5 critical observations from Rams preseason finale vs. Browns

The Los Angeles Rams were true to their word, pitting depth players against starters for the Cleveland Browns in Game 3 to finish the 2025 preseason. This was a game that should never have been close, but it was. It was a game that was expected to tell fans nothing about the team, but it did.

The Rams had made it a tradition to compete in the third and final preseason game with players whose presence was either mandated by a lack of other options or players whose performance had not yet earned them a place on the roster. Players who competed in Game 3 are more likely than not to be among the names of players released by the team.

And yet, not one player mailed it in. This was not a matter of unmotivated players mailing it in against a team of NFL starters. It was a game in which the road underdog Rams held the lead in a preseason game until the final two seconds. This was a Herculean effort, a game that defined the football passion held by these players and put it on full display for the fanbase. But there are more critical observations about this team, too. They are:

Final Score
Los Angeles Rams 17
Cleveland Browns 19

5 critical observations made about Rams in final preseason game

(5) - Undrafted collegiate free agent Shaun Dolac likely made the team

The Rams seldom play anyone who has earned a roster spot. So the absence of undrafted rookie inside linebacker Shaun Dolac is a telltale indication that he had made the 53-man roster. And it was a point that HC Sean McVay confirmed after the game.

Conversely, the presence of Pooh Paul Jr. is not a great sign. But Paul should be able to sneak onto the roster if the coaching staff acknowledges that both rookie ILBs surpass Troy Reeder's upside. Fans will be checking closely to see who does and does not make the roster from the inside linebacker positions.

(4) - The Rams reserves nearly thwarted the Browns starters tune up

Sure, the score at halftime was 16-7. But keep in mind that players in Horns were backups of backups. Two offensive linemen who competed in the game, Mike McAlister and John Leglue, were just signed to the team days earlier. So they were hardly up to competing against the Cleveland Browns starters. But once the Browns began to rotate in backups, the Rams' assembly of roster bubble players outhustled them. The Rams outscored the Browns 10-3 in the second half and nearly emerged with a win.

(3) - Jordan Waters certainly earned a place on the practice squad

He won't make the roster, but for a moment in time, 6-foot, 225-pound rookie running back Jordan Waters allowed me to live my fantasy of seeing what a true power back could do in this offense, and it was thrilling to see what that looked like. Waters rushed just six times for 42 yards in this one and finished the preseason with 10 carries for 63 yards. The running back room is bursting with talent. But Waters looked oh-so-good thundering into the line of scrimmage and punishing defenders.

He truly earned a spot on the practice squad by my scoring.

(2) - WR Brennan Presley is truly a jack of all trades

The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler gets kudos for identifying Dolac and WR Brennan Presley as a show-stoppers. And he is two for two for his insights with the team. Dolac did not compete in Game 3, while Presley showed up and sliced through the Browns defense like a hot knife through butter.

Presley rushed three times for 23 yards, hauled in three passes for 51 yards, and even returned a kickoff for seven yards. He ended the preseason with 164 receiving yards, 38 rushing yards, and 45 kickoff return yards. He proved to be an incredibly versatile offensive and special teams weapon. That will ensure that he will fall no further than the Rams' practice squad.

(1) - The Rams pass rush is as deep as the ocean

The pass rush through two preseason games felt a bit anemic, recording just three quarterback sacks through two contests. There was no confusion about the pass rush in the final game, as the defense recorded six quarterback sacks from six different players. Even the Browns' starting quarterback, Joe Flacco, was not immune to the defense, getting sacked once.

The defense rattled rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, sacking him five times for a loss of 41 yards. His net passing for the game was (-27 yards). The defense countered the Browns' insistence to play starters for nearly the entire first half but throwing a few basic defensive stunts and blitz packages against them with deadly success

As both teams emerged, the Browns announcers celebrated their team's undefeated 3-0 record in the preseason. But the visiting team's fans had more to be proud about. This game was lost in the final two seconds by a field goal. And yet, the game was played by many players who will not make the team. The team ended the preseason with a record of 2-1, and yet it appears incredibly prepared for success in 2025. As always, thanks for reading.

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