Los Angeles Rams DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett earned the start and played the team's entire preseason game in a 13-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Bennett completed 17-of-31 passes for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The first thing that stands out is that he did a better job of taking care of the ball after throwing four interceptions in the opening preseason game. He found JJ Laap on a long, 47-yard TD strike in the fourth quarter. For the most part, Bennett was effective in this game as he competes to win the backup job behind Matthew Stafford after taking last year off to deal with mental health issues.

The Los Angeles Rams plan to hold out the same players that missed the preseason opener in Saturday's preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, including wide receiver Cooper Kupp and running back Kyren Williams. Kupp has been healthy this summer during training camp, but head coach Sean McVay isn't taking any chances with the team's key players in the preseason this year. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old Kupp or other key players will even suit up for the preseason finale next week. Kupp missed the first four games of 2023 with a hamstring injury, so it makes sense as to why the Rams want to rest him this summer. With better health, a bounce-back campaign in 2024 is possible for a player only a couple years removed from a league-high 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, but the presence of rising star Puka Nacua won't help Kupp's cause.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) wasn't present during Thursday's walkthrough. This isn't shocking news after Stafford exited early during Wednesday's practice due to hamstring tightness. Head coach Sean McVay said Stafford was removed for precautionary reasons. He added that Stafford should return to practice at some point next week. This sounds like a minor injury for the 36-year-old signal-caller. That is a relief for fantasy managers as draft season quickly approaches.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring) did not complete Wednesday's joint workout with the Cowboys due to hamstring tightness. Stafford played the first half of practice, including several 11-on-11 series, but left early as a precaution after feeling tightness in his hamstring. During the remainder of practice, backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett took over, with Garoppolo leading the first team and Bennett the second. While this issue does not appear to be severe, it raises some uncertainty about the Rams' prospects with Stafford at the helm. Last season, Stafford completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Hopefully, it will be a minor inconvenience rather than a long-term concern. Stafford will lead an offense with two early wide receiver picks, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and an early running back pick in Kyren Williams. If Stafford is hurt for any time, all of the Rams' playmakers would take a big hit.

Los Angeles Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty appears to have won the starting job with the release of Tanner Brown on Tuesday. Karty is the only kicker currently on the Rams' roster. An All-American at Stanford, Karty was one of three kickers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He converted both of his field goal attempts, plus the game-winning extra point, in his preseason debut against Dallas. Karty is a deep sleeper candidate at the position, playing for one of the better offenses in the NFL.