Tag: elias neal

Rams waive undrafted rookie LB, opening up a roster spot

The Rams opened up a roster spot, waiving 2024 UDFA Elias Neal on Monday.

The Los Angeles Rams announced on Monday that they have waived LB Elias Neal. Neal, a 2024 undrafted free-agent signing from Marshall University, impressed coaches and executives in the preseason. Neal defied the odds, making the teams’ 53-man roster to begin the season.

During his time with the Rams, Neal was active in five games and exclusively played on special teams. Neal saw zero defensive snaps during his time with the organization.

Waiving Neal opens up a roster spot for the Rams. Only time will tell what the Rams do with said opening but Sean McVay said Monday that the team could activate Joe Noteboom from injured reserve this week, so he would require a spot on the 53-man roster.

Five undrafted rookies made Rams’ 53-man roster, all on defense

The Rams kept five undrafted rookies on their 53-man roster, all of them on defense

With how many late-round picks and undrafted rookies have made the Los Angeles Rams’ roster over the last seven years, it’s clear that Sean McVay and Les Snead aren’t afraid to bet on lesser-known players. That’s the case again this year.

As the Rams were going through final roster cuts before Tuesday’s deadline, they decided to keep five undrafted rookies. That’s a high number for any team, particularly one with as much talent as the Rams.

The five undrafted rookies who made the 53-man roster are all on defense, too.

  • LB Omar Speights
  • LB Elias Neal
  • CB Josh Wallace
  • CB Charles Woods
  • CB Jaylen McCollough

Speights, Wallace, Woods and McCollough all seemed likely to make the team after they were held out of the third preseason game, but Neal’s inclusion comes as a big surprise. Perhaps he made the team after the Rams decided to trade Ernest Jones to the Titans, which opened up a roster spot. Regardless, he earned a spot on the roster with a strong preseason.

In addition to the five undrafted rookies, the Rams kept nine of their 10 drafted rookies on the 53-man roster. The only exception is seventh-rounder KT Leveston, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.