In the first three preseason games, the Los Angeles Rams took full advantage of the expanded 90-man rosters. The list of players who were on the field at one point or another was lengthy, ranging from primary backups to deeper reserves.
That wasn’t necessarily the case on Thursday night in the preseason finale. The Rams rested even their top backups, keeping players who are locks to make the team out of harm’s way. That made for a much shorter list of active players.
On offense, 20 players received playing time, with all of them earning at least 14 snaps. On defense, only 18 players saw the field.
Let’s take a look at the snap counts from the Rams’ 22-10 win over the Texans, beginning with the offense.
Offense
The usual offensive linemen were given the night off as Jamil Demby, David Edwards and Bobby Evans all remained on the sidelines. That opened the door for four players to play every snap: Chandler Brewer, Vitas Hrynkiewicz, Matt Kaskey and Jeremiah Kolone. Brewer looked good at left tackle, though it might be a little too late for him to make the team.
Nsimba Webster and Jalen Greene tried to make a final push for the 53-man roster, but with JoJo Natson and Mike Thomas resting, it’s hard to imagine either player making the team. The same goes for KhaDarel Hodge, who played 31 snaps.
Justin Davis and Matt Colburn have the worst odds of the running backs vying for a spot on the regular-season roster. Davis played the majority of the snaps and took advantage of his extended opportunity, gaining 78 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
John Wolford and Brandon Allen alternated drives, for the most part, but Wolford was clearly the better quarterback on Thursday night. He had two touchdown passes in only 31 snaps, including 105 yards passing.
Defense
Dakota Allen, Landis Durham and Ketner Kupp never came off the field, playing every single snap against Houston. They all stood out for the right reasons, though Durham and Kupp are unlikely to make the team.
On a night when roster locks got the night off, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was out there for 48 plays. Concerning? Not in the least bit. The Rams just wanted to give him more work after he missed the first preseason game and was limited with injuries the last two years. He shined once again.
Dominique Hatfield left with an undisclosed injury after he was carted off the field. It’s unclear what happened or how it affects his status with the team.
Kevin Peterson looks like he’s close to making the 53-man squad after playing just nine snaps in the finale. He has the best chance of any reserve cornerback behind the three starters, Troy Hill and David Long.
