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2016 Rams Roster Preview: WR J.J. Worton Looks To Fill Rams Receiving Needs

Worton faces a steep climb to make the final roster.

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NCAA Football: Tulsa at Central Florida David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams' Achilles heel in the Jeff Fisher era has been getting consistent offensive production - specifically from the passing game. After drafting Cal QB Jared Goff with the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Rams' lack of offensive weapons was the most glaring need on the team.

Their solution? Use the majority of their 2016 draft class (and UDFA class) to bring receivers into the building, create competition and hope for the best. WR J.J. Worton spent some time with the Rams' practice squad in 2015 and will be fighting to keep his NFL dreams alive this preseason.

Getting arrested for assaulting three people in January certainly isn't helping his cause, though...

Roster Battle

On a normal team, the Rams' WR depth chart would be about as up for grabs as possible in today's NFL. Underachieving Kenny Britt and Brian Quick would be fringe players and Tavon Austin would be the only 'proven' option on the team - which is scary enough.

But these are Jeff Fisher's Rams.

It's hard to envision a scenario where Quick and Britt don't both make the final roster. Tavon Austin isn't going anywhere either after the Rams picked up his fifth-year option. One would have to think that Stedman Bailey (if healthy and cleared to play) and Bradley Marquez would have first dibs on the fourth WR spot.

Next in line would be 4th-round pick Pharoh Cooper and 6th round pick WR Mike Thomas - who was 38th OVERALL on Pro Football Focus' big board.

That leaves (DEEP BREATH) Worton, Nelson Spruce, Marquez North, Duke Williams, Deon Long, Kain Coulter and Paul McRoberts (phew) fighting for special teams availability.

Expectations

To come in, play hard, and not be disappointed when you don't make the final roster. With an ACL injury in 2014 and the aforementioned arrest, Worton faces long odds of making the final roster.

Chances of Making 53-Man Roster (2/10)

With this group of WRs, anything can happen, but a lot would have to go right for Worton to crack the final roster. He would have to forge a quick bond with Jared Goff and a couple known commodities above him on the depth chart would have to do poorly. And that would have to be AFTER he outperforms all the other young WRs at OTAs.