As expected, the Los Angeles Rams were very cautious with most of their players during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. They held all of their projected starters out of action, including rookies Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and even Blake Corum.
The Cowboys took a similar approach, just not to the extreme that the Rams did. The result was a lot of backups on the field at SoFi Stadium during Los Angeles’ 13-12 win over Dallas.
Playing time can sometimes tell us a lot about where a player stands on the depth chart, indicating whether they’re projected to be a primary backup or if they’re fighting for a roster spot. Below, we break down the snap counts on each side of the ball, as well as the 37 players who were held out.
Offense
A.J. Arcuri, Logan Bruss and Stetson Bennett were the only three players to stay on the field for every snap Sunday. Bennett is most likely going to make the team because of Jimmy Garoppolo’s two-game suspension, but the fact that Arcuri and Bruss both played the whole game is a bad sign for their outlook. They’re squarely on the bubble and seem unlikely to make the team.
Xavier Smith led all wideouts with a 76% snap share as he attempts to make the 53-man roster at wide receiver. He’s projected to be the seventh wideout on the depth chart. Standout rookie Jordan Whittington played 65% of the game and led the team in receiving.
Boston Scott and Zach Evans were the only two running backs who played at all, indicating Ronnie Rivers is comfortably sitting third on the depth chart. Evans did little to help his stock compared to what Scott accomplished.
Davis Allen surprisingly played 32% of the snaps despite being viewed as the No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson. Perhaps Hunter Long is closer to that spot than expected.
It’s hard to tell whether Mike McAllister or Beaux Limmer is the backup center right now; Limmer played much more than McAllister on Sunday.
Defense
Zach VanValkenburg got a lot of playing time as a starting edge rusher and he performed very well, though he still has a lot of work to do at a deep position group. Keir Thomas played 59% of the snaps at edge rusher, too, as he battles for a roster spot. Nick Hampton stood out in the 21 snaps he played, while Ochaun Mathis didn’t make any noise when he was on the field.
Jaylen McCollough caught the attention of Sean McVay for his aggressiveness and play on the field, earning 62% of the snaps in the win. Rookie corner Charles Woods played 61% of the defensive snaps so he got a long look from the coaching staff, as well.
Tyler Davis was one of the few drafted rookies who played a bunch in this game, taking the field for 55% of the snaps. He’s someone who could have an impact right away this season.
Chris Shula rotated his defensive backs a lot, getting 12 different guys playing time this weekend. Kamren Kinchens flashed a few times, as did Russ Yeast, and both are projected to make the 53-man roster. Yeast was often lined up in the slot as the Rams’ “star” defender rather than in a traditional safety role.
Did not play
OLB Byron Young, DB Kamren Curl, QB Dresser Winn, WR Tutu Atwell, OLB Jared Verse, QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, DB Cobie Durant, WR Demarcus Robinson, WR Puka Nacua, RB Ronnie Rivers, RB Blake Corum, RB Kyren Williams, DB Darious Williams, DB Tre’Davious White, DB Quentin Lake, DB John Johnson, LB Brennan Jackson, LB Ernest Jones, DT Braden Fiske, LB Christian Rozeboom, OL Alec Lindstrom, ILB Troy Reeder, OL Grant Miller, OL KT Leveston, OL Kevin Dotson, OL Joe Noteboom, G Jonah Jackson, OL Steve Avila, OL Alaric Jackson, OL Rob Havenstein, TE Colby Parkinson, TE Tyler Higbee, NT Kobie Turner, NT Bobby Brown, OLB Michael Hoecht
There are no real surprises in this group because most of them are either A) projected to be starters or B) proven veterans. Durant’s absence from the game indicates he’s a lock to be a key contributor this season, with the same going for Christian Rozeboom.
Jackson is dealing with a soft-tissue injury so that’s why he didn’t play, and Leveston is also injured.
It would’ve been nice to see Corum get some opportunities but the fact that he didn’t play at all shows how highly he’s viewed.