Quentin Lake at safety, so Durant is going to be on the field a lot.

Sean McVay raved about the offseason Durant has had to date, emphasizing his improvements in the mental aspects of the game – similar to the way Shula did.

“I think he’s been excellent,” McVay said. “I thought he had a really good offseason. I think he’s picked up where he left off in the offseason. Really understands what’s going on. He can see the game slowing down. I think he’s really understanding some of the things that (DBs coach) Aubrey (Pleasant) is teaching in his room, where his play opportunities arise.”

Tackling has never been a strong suit for the 5-foot-11 cornerback, missing 11 tackles in the last two years. And while he was great in coverage as a rookie in 2022 but he gave up 370 yards on only 42 targets last season, allowing a passer rating of 98.3.

Durant looked to be on his way to a breakout 2023 season after emerging as a playmaking rookie, but he suffered a second-year slump. His third year in the Rams defense could be the one that elevates him to new heights.

64 photos from Rams training camp at Loyola Marymount

Check out some of the best photos from Rams training camp so far

The Los Angeles Rams are calling Loyola Marymount University home for training camp this year after previously holding their summer practices at UC Irvine. Players and coaches have loved the setup at LMU during the first week of practice, while also enjoying the perfect weather in Southern California.

On Monday, the Rams put on the pads for the first time, an important step in their prep for the regular season. Though Matthew Stafford didn’t participate, he was in attendance during what was a planned rest day for the veteran quarterback.

With camp in full swing, take a look at some of the best photos from Rams practice.

 

Even after signing Jerry Jacobs, Rams open to adding another CB

After losing two cornerbacks to injury in camp, the Rams are open to adding more help at that spot – even after signing Jerry Jacobs

The cornerback position has been bitten hard by the injury bug this training camp. The Los Angeles Rams lost Derion Kendrick to a torn ACL, sidelining him for the entire 2024 season. A day later, Darious Williams strained his hamstring and is considered week to week.

The Rams moved quickly by signing former Lions starter Jerry Jacobs, but they may not be done making moves in the secondary. Sean McVay said Saturday that the team would be open to adding another cornerback.

“He’s played good football,” McVay said of Jacobs. “He has some good tape out there. Aubrey [Pleasant] has a history with him from his time with him in Detroit, so that was important. Then there’s still some other guys that we might have the possibility of being able to bring in. When you lose two corners, at least in the immediate future in terms of we know that Derion is going to be for the year and then Darious will at least be kind of a week at a time, we wanted to make sure that we didn’t add to the other guys that are on this roster with their workloads. It can kind of have that cumulative effect and you don’t really want that to occur. He’s had good tape out there, ultimately.”

Tre’Davious White will be one starter and Williams is expected to be the other starter when healthy, but the depth after that gets questionable. Tre Tomlinson is someone to watch as a second-year player and Shaun Jolly has some experience playing in the slot, but the Rams could use bodies at cornerback until Williams returns.

Ahkello Witherspoon is still available and McVay wouldn’t rule out him returning to the Rams, so he could be an option, as well.

Rookie WR Jordan Whittington already making good impression in Rams camp

It’s very early in training camp, but Jordan Whittington is making a good impression on Cooper Kupp and Sean McVay

It’s become very apparent in the last eight years that Les Snead and Sean McVay have a great eye for wide receiver talent. Whether in the draft or free agency, the Los Angeles Rams always seem to find playmakers at the position.

Cooper Kupp won Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, Puka Nacua had the best rookie season ever by a wide receiver in 2023 and now Jordan Whittington is trying to become the next gem uncovered by the Rams.

Whittington, who played five years at Texas, was drafted by Los Angeles in the sixth round this year. He’s still getting a grasp of the offense, only being in his first week of training camp, but he’s made a great impression already.

On Thursday, the second practice of camp, Whittington was getting reps with the first-team offense – quite the surprise considering he’s a sixth-round rookie with four proven players ahead of him on the depth chart.

He’s caught Kupp’s eye already, with the veteran receiver calling him “pretty special” after the team’s second practice.

“What he’s done, he’s been so impressive,” Kupp said on “Inside Rams Camp.” “The learning curve is so fast for him. He’s really come out, you see him getting reps with the ones out here, too. Pretty special dude. He’s got some gas, also.”

At one point in practice, Whittington beat former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White for a reception down the left sideline. He was wide open, easily getting behind the corner and shallow enough that the safety couldn’t make a play.

It was during team drills where the first-team offense was going against the starting defense, too.

McVay likes what he’s seen from the rookie wideout, as well. On Wednesday, he mentioned Whittington’s versatility after saying his role is still to be determined on offense.

“I think it’s to be determined. I think he’s a versatile skillset for us,” McVay said. “We obviously have some guys in that receiver room that are great examples for him to be able to learn from. (WRs coach) Eric Yarber, (offensive assistant) Nate Scheelhaase and (offensive assistant) Rob Calabrese have really done a great job coaching that room up. It’s just the first day of training camp. I like the way that he’s approached the offseason and did some good things today, but we have a long way to go. I like what I’ve seen from him so far.”

Between Kupp, Nacua and Demarcus Robinson, the Rams’ top three receivers are just about set. Tutu Atwell is battling Robinson for the third spot, but he’ll most likely end up as WR4 – as long as Whittington doesn’t unseat him.

As training camp rolls on, it’ll be worth monitoring who between Whittington and Atwell is getting more first-team reps because that’ll be an indication of how the rotation might shake out in the regular season.

Rams TE Tyler Higbee to start training camp on PUP list

As of now, Tyler Higbee is the only Rams player who will start training camp on the PUP list

As expected, the Los Angeles Rams will be without Tyler Higbee on the field for the start of training camp. Sean McVay said on Tuesday that Higbee will start camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, meaning he will not participate in practice as he continues to rehab a torn ACL and MCL suffered in January.

McVay said Higbee is the only player who will go on the PUP list as of now, so the Rams are otherwise healthy for the beginning of camp.

With the PUP list, Higbee cannot practice but can participate in other team activities. He can also be activated at any time, at which point he’ll be able to practice. This designation does not guarantee that he will miss any regular-season games, either.

If the Rams do keep Higbee on the reserve/PUP list when final roster cuts are made, however, he will be required to miss at least the first four games of the season.