2019 preseason Week 2 Los Angeles Rams depth chart review, 53-man roster projection

Position parentheticals denote the number of players at the position that make the 53-man. Rookies and undrafted rookies are also noted in parentheses.

Previous projections

• April 29, post-2019 NFL Draft
• June 13, post-minicamp
• July 27, pre-training camp
• August 6, post-training camp

QB (2)

In: Jared Goff, Blake Bortles
Out: Brandon Allen, John Wolford
Changes from last projection: N/A

Well Week 1 certainly went to Wolford. Will he get the QB3 looks moving forward? Even if he does, it likely doesn’t change things for the 53-man but could get Wolford onto the practice squad if this is what to expect moving forward.

RB (4)

In: Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson (rookie), Malcolm Brown, John Kelly
Out: Justin Davis, Matt Colburn (UDFA)
Changes from last projection: N/A

Kelly actually got the start against the Oakland Raiders. Is that a sincere indication of his status on the running back depth chart? I’d still note Davis was significantly more favored on special teams.

WR (6)

In: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, JoJo Natson, Mike Thomas
Out: KhaDarel Hodge, Austin Proehl, Alex Bachman (UDFA), Nsimba Webster (UDFA), WR Johnathan Lloyd (UDFA)
Changes from last projection: N/A

Pressure here to bump Hodge, but I’ll stash him on the practice squad. If he continues to ball with Thomas’ plus camp and practice work, maybe the Rams go seven-wide here and cut somewhere else?

TE/FB (3)

In: Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt
Out: Romello Brooker (UDFA), Kendall Blanton (UDFA), Keenen Brown (UDFA)
Changes from last projection: Mundt IN, Brown OUT

I really thought Brown could catch on, but he’s apparently at the back working up. I mentioned the option for adding Hodge and cutting elsewhere. This could be an option with just Young Gerald and Hygz making the roster.

OL (9)

In: Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Austin Blythe, Bobby Evans (rookie), David Edwards (rookie), Jamil Demby, Aaron Neary
Out: Jeremiah Kolone, Chandler Brewer (UDFA), Vitas Hrynkiewicz (UDFA), Brandon Hitner (UDFA), Matt Kaskey (UDFA)
Changes from last projection: N/A

OL depth for the 53 is always hard to parse. I’ll stick with this for another week at least.

DL (6)

In: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Sebastian Joseph-Day, John Franklin-Myers, Greg Gaines (rookie), Morgan Fox
Out: Tanzel Smart, Bryant Jones (UDFA), Marquise Copeland (UDFA), Boogie Roberts (UDFA)
Changes from last projection: N/A

A little wacky up front this early, but not budging here yet.

LB (8)

In: Clay Matthews, Micah Kiser, Cory Littleton, Samson Ebukam, Dante Fowler, Jr., Bryce Hager, Dakota Allen (rookie) Trevon Young
Out: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo,, Troy Reeder (UDFA), Natrez Patrick (UDFA), Josh Carraway, Landis Durham (UDFA), Justin Lawler
Changes from last projection: Young IN, Lawler OUT

So with Lawler getting foot surgery, I’ll go with the guy Skye tabbed last week in Young. He was heavily involved last week. Another good showing could put him in the driver’s seat.

CB (6)

In: Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Nickell Robey-Coleman, David Long (rookie), Troy Hill, Dominique Hatfield
Out: Kevin Peterson, Darious Williams, Donte Deayon, Ramon Richards
Changes from last projection: N/A

The depth here played pretty well save for Peterson’s special teams penalty early. Really intrigued for this group on Saturday.

S (6)

In: John Johnson III, Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp (rookie), Marqui Christian, Nick Scott (rookie), Travin Howard
Out: Steven Parker
Changes from last projection: N/A

Gonna need more to work through this group. While Rapp took some headlines (and deservedly so), it’s a deep group with special teams implications.

ST (3)

In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
Out: Miller Brock

FF >>

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Two changes. One on production, one on injury.

The practices are more motivation for the coaching staff as they get ready to cut this roster from 90 down to 53. While not seeing those, at least we get a sense from the rotation in preseason games of what they’re seeing in private work.

With three games to go before the rosters are due, plenty can change.