Los Angeles Rams position battle update: Preseason Week 1

Training camp and the preseason are looked at as different properties for different players.

For seasoned veterans, it is a warmup to another season on the field

For younger players, it is an opportunity to improve and show what you can offer the team

When those two groups collide - or you have multiple players in each category - you end up with players battling for playing time. The Los Angeles Rams have several positions where this is happening.

Tight End

Tyler Higbee v. Gerald Everett

Young Gerald has shown the ability to be an explosive downfield threat during his two seasons in the NFL, but has been unable to unseat Higbee thus far for playing time. Everett received less than half of the snaps that Higbee did in 2018 yet still outpaced him in every major receiving category.

Higbee is still listed as the starter in the unofficial depth chart, but I think a lot of us are hoping that changes soon.

Nose Tackle

Sebastian Joseph-Day v. Greg Gaines

Gaines has disappointed so far in camp. He was seemingly drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft to be the starter at NT, but hasn’t been able to supplant 2018 NFL Draft 6th-round pick Joseph-Day. This may be a spot where the Rams choose to have a timeshare, so I think a healthy competition here would serve the Rams well as both are likely to make the final roster.

Inside Linebacker

Micah Kiser v. Bryce Hager

Hager is known for his special teams excellence and was hoping to challenge for some snaps at ILB. Kiser doesn’t look to be willing to accommodate that. I like Hager, but I think Kiser has a pretty firm grasp on his role as primary ILB backup.

Edge rusher

Samson Ebukam v. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

This is fascinating to me as these two players are polar opposites of each other. Ebukam is perpetually underrated (except in Madden) while Okoronkwo was highly touted out of Oklahoma University but lost his rookie season to an injury. I’m intrigued to see how this battle in particular plays out.