The Los Angeles Rams open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams return a significant portion of their Super Bowl LVI roster, as they reworked Aaron Donald's contract and extended quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
This roster projection includes eight wide receivers, but one of them is not Odell Beckham Jr. The biggest roster question entering the season is whether he will re-sign with Los Angeles during the season. Coach Sean McVay has made several public comments about a potential return, but there is time because the receiver is currently recovering from an ACL tear that ended his Super Bowl.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins
With the number of receivers Los Angeles might need to carry, it could make sense to go short here, but if the Rams are worried about losing Perkins to a waiver claim, the safe bet is to keep him on the 53-man roster. If the Rams are worried about Stafford missing time with his elbow injury -- which doesn't currently seem to be the case -- that would be even more reason to keep Perkins, who played well during the preseason.
RUNNING BACK (4): Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr, Kyren Williams, Jake Funk
Akers and Henderson both dealt with soft tissue injuries during the second half of training camp, which has led to more opportunities for Williams, who was coming off offseason foot surgery. McVay said he expects Williams, a fifth-round pick, "to be a big part of our season."
WIDE RECEIVER (8): Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson II, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, Brandon Powell, Jacob Harris, Lance McCutcheon
It sounds unrealistic to keep eight receivers, but every indication shows that the Rams will keep at least seven. The last addition would be McCutcheon, an undrafted rookie out of Montana State. Before training camp, the idea might have been to keep him on the practice squad, but he has put on a show during the preseason (10 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the first two exhibition games), which might not make that possible. Jefferson could start the season with an injury designation after his training camp knee surgery, but that seems unlikely given McVay said there's a chance he could be ready for Week 1. Also, Harris has versatility to potentially play tight end.
TIGHT END (2): Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins
Keeping two tight ends on the roster seems light, but after cutting Kendall Blanton during training camp, the Rams don't have many options. Harris made the move to receiver from tight end this offseason, which gives Los Angeles some flexibility. Don't be surprised if the Rams add here after cutdown day.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Joe Noteboom, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, Rob Havenstein, AJ Jackson, AJ Arcuri, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Bobby Evans
Logan Bruss, the Rams' top draft pick, was a candidate to start at right guard before he tore his ACL and MCL during the second preseason game. Shelton is now expected to start at the position. Jackson and Anchrum are two players McVay pointed out after the second preseason game, saying both "have really shown that they're capable players."
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Aaron Donald, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, Michael Hoecht, Marquise Copeland, Jonah Williams
Bobby Brown III will start the season on the suspended list, missing the first six games of the season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He is also rehabbing a lateral ankle sprain that he injured in the Rams' preseason opener.
LINEBACKER (8): Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Bobby Wagner, Ernest Jones, Terrell Lewis, Chris Garrett, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Gervase
The Rams are dealing with two injuries at linebacker. Travin Howard has been on the PUP list during training camp and could start the season there. Rookie linebacker Daniel Hardy left the Rams' second preseason game with a high ankle sprain. He will need a procedure to fix it and is a candidate to start the season on injured reserve, McVay said.
CORNERBACK (6): Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, David Long Jr., Robert Rochell, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick
The two rookie draft picks, Durant and Kendrick, have impressed during training camp and the preseason. McVay said Rochell, a fourth-round draft pick in 2021, has really improved his game "above the neck."
SAFETY (4): Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, Terrell Burgess
Missing from this list are two 2022 draft picks: Quentin Lake (sixth round) and Russ Yeast II (seventh round). Lake has been dealing with a knee injury and has not practiced during training camp, so it seems likely he'll begin the season on the PUP list or injured reserve. Yeast is a candidate for the Rams' practice squad.
SPECIALISTS (3): Riley Dixon (P), Matt Gay (K), Matthew Orzech (LS)
Dixon vs. undrafted free agent Cameron Dicker was the only real competition among specialists during training camp, but Dicker was waived during the first round of training camp cuts.