The Los Angeles Rams are going to look very different in 2023, both in the regular season and in the preseason. With a roster that’s lacking star power, they aren’t going to take the preseason off the way they have in recent years.
Sean McVay said they’re going to take a new approach, similar to the way they handled things in 2017. Several starters will take the field in the preseason as they continue to prepare for Week 1. That group won’t include Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp or Aaron Donald, but expect to see more starters in the preseason than usual.
With the first game coming up on Saturday, we’re predicting which players will rest, which ones will play a little bit and who will play a bunch this preseason.
Definitely sitting out the preseason
QB Matthew Stafford
WR Cooper Kupp
DT Aaron Donald
RT Rob Havenstein
TE Tyler Higbee
The Rams have no reason to play any of these guys in the preseason. They’ve all proved themselves as NFL starters and will gain almost nothing from playing in meaningless exhibition games.
The risk of injury far outweighs to reward of getting them some extra snaps before the season begins. Just keep these players out of harm’s way and let them stay as healthy as possible for Week 1.
Not likely to play much
WR Van Jefferson
WR Tutu Atwell
RB Cam Akers
LB Ernest Jones
CB Cobie Durant
S Jordan Fuller
WR Ben Skowronek
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
S John Johnson III
While these players vary in NFL experience, they’re all expected to be meaningful contributors this season. Thus, McVay is unlikely to keep them on the field for a significant amount of the preseason.
Witherspoon and Johnson have played enough football that they don’t need a lot of preseason preparation, except for maybe learning the Rams defense a bit more before the season begins.
Durant is entering his first season as a full-time starter so he could use some additional reps ahead of Week 1. Jefferson is on the fringe of being in the first tier of guys who will definitely sit out, and given his knee situation, it’s possible the Rams will keep him out of action altogether.
Atwell, Akers, Jones, Fuller and Skowronek have all played meaningful snaps or have gained enough experience to where they don’t need a lot of preseason reps. Considering the Rams rested Atwell last preseason, he could get the rest treatment again.
Should play a fair amount
OLB Michael Hoecht
LT Joe Noteboom
LT Alaric Jackson
C Brian Allen
C Coleman Shelton
RB Kyren Williams
TE Brycen Hopkins
LG Steve Avila
WR Demarcus Robinson
Hoecht is going into his first full season as an edge rusher so it would be wise for the Rams to give him a decent amount of playing time in the preseason, just to give him some more reps under his belt at the position.
Noteboom and Jackson are competing to be the starting left tackle and with neither player holding an edge right now, the Rams might need all three preseason games to decide on a starter. The same goes for Allen and Shelton at center.
Williams missed a good portion of his rookie year with a couple of injuries so he’s not exactly seasoned. Hopkins needs to continue playing well to hold off Hunter Long and Davis Allen, who are both injured.
Avila is the Rams’ top rookie and while he hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet, he would benefit from some preseason reps before the season begins, even as the projected starter at left guard.
Robinson is a veteran with plenty of NFL experience but this is his first season in the Rams’ system.
Should play all 3 games: Everyone else
Aside from the players listed above, the Rams are likely to play everyone else for all three preseason games – unless someone truly shines in the first two games and establishes himself as a full-time starter. Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake could be among those players, as could Derion Kendrick and Byron Young.
As McVay said, the Rams don’t have the luxury of fielding so many proven veterans so a lot of their young players will need to play this preseason. That’s not a bad thing. They just have to hope everyone stays relatively healthy before Week 1.
