LOS ANGELES RAMS NEWS

Matthew Stafford - In line to practice next week Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that he expects Stafford (hamstring) to return to practice next week, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Impact Stafford left practice early Wednesday and isn't present for Thursday's walkthrough, but the Rams have described his absence due to hamstring tightness as precautionary. That the veteran signal-caller is expected to resume practicing next week confirms his injury isn't severe. In any case, neither of Stafford or backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have been considered candidates to play during Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers, so Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn will again lead Los Angeles' offense in an exhibition contest.

11 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matthew Stafford - Absent from walkthrough Stafford (hamstring) is not present for Thursday's walkthrough practice, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Impact A Rams spokesperson reiterated that Stafford was removed from practice Wednesday at roughly the halfway point for 'precautionary' reasons due to hamstring tightness. Neither Stafford nor backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo are expected to play in any of Los Angeles' preseason games, so Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn figure to dominate reps during Saturday's exhibition matchup against the Chargers. It seems the Rams are simply playing it safe with Stafford's health, but given his injury history, it will be a relief to fantasy managers if the 36-year-old signal-caller is able to retake the field without missing much more time.

13 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

2024 NFL preseason Week 2 odds, lines, spreads

NFL preseason is underway! Check out the odds, lines and spreads for every game during Week 2 of the 2024 NFL preseason.

16 HOURS AGO

Warren McClendon Jr. - Healthy again McClendon (ankle) is now healthy once again.

Impact McClendon was previously dealing with an ankle injury but managed to suit up for the Rams' preseason game versus Dallas on Sunday. The 2023 fifth-round pick will now spend the remainder of the summer competing for a backup lineman spot.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Beaux Limmer - Recovers from thumb injury Limmer has fully recovered from a thumb injury.

Impact Limmer suited up during the Rams' preseason matchup versus the Cowboys on Sunday after having previously dealt with a thumb injury. Now healthy, the 23-year-old will continue to compete for a roster spot as a backup offensive lineman.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Watkins - Inks with Rams Los Angeles signed Watkins (biceps) to a contract Wednesday.

Impact Watkins spent most of the 2023 season on IR with Arizona due to a biceps injury suffered Week 2. Now healthy, he'll get a chance to spend the rest of training camp competing for a depth role with the Rams.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rams QB Matthew Stafford leaves practice with Cowboys early because of hamstring tightness

The Rams quarterback came out of a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys early because of hamstring tightness but remained on the sideline...

1 DAY AGO

J.J. McCarthy and other NFL injuries that could impact 2024 season

In light of J.J. McCarthy's season-ending injury, here's eight hurt players who could deeply diminish expectations of their teams come Week...

1 DAY AGO

Matthew Stafford - Injures hamstring Wednesday Stafford made an early exit from Wednesday's joint practice with the Cowboys due to a tight hamstring, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Impact Stafford was active in the first half of Wednesday's session that included a handful of 11-on-11 series, but he then left the field as a precautionary measure due to the aforementioned injury. He isn't expected to play in any of the Rams' preseason games, and the same can be said for backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, so second-year pro Stetson Bennett should continue to handle the bulk of the in-game reps under center prior to Week 1.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ernest Jones IV - Back in action Jones (knee) is returning to practice Wednesday, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

Impact Jones missed practice earlier in the week as he tended to an injury he was dealing with during OTAs. There was initially some concern about his status as the injury seemed to be lingering, but his return for a joint practice against the Cowboys should be good news for Jones and the Rams.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

NFC breakout candidates: A new potential star for every team

Here are 16 players to watch in 2024 — one from each NFC club who might not be well-known beyond his own fan base, but soon can be.

1 DAY AGO

10 Most valuable NFL franchises: Cowboys valued at over $10 billion

The Dallas Cowboys topped a whopping $10 billion for the first time in Sportico's annual NFL team valuations. See who else made the top 10 m...

2 DAYS AGO

2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: 49ers, Chiefs co-favorites; Seahawks surging

NFL preseason is underway, which means Super Bowl odds are on the move. Check out the latest lines, as the regular season kicks off in three...

2 DAYS AGO

Joshua Karty - Perfect start to preseason Karty connected on both of his field-goal attempts and converted his lone extra-point attempt during Sunday's 13-12 win against the Cowboys.

Impact The sixth-round rookie out of Stanford looks likely to win the competition for starting kicker over Tanner Brown, as he nailed field goals from 28 and 39 yards out before hitting a game-winning PAT. After a 2023 season where Lucas Havrisik and Brett Maher missed a total of 11 field-goal attempts between them, the stability that the sure-footed Karty offers (51-of-60 on field goals and 72-of-73 on PAT's over three seasons) will be appreciated by a Rams' fan base that was spoiled with Matt Gay's excellence at the role (74-of-80 on field goals) from 2020 to 2022.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Johnson - Makes just one catch Johnson caught one of three targets for 11 yards during Sunday's 13-12 preseason victory against the Cowboys.

Impact After spending the near entirety of the 2023 campaign on the Rams' practice squad, Johnson failed to make much of an impression in his 2024 preseason debut. Jordan Whittington (6-74-0) stole the show among the wide receivers who did start for the Rams, and he, along with Puka Nacua (knee), Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell seem like safe locks for the 53-man roster. The fifth-year pro Johnson, along with Xavier Smith, Drake Stoops, Sam Wiglusz and JJ Laap, will spend the rest of the preseason battling it out for one or two final roster spots, with the slight edge going to Johnson and Smith at the moment.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Xavier Smith - Snags four catches Smith caught all four targets for 20 yards and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards during Sunday's 13-12 preseason victory against the Cowboys.

Impact Notably, Smith played in 76 percent of the snaps on offense, more than all but three other players. The second-year pro out of Florida A&M is firmly on the cut line for the final 53-man roster bubble, with Puka Nacua (Knee), Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington all almost assured to secure a spot. Smith, Tyler Johnson, Drake Stoops, Sam Wiglusz and JJ Laap will be competing for what likely will be the final wide receiver spot on the roster, as the Rams kept just six wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster in 2023. Smith's kick returning ability could be the key in standing out from the crowd and making the cut.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Miller Forristall - Leads Tight Ends in Snaps Forristall caught all three of his targets for 20 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 13-12 preseason victory against the Cowboys.

Impact While still a long-shot to make the roster with Tyler Higbee (Knee), Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Hunter Long all likely to make the team, Forristall made the most of his opportunity by securing a game-winning six-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett. Forristall led the Rams' tight ends with 24 snaps, with Allen (23) and Long (16) also seeing a small amount of action. Nikola Kalinic saw just eight snaps on the day, and may serve as the primary competition for Forristall to make the final 53-man roster while Higbee recovers from a torn MCL and ACL.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Bills' Josh Allen favored to lead league in most interceptions thrown

Veteran QB Josh Allen is the favorite to throw the most interceptions in the NFL in 2024, but two rookies are closing in. Check out the late...

3 DAYS AGO

How Cowboys’ Micah Parsons could get even better under new DC Mike Zimmer

Mike Zimmer is focused on getting the most out of uber-talented edge rusher Micah Parsons. Here's how the new Dallas DC plans to do it.

3 DAYS AGO

Rams decide to hold another joint practice with Cowboys instead of Chargers

The Los Angeles Rams will have a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday instead of the Los Angeles Chargers

3 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jordan Whittington - Shines in preseason opener Whittington caught six of nine targets for 74 yards in Sunday's 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys.

Impact The 2024 sixth-round pick led the Rams in catches, targets and receiving yards, including a 30-yard gain on the team's opening drive, but that performance came during a game in which Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua (knee), Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell were all sitting out. Whittington has been making a strong impression early in training camp and appears to be in the lead to claim a spot on the 53-man roster, but he's still unlikely to see much action in the regular season barring a rash of injuries ahead of him.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Zach Evans - Makes little impact Sunday Evans carried the ball 12 times for 28 yards and caught his only target for 24 yards in Sunday's 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys.

Impact Boston Scott played the first three quarters as the Rams' lead back, with Evans entering the game in the final quarter and gaining little on the ground. The duo appear to be at the bottom of the RB depth chart for the Rams, with Kyren Williams, rookie Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers all sitting out the team's preseason opener. Given Evans' usage Sunday, he would seem to have an uphill climb ahead of him just to make the 53-man roster.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Boston Scott - Big workload in preseason opener Scott carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards and caught all three of his targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys. He also returned one kickoff for 23...

Impact The veteran running back got the start for the Rams and played through the third quarter, leading the team in rushing in the process. Scott's big workload came with Kyren Williams, rookie Blake Corum and even Ronnie Rivers sitting out, however, suggesting that the former Eagle isn't headed for a significant role in the Rams backfield this season barring a rash of injuries.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Stetson Bennett - Plays whole game Sunday Bennett played the entire game in Sunday's 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys, completing 24 of 38 passes for 224 and a touchdown with four interceptions.

Impact The Rams' coaching staff elected to sit both Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo (suspension) for the preseason opener, instead giving the team's 2023 fourth-round pick a full four quarters to show what he could do. Bennett, who didn't play at all in his rookie season, was predictably rusty, but the Cowboys failed to take full advantage of his turnovers and consistently settled for field goals. That left the door open for the Georgia product to engineer a scoring drive inside the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, and Bennett found depth tight end Miller Forristall for a six-yard touchdown with just four seconds left on the clock. With Garoppolo suspended for the first two games of the regular season, the Rams have plenty of incentive to get Bennett up to speed as quickly as possible, so he could see a hefty workload again Saturday against the Chargers.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Stetson Bennett shakes off 4 INTs, throws winning TD in final seconds as Rams edge Cowboys, 13-12

Stetson Bennett rebounded from a four-interception afternoon and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Miller Forristall with 4 seconds remaining as the Los Angeles Rams rallied for a 1...

4 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS