Rams Make Multiple Moves...

It's that time of year the Rams had to waive a few players to make room for their 53-man roster final decisions. We are talking about 17 names that made the practice squad and we're not gonna talk about all of them but we'll talk about some highlighted names here for the Rams practice squad. A little bit of Aaron Donald updates all on today's episode of the Rams Digest. I'm your host Joshua Hidon and before we get too far into today's video I want to ask you guys a favor. If you are not currently subscribed to the channel please do me a favor and just consider pressing that subscribe button. Look if you keep coming back for more you like what you see and you want more daily Rams content why not subscribe to the channel so you don't miss any of our daily Rams content. Upcoming live streams for the home games we are very excited for this season. Of course a lot of things a lot of moving pieces about what the Rams are doing in 2026 but excited for us to sit here talk about it with you all be a part of the Ramley here on the Rams Digest and subscribe to the channel if you're not subscribed already just consider it that's all I'm asking just think about it if you haven't done so just yet. All right let's get into this here practice squad names. First name up that I want to discuss is none other than Dean Connors. Look he's probably the biggest name to watch on the Rams practice squad because he's probably that number one developmental player on the team. He really had a strong preseason we'll talk about his stats in a second but he kind of showed that he can contribute both as a runner and as a passer I mean I mean as a receiver I should say he's done this multiple years it feels like ever since he's been a part of the Rams organization he has made a name for himself in the preseason just in showing flashes here and there in training camps I think Dean Connors we've heard the name we've seen him play he looks pretty good out there obviously not the most efficient back out there I think he was out there running five yards per carry in the preseason it would raise some eyebrows and ask why the questions why he is not currently on the Rams 23-man roster he has some good backs ahead of him right Conn Williams Blake Quorum and Ronnie Rivers are all good running backs you know Jarquez Hunter is now out of there brought him in brought in Tutu Atwell back to the roster that was interesting we haven't really talked about that much by the way we'll talk about that at some point very soon but Dean Connors ultimately a good running back option he's been good for a couple years now I mean this preseason alone look at his stats he had not 26 carries 96 rushing yards so averaging about 3.7 yards per carry again not the craziest efficiency but he's also playing back behind a backup offensive lineman longest rush for 18 yards that's pretty good there seven receptions 53 receiving yards at 7.6 yards per catch that's pretty good three receiving touchdowns I believe he actually led the Rams in terms of preseason scoring this year so shout out to yeah right at the bottom lead team in total touchdowns three during the preseason so ultimately he's a key standout for the Rams we like to see him go out there on ball I think as a running back in the NFL it's very tough to make a roster or a name for yourself on any roster in the NFL across the board but especially on a team like the Rams that have multiple running backs who have proven it in the NFL so it'll be difficult to see Connors kind of making a name for himself in terms of at any point for the Rams during the regular season but I think if you see a couple injuries here and there knock on wood that doesn't happen I think Dean Connors is a guy who could get called up and make a little bit of a name for himself again at some point if he is given that opportunity we're gonna go full screen here because I'm already starting to lag it but we're going full screen here for the next name and I'm not even full screen uh full screen here for the next name I shot the Dean Connors by the way we're done on that he's a beast we're hoping he could make an impact at some point if he needs to step in hopefully the Rams can trust him to do so Tim Keenan the third an interesting name didn't really make a name for himself in the preseason I don't think many people have been reminded of this player but he's a player out of Alabama he's a seventh round pick back in April the Rams keeping him on the practice squad means they can develop him rather than forcing him into a limited role immediately we know the Rams have some pretty big names on the D line in general but especially on the interior of that D line so a tough uphill battle for a guy like Tim Keenan to make the roster but ultimately you know hasn't really done much in terms of his opportunities in the preseason I think it's important to note that and the Rams are fine at D tackle uh but it's good the Rams are able to see him clear waivers because it's a draft pick right you don't want to waste quote unquote waste a draft pick on a player that you wave and don't get onto your practice squad so that's important their uh roster maneuvering to be able to keep your seventh round pick on the practice squad it's tough to do if the player is you know a player other teams like right I hope you guys can hear me by the way I know I'm lagging pretty bad here so I'll keep talking through this just hope the audio is fine later when I go ahead and upload this um another name here uh for the Rams we're gonna keep it full screen because I'll go lagging like crazy if I even try to make it um to where my little head is popped out in the corner I don't think you guys need to see my face for any of this stuff either Cam Lamkin though another uh interesting name here I think a lot of people are familiar with this name a guy who's played a little bit of corner a little bit of safety does DB in general for the Rams all over the place kind of can step in to different roles and ultimately um make an impact when he's out there so it's nice to see that the Rams were able to maintain him again on this roster he had a a strong training camp and a strong preseason his situation is notable because the Rams had to choose between several young corners and they decided to keep Lamkin along a couple of other names so definitely nice to see that Lamkin a former uh draft pick developmental kind of a bet there I'm sorry I'm talking more about Keenan here uh Keenan more of a draft pick developmental piece and then Lamkin obviously young defensive back coaching staff wanted to keep on this roster that is a note there the coaches love this guy and so it's good to see the Rams able to retain him on their roster but don't forget about Brendan Paisley uh Brendan Presley I'm sorry I said Paisley uh Presley making the roster uh Austin Blask we had a Nick Anderson as well making a name for himself in preseason and training camp so uh those are interesting names for sure for the Rams receiver offensive lineman safety kind of just uh making this Rams practice squad uh excited to see the Rams get to work with this practice squad roster a lot of uh times uh these guys can be forgotten a little bit and it is unfortunate you work so hard to make the practice squad in the NFL and I think Sean McVay said it's a little bit of reason why I love Sean McVay again gave these guys credit and said it's it's a hard time to have to cut people at this point in their careers a tough time to cut people at this point in the season and off season but ultimately he thinks that these guys on the practice squad are part of this roster it's it's a total of 69 70 players if you're considering that um uh what is it the uh international players uh option the Rams always participate in 70 players on this roster is how Sean McVay sees it so he's excited to see uh the practice squad filled out with guys who are important to the roster just as important as the rest of the 50 minute roster uh that's filled out so shout out to those names for sure and shout out to the Rams for cutting down what they had to cut down and making taking a risk on some names but ultimately able to keep the names that they feel are most important to the future of this Rams roster all right Aaron Donald time here so exciting so excited to see Aaron Donald here in a Los Angeles Rams uniform yet again uh listening to him talking the press conference listening to him just kind of be on the field be a part of the team see how it's weird to be a part of the team he's always around and and you know it's it's interesting for him to be officially a part of the roster he's intrigued by that perspective but ultimately uh just just a happy positive time right now I know a lot of people who are not LA fans are probably pretty upset with the fact that the Dodgers are playing so well and stacking the roster now the Rams are kind of stacking the roster in a similar way uh you got to give the LA team's credit they're going out there making things happen making moves this is awesome to see this I think I heard somebody by the way shout out to my boy Randy he was saying uh the um it's a little bit of a a damper kind of on his like legacy Aaron Donald like obviously like not super serious conversation but uh just kind of saying like I like you know it's a goat kind of legend kind of uh tainting his career a little bit by ring chasing I couldn't disagree more with that that sentiment I think it's so cool that Aaron Donald even thought about coming back to play for the Rams I think the fact that he's back ready willing to put his body on the line away from his family to go out and try to compete for a Super Bowl yes his team is really good but no guarantees anyone's going to win a Super Bowl and I think yeah he is kind of chasing a ring chasing the opportunity to win a championship but Aaron Donald's not going to come and try to ride the bench to win this championship he's going to come he's going to try to participate he's going to try to be a big part of this roster especially leadership wise got to give him some credit I think it's he didn't need to do this his legacy was already cemented as one of the best defensive players of all time and now he's just kind of having some fun with it at this point the end of his career exciting the NFL should be excited for Aaron Donald being back out of retirement but speaking of the NFL and how they feel about it John Lynch actually came out he said he never expected to have to deal with Aaron Donald again after Donald retired a couple years ago now Donald is back with the Rams on a one-year deal potentially lining up alongside Miles Garrett Lynch basically acknowledged that the Rams got significantly better because of it which is super cool to see like a division rival kind of be like yes they're really good with that guy we remember how good that guy is so don't don't don't don't think that we forgot that part right Donald has historically been a major problem for San Francisco specifically right he's uh gone now and he had 12 and a half career sacks against that team specifically tied for the most he's recorded against any opponent again it's coming from the de-tackled uh interior of the defensive line perspective so uh you know Rams suddenly have one of the most terrifying defensive lines especially on the interior uh in all of football honestly in history of football potentially uh that's just how scary potential on paper that this looks like and John Lynch uh shout out to uh to him kind of acknowledging how tough it is he did come out and say you know he thinks the Niners are pretty good too and the Rams have to deal with that and he's not worried about it uh when it comes down to that Australia opener though I will say not really anticipating Aaron Donald playing at all if I'm in the building I'm saying guys my vote is don't let him play why well look today for example August 1 August 31st Aaron Donald didn't practice this is a planned no practice for Aaron Donald but he's easing himself back into shape he's getting himself back into football shape he's getting himself back in the groove of competing and getting ready to compete at the NFL high highest level right and we know Aaron Donald is probably going to be fine but you're traveling super last minute going to wake up different times and kind of body be out of line out of whack and then it's Aaron first time playing against a division rival these games get ugly these games get physical these games get European or overseas games get like just like low scoring offenses don't really play too well so the defense is on the field a lot I just ultimately think it's a sign for let's go ahead and hold off on Donald being ready to go week one let's give him one more week at least and see if he's ready to go week two uh for the Rams uh eventually so that's my thought process what you guys think about it by the way what are your thoughts down below in the comment section let me know do you think Aaron Donald should play week one do you think the Rams should wait let me know your thoughts down below in the comment section how do you feel about that idea of Aaron Donald making his debut against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne Australia right I think it's a little crazy but you guys let me know your thoughts down below I'm not gonna be biased here and let you guys uh think from from my perspective what do you think let me know in the comment section it's for less need it's for Sean McVay and guys like that to decide what to do with Aaron Donald but I'm super excited and you know shout out to to last thing is shout out to Sean McVay for going out there and just being like you know what can this guy play again I mean this is one of the greatest players of all time easy downer plays you're ready to play let's make it happen there's a risk factor in that right there's a risk and players feelings getting hurt I mean let's be honest let's be real these guys are human and these guys are fighting for their careers there's a guy like uh you know Tim Keenan the third seventh round pick thinks he's gonna make this roster and all of a sudden not because Aaron Donald makes the roster again seventh round pick whatever it is I'm not saying it's bad it's bad for Aaron Donald to do this but what I am saying is the reality is a lot of these players Kobe Turner, Bruno Ford, uh Braden Fisk are gonna have their snaps affected by the fact that Aaron Donald has returned to the roster uh most of these guys I think that's why the Rams get such good character players for the most part uh these guys are probably gonna understand that hey this is one of the best players of all time it's fine let's play with him let's let him play take all the snaps he needs where we want this to happen we want him to be alongside him and learn from him 100% most of the guys in this roster are gonna feel that way but it is a risk to go out there and do this and kind of hang your hat on the fact that this guy may or may not come out of retirement the Rams go out they do it they make they get the deal done they pay the man the respect he deserves I mean a legend coming out of retirement two years later you would think you want a cheap kind of hometown discount nope the Rams go out there and pay him what he deserves pay him what the risk is is worth you know what I mean coming out you're gonna put his body in the line 20 million dollars potentially 30 shout out to the Rams organization for doing this right respecting their legend and just kind of handling things amazingly the Rams are just top tier top class organization I think uh and I hope you guys agree with me but other than that that's gonna do it for me on today's episode of the Rams digest please subscribe to the channel if you're not subscribed already that's gonna do it for me I'm your host Josh Riedel