Fastest poaching in NFL history? The #Rams are signing rookie RB Raymond Calais to their 53-man roster off Tampa Bay’s practice squad, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 6, 2020
Practice squads haven’t even been assembled for a full day yet, but the Los Angeles Rams are wasting no time poaching players from other teams. On Sunday afternoon, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the Rams are signing rookie running back Raymond Calais off the Buccaneers’ practice squad.
Calais will revert to the Rams’ 53-man roster, though Los Angeles will need to cut someone in order to make room for him. That gives the Rams five running backs on the active roster.
This is possibly a bad sign for Darrell Henderson Jr., who’s still dealing with a hamstring strain that has kept him out of practice. The Rams haven’t yet ruled Henderson out for Week 1 like they have with Terrell Lewis, but his status is very much up in the air.
Like Henderson, Calais has experience on kick returns, and the Rams could use him in that role early in the season if Henderson is sidelined for a while. Calais was first-team All-Sun Belt as a return specialist in his senior year, averaging 28.5 yards per return.
Because Calais was poached off another team’s practice squad, he must remain on the 53-man roster for at least three weeks before he can be sent to the Rams’ practice squad.
