Just days before facing the Rams, the Jets signed RB Zach Evans – a player who was drafted by LA in 2023
The New York Jets might be looking for an edge in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams based on their latest signing. Just days before they’re set to host the Rams on Sunday afternoon, the Jets signed former Rams running back Zach Evans to the practice squad.
Evans was drafted by the Rams in the sixth round last year, but he was cut by Los Angeles in August when the Rams began trimming their roster. He’s been a free agent ever since, but he’ll get a shot in New York.
Evans is unlikely to be active on Sunday but he provides some depth behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, both of whom are banged up entering Week 16.
Plus, he might be able to give the Jets coaching staff some intel on the Rams’ offense, which is probably why New York signed him in the first place.
In his lone season with the Rams, Evans carried it nine times for 19 yards. He played a total of 16 offensive snaps and 51 special teams snaps in 2023.
Zach Evans, a 2023 sixth-rounder, has been cut from the Rams’ practice squad
Zach Evans battled for a roster spot this summer, only to come up short and get cut when the Rams trimmed the team down to 53 players. He landed on the practice squad but one day after being signed to it, he’s been cut.
The team announced Evans has been released from the practice squad, making him eligible to sign elsewhere. Evans was a sixth-round pick in 2023 but failed to carve out a role in Los Angeles, so he’ll be looking for a fresh start with another team.
The Rams now have 16 players on the practice squad, including David Olajiga, who has an exemption as an international player. That gives them one available spot to sign another player at any time.
Last season, Evans carried the ball nine times for 19 yards, playing just 16 offensive snaps and 51 on special teams.
We look at seven players the Titans should pursue.
Tuesday marked the deadline for each NFL team to cut their roster down to 53 players.
That means every team had difficult decisions to make, including the Tennessee Titans. The Titans’ final roster includes surprises and omits a few players that many fans and analysts have predicted to be on it.
For example, the team’s initial 53-man roster includes five tight ends, a whopping seven inside linebackers, and just four corners and three running backs.
Of course, this roster will change again before the regular season kicks off. With every team cutting 30+ players, the Titans will see if any of those players fit on their roster.
Now, let’s identify seven players who were released or waived who could fit on this Titans’ roster.
Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
D’Onta Foreman, RB
D”Onta Foreman was released by the Cleveland Browns, and the veteran should interest the Titans. Foreman impressed as a member of the Titans in 2021, taking 133 carries for 566 yards.
Since that time, Foreman has spent a season with the Carolina Panthers and a season with the Chicago Bears. The veteran had hoped to latch on with the Browns but was unable to secure a spot on the final roster.
The Titans only kept three RBs on the roster after Hassan Haskins and Jabari Small failed to impress. With Julius Chestnut as the lone backup option, the team should consider bringing in Foreman to bolster the depth.
Carl Lawson #58 of the New York Jets. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Carl Lawson, EDGE
Carl Lawson could not crack the Dallas Cowboys’ roster, and the veteran will once again hit the open market. Lawson once signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Jets, but injuries have prevented the defender from being consistent.
In 2023, Lawson was limited to six games and accumulated just five tackles. However, he had a productive pass-rushing season as recently as 2022, when he racked up seven sacks.
The Titans only kept four edge rushers on the final roster, so Lawson would provide a solid depth addition. Shane Ray was not one of the edge rushers kept around, so a veteran presence would be nice.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (10). Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
CJ Henderson, CB
The Titans gave up on one former first-round cornerback, so why not take a gamble on another? The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted CJ Henderson in the top ten of the 2020 NFL draft, and his career has not gone according to plan thus far.
Henderson was traded to the Carolina Panthers after just one season in Jacksonville, and the corner’s play never lived up to his draft pedigree. However, the Titans only kept four corners, and a young corner like Henderson may fit in perfectly behind L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie.
Cincinnati Bengals guard Jackson Carman (79). Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jackson Carman, OL
Jackson Carman is another highly-drafted player who has disappointed to this point in the NFL. Carman was a second-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft but has only started in six games.
The Bengals cut bait on Carman, but the Titans could be interested. On the initial roster, the team kept John Ojukwu and Jaelyn Duncan as backup tackles, which shouldn’t inspire much confidence.
Perhaps Brian Callahan saw enough during his time with Carman to take a chance.
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Travis Bell (73). Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Travis Bell, DT
Travis Bell is another former Bengal who should interest the Titans. The defensive lineman was a seventh-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears last year but has already played on three different rosters.
However, Bell is still an intriguing prospect. The 6’0″, 310-pound DT was the first player to be drafted out of Kennesaw State and flashed preseason ability as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher.
The Titans do not have much depth on the defensive line. Keondre Coburn is the only reserve on the roster right now, so high-upside additions would be smart.
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Royce Newman (70). Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Royce Newman, G
As mentioned above, the Titans’ backup offensive linemen don’t inspire much confidence. The team kept Daniel Brunskill and Andrew Rupcich to back up on the interior after Saahdiq Charles’s retirement threw a wrench in the team’s plans.
Currently, Dillon Radunz is slated to start at right guard, with Brunskill and Rupcich as backup options. Adding Royce Newman would give the team a capable option who could fill in at a moment’s notice.
Newman has delivered acceptable results in 24 career starts. The lineman would greatly improve the Titans’ depth.
Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans (21). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Evans, RB
Zach Evans was a surprise cut by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 sixth-round pick impressed in the preseason, scoring two TDs in the finale.
Evans will now hit the waiver wire after just one season in LA. As mentioned previously, the Titans could use reinforcements at RB. Even though Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears will get the bulk of the carries, having just one depth option probably isn’t wise.
Evans would be a high-upside claim by the Titans, providing insurance in case Pollard or Spears get injured.
Zach Evans is in danger of not making the Rams’ roster this year. He needs a big performance against the Chargers today.
The Rams will take on their Sofi Stadium roommates in the Los Angeles Chargers at 4:05 PM p.m. today. It will be the penultimate preseason game for the Rams, as the regular season inches closer and closer with each day. As expected under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams will not play any projected starters or key players today. However, there is still an opportunity for players to carve out a spot on the 53-man roster.
Even though McVay and staff are likely aware of who the majority of roster spots will go to, there’s always a shot to make yourself more valuable in these preseason games. There are a number of players on the Rams roster that are on the proverbial roster “bubble,” but the player I want to focus on is second-year running back Zach Evans.
Evans, although a sixth-round selection in the 2023 draft, showed a ton of upside and promise coming out of Ole Miss. Evans played two seasons at TCU before transferring to Ole Miss to become the feature back at the latter school. Throughout three seasons in college, Evans averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per carry, rushed fr just under 2,000 yards, and had a total of 20 touchdowns from scrimmage. Evans proved to be an explosive player in college, regularly producing big yardage plays which ultimately led to the Rams selecting him.
However, Evans has yet to find the explosive plays that made him a solid NFL prospect coming out of college. In the 2023 three-week preseason, Evans amassed 23 carries for 77 yards, an underwhelming 3.3 yards per carry. Evans went on to appear in 10 regular season games for the Rams last year, rushing for just 19 yards on nine carries. That’s only 2.1 yards per carry.
Fast-forward to last week’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, and Evans has yet to find his groove. Evans carried the ball 12 times for just 28 yards, 2.3 yards per carry. Evans has yet to produce a single explosive play in the NFL, which is not good news considering his explosiveness is what enticed the Rams to select him in 2023.
The lack of explosive plays for a player entering his second year in the league typically would not be too much of a cause for concern. However, with the ascension of star running back Kyren Williams, the draft selection of running back Blake Corum, and the free-agent signing of veteran back Boston Scott, the patience for Evans has instantaneously disappeared. Not to mention, Ronnie Rivers seems to have secured a roster spot, too.
There is not much else for Evans to do other than start to produce those big plays we all know he’s capable of because if not, he could see his Rams tenure come to an end in Year 2.
Zach Evans is a rookie Sean McVay is intrigued by heading into the 2nd half of the season, saying he’s gotten better and better in practice
Rookie running back Zach Evans looked like he’d be in line for a big role after Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers both got hurt, operating as the No. 3 back for most of the season. However, in the first game without Williams and Rivers, the Rams leaned on newly signed Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman – neither of whom had a single carry before Week 7.
Evans took a backseat and hasn’t gotten a carry since Week 6, but with the ground game struggling, perhaps there’s one last opportunity for him to prove himself before Williams returns.
On the “Coach McVay Show” this week, Sean McVay mentioned Evans as a rookie he’s excited to see in the second half of the season, indicating he could get a look at running back after improving in practice.
“Zach Evans is another guy that I’m intrigued to see if he gets an opportunity to get some carries towards the second half of the season,” McVay said. “He’s gotten better and better and practice, and then see if he gets an opportunity to get out there.”
Freeman has averaged 4.3 yards per carry this season, gaining 142 yards on 33 attempts. Henderson has only gained 2.8 yards per attempt in the three games he’s played, so neither player has been very efficient.
With a Week 10 bye, it’s possible the Rams will use this time to make a change at running back for their first game coming out of the break. Williams is slated to return in Week 12, so Week 11 against the Seahawks could be a perfect opportunity for Evans to prove himself before the workhorse comes back.
We take a look at running backs across the league and tell fantasy managers which to start and which to leave on the bench.
Starts and sits is here to help fantasy managers make those all important last minute lineup decisions .While we won’t tell you about obvious starts such as Christian McCaffrey or Tyreek Hill, we will find players you may be waffling about and help you make a decision.
Sean McVay won’t name a starting RB for the Rams yet in Week 7 despite Zach Evans being No. 3 on the depth chart.
The Los Angeles Rams will be without Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers for multiple weeks, so Sean McVay will have to figure out how the backfield shakes out until they can return. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, McVay was non-committal on naming Zach Evans the starting running back for the Rams.
“I wouldn’t say that,” McVay said. “We’ve got the week to be able to evaluate and I would say all four of those guys are possibilities and we’re truly navigating through that. But I was pleased with what Zach did towards the latter part of the game.”
Both Williams and Rivers suffered injuries in the Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Evans would finish the game by receiving his first four rushing attempts in the NFL, turning them into 10 yards.
The rookie sixth-round pick was the only running back left on the active roster at the beginning of the week. But since then, the Rams have activated Royce Freeman from their practice squad, signed Darrell Henderson off of the street, and signed Myles Gaskin off of the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
Given that Evans and Freeman have been with the team the longest this season, they could share touches in Sunday’s game. There’s a chance Henderson or Gaskin are involved in the game plan, but it’s tough to expect much from them on short notice.
McVay is going to use this week of practice to determine how the backfield workload will be divvied up. While Evans seems like the obvious choice to see the majority of the touches, his ability to understand the offense and be trusted in pass protection is crucial.
With all of the moving parts, we may not know who will draw the start at running back for the Rams until Sunday’s showdown with the Steelers kicks off.
With injuries to Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers, rookie Zach Evans could draw the start at RB for the Rams in Week 7 vs. Steelers.
The Los Angeles Rams had their best game running the ball in their win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but they’ll be shorthanded at running back entering Week 7. With injuries to Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers, rookie Zach Evans is likely to start at running back for the Rams in Week 7 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Williams recorded a season-high 158 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts against the Cardinals on Sunday. The second-year back would suffer an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and he’s since been diagnosed with an ankle sprain that is expected to sideline him for at least one week.
Rivers was operating as the backup to Williams and he carried it three times for 9 yards before exiting with a knee injury. He has been diagnosed with a PCL sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks for the Rams.
Evans received his first touches of the season versus the Cardinals, logging 10 yards on four rush attempts. The rookie sixth-round pick was active for just the second time this season, and he has more special team snaps (9) than offensive snaps (6) so far.
After transferring from TCU to Ole Miss in 2022, Evans rushed for 936 yards and nine touchdowns on 144 attempts in his final collegiate season. The first-year back also caught 30 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in his three years in college, proving he can be a capable option in the passing game.
The size of Evans’ role could be determined by how he performs in pass protection as veteran Royce Freeman will likely rotate in with Evans. Ahead of a home showdown with the Steelers, Evans is poised for an expanded role with the Rams now shorthanded at running back.
The Rams will take on the Broncos this Saturday to finish their preseason schedule and we have 6 players to watch in the matchup.
The Los Angeles Rams are set to conclude their preseason schedule versus the Denver Broncos on Saturday. This is the last chance for players to get live-action reps in hopes of carving out a roster spot for the Rams ahead of the 2023 season.
The Rams are 0-2 in their first two preseason contests, losing to the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. Even though wins don’t matter in the preseason, Sean McVay will want to see improvements across the board on Saturday.
With the Rams set to face the Broncos on the road in the third week of the preseason, here are six players to keep an eye on.
Here are 6 players to watch as the Rams take on the Raiders in the second week of the preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams will host the Las Vegas Raiders for their second preseason contest on Saturday. The Rams are coming off a 34-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in their preseason opener, but the team is focused on determining certain position battles rather than winning meaningless games.
With Week 1 only a few weeks away, time is ticking for players to show enough to earn a roster spot. Ahead of Saturday’s preseason meeting with the Raiders, here are six players from the Rams to pay attention to.
