2020 LA Rams roster cuts tracker

LA Rams’ roster cuts tracker. Plus, we’ll track any players to opt-out, as well as a16-man practice squad developments

The LA Rams are no different than any other NFL team. The LA Rams roster, as does that of each team, begins the season with a 90-player roster. Over the course of time, those teams need to whittle down their rosters to the eventual 53-man active roster.  Of the 37 players cut, the Rams can sign 16 of them, or other players cut from other teams to their practice squad this season.  The difference simply lies in the way each team gets to that final roster.

We know the process has become many-fold times more complicated this year.  Teams had no options for organized team activities (OTAs). Teams did not have the opportunity to install their new plays or even meet with new players face to face. And the NFL has canceled all preseason games.

New NFL timetable

Complicated or not, NFL teams must reduce their roster to 80 players no later than August 16th. Teams can do so now and simply train 80 players.  The NFL updated schedule can be found: HERE. As of today, July 28 through July 31, NFL teams are testing NFL players for COVID-19 and holding virtual team meetings. Following these dates, teams will hold physical exams and conduct daily COVID-19 testing of players.

On August 3rd, NFL teams will begin their strength and conditioning, as well as walkthrough practices. That is also the date when NFL players must notify the league of their intention to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season.

As roster cuts are announced, we will update this list.

Roster Cuts

Waived LB Jeff Holland –The LA Rams waived LB Jeff Holland on April 27, 2020

Wave one – July 25, 2020
Safety Jake Gervase – a mini surprise, as Gervase appeared in two games in 2019. With the draft of both Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller, Gervase was apparently no longer needed.
Tight end Ethan Wolf – recently signed a future/reserve contract in January 2020. The draft added Brycen Hopkins, thus eliminating the need for Wolf.
Kick return/Wide receiver Greg Dortch – a mini surprise, as Dortch was anticipated to be in running for both kick and punt return duties.
Center Nate Trewyn-another surprise, as Trewyn is a versatile offensive lineman who can backup multiple positions. With the signing of Cohl Cabal, the Rams must have decided Trewyn’s spot unnecessary.

Wave Two cuts- August 1, 2020
The LA Rams announced that the team has waived the following players on August 1, 2020.
LB Daniel Bituli – Bituli is a 6-foot-2 246-pound interior linebacker who put up 247 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-losses,  and four quarterback sacks. However, he injured his knee in his senior season. He had a draft grade prior to the injury but likely is not yet ready to compete.
RB James Gilbert – Gilbert is a 5-foot-9, 198-pound running back who truly needed the preseason to have a chance at earning a spot with the Rams. He is the type of player who comes into a football program and over the course of time exceeds expectations. The problem this year is that he never got a chance. His film was good, but nothing stood out.
DE Greg Reaves – Reaves was fighting an uphill battle to earn a spot with the Rams as soon as the team re-signed DE Morgan Fox. Reaves is a 6-foot-2 241-pound defensive end. That’s a bit smallish to endure the gruel trench-warfare of the NFL. He hails from the University of South Florida, where he earned a spot as a walk-on.
DT Sam Renner -Renner is a player many were optimistic over. A 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle, A significant contributor for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Renner had enough of a snarl to his play to perhaps give him a chance to compete for a roster spot. But the Rams are loaded on their defensive line this year. Without a chance to compete for a role in preseason games, Renner is a casualty of the circumstances this year.

Wave three cuts – August 11, 2020
DB Levonta Taylor –  Levonta Taylor was that defensive back with the five-star pedigree, who was an outstanding cornerback and then was moved to safety. With so much versatility and strong background, we projected Taylor as one of the UDFAs who had a real shot to make the roster. That ended on Tuesday, August 11 when the team announced waiving him to make room to restore Terrell Lewis to the active roster.

Wave four cuts – August 14, 2020

The LA Rams cut WR/KR/PR Brandon Polk to make room to re-sign  S Jake Gervase. Gervase was a surprise cut from the team’s roster on July 25, 2020.  Polk is a mini-surprise no, in that the Rams lobbied hard for him to sign with the club. Polk reportedly had blazing speed, and as such would have made an excellent option for the team at wide receiver, or as a return specialist in special teams play.

Wave five cuts – August 25, 2020

The LA Rams re-signed LB Daniel Bituli (cut August 1, 2020) and signed LB Derrick Moncrief. To make room, the team has cut LB Bryan London II and QB Josh Love.  Derrick Moncrief is the LA Rams second player from the CFL. He played at the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Opt-Outs

As of 1:00 am PT on August 1, 2020, the following LA Rams players have exercised their opt-out rights. The deadline to do so is August 3rd, 2020.

OT Chandler Brewer – Brewer is not a surprise to opt-out, as he is well documented as a cancer survivor and therefore is among those at the highest risk of contracting serious symptoms if he tests positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 Reserve list

As of August 1, 2020, as 01:00 am PT, the following Rams have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the COVID-19 reserve list. The COVID-19 reserve list is the list of players who have tested positive, or who have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive.  They are therefore required to self-quarantine until they exhibit no symptoms and test negative three times over a minimum amount of time:

OLB Terrell Lewis – this is a setback, as the team certainly wants to develop Lewis as an edge rusher as quickly as possible.
DL Michael Hoecht – Hoecht is an intriguing UDFA defensive lineman with incredible power and speed. This will most certainly make it nearly impossible for him to make the 53-man roster. His only hope is to land on the practice squad.

UPDATE August 2nd, 2020

The Rams have assigned DT Michael Hoecht to the active roster. He is no longer on the COVID-19 Reserve list

Update August 14th, 2020

The Rams have assigned OLB Terrell Lewis to the active roster. He is no longer on the Covid-19 Reserve list.

Active/Non-Football Injury list

The LA Rams have placed newly signed free agent A’Shawn Robinson on the active/non-football injury list

The Rams head coach Sean McVay will speak to the media on Sunday, August 9th and the belief is that he will address the issue at that time. The injury is minor, and Rapp should return in time for the season opener.

Injury list

Rapp

The Rams reported that second-year safety Taylor Rapp has a minor knee injury and will not be practicing in pads

On August 27, 2020, reports indicate that S Taylor Rapp did put on his pads and practice with the team.

Henderson

Darrell Henderson pulled his hamstring in the Rams’ first scrimmage game at SoFi Stadium.

Henderson will be back in the near future. He may not return in time for the season opener. While teammate Taylor Rapp returned to practice on August 27, 2020, Henderson continues to rehab his hamstring.

Howard
On Thursday, August 27, projected first-string ILB Travin Howard left practice with an undisclosed injury

That was updated by head coach Sean McVay after the scrimmage

In his place, the LA Rams will be featuring ILB Kenny Young as the starter. And then September 1, 2020, we learned that ILB Travin Howard is out for the season

Wow. Tough news for the Rams

Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp left the second scrimmage early. So many questions occurred. But…

That’s a huge relief, or is it?

Well, a low ankle sprain is not “totally healthy”. On Monday, August 31, head coach Sean McVay refuted the low-ankle sprain story and says that Kupp has soreness in his ankle. While Kupp will likely get some rest to heal up, he is suffering only very minor discomfort. We’ll continue to monitor the situation.

Lewis

OLB Terrell Lewis did not practice on Monday, September 1. Following up, Jourdan Rodrigue reported that there  Lewis has injured his knee, and he is undergoing tests to determine the extent of the injury.