5 Rams players have unfinished business as preseason hits the midpoint

The Los Angeles Rams have emerged from training camp with a good handle on the core players who will comprise the majority of starting and rotational roles through the grueling 17-game season. And fans know this because the team does not play those starters or backups in preseason. But some players need preseason work to earn their spot on the roster.

And the job's not done yet.

Earning a roster spot is one of the most difficult tasks for a young NFL player to accomplish. By the very nature of their unfamiliarity with the team, coaches and players, they get the least number of reps, are tasked with competing every practice for a chance to be noticed by a coach, and are doing so while still trying to acclimate to professional football.

Some veterans need the work too. Whether they simply did not get many chances in the previous season or are eagerly competing for a larger role, they willingly appear in preseason to prove that they have 'the stuff' for bigger and better things.

Who on the team fits that description? We have identified five players on the Rams roster who have the most to prove in the second preseason game scheduled against the Los Angeles Chargers.

5 Rams players with the most to prove in preseason Game 2 vs Chargers

(5) - DL Ty Hamilton

Rookie defensive lineman Ty Hamilton recorded two tackles in his first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys in 22 defensive snaps. That was a relatively light workload for his first NFL competition, which only served to whet fans' appetite to see more from him. Competition along the defensive front is fierce, so he needs to show up in a big way and earn his roster spot outright.

(4) - OT Trey Wedig

Undrafted rookie offensive tackle Trey Wedig showed plenty of promise when signed to the team. Unfortunately, the roster is bursting with offensive tackles like AJ Arcuri, KT Leveston, and David Quessenberry, all of whom are competing for a roster spot as a backup offensive tackle. As such, Wedig saw only 11 offensive snaps. He needs a greater workload in Game 2 if he is to have a shot at sticking around, even if that means a spot on the practice squad.

(3) - TE Terrance Ferguson

Rookie TE Terrance Ferguson is back after suffering an injury that sidelined him for a vital period. As such, he needs to fast-track as much work as possible, and the best opportunity right now is to play and play well in Game 2. The Rams have already waived both Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson to the roster, so Ferguson needs to show up in a big way, if only to claim a TE3 role to open the season.

(2) - RB Blake Corum

While veteran running back Blake Corum did get work in Game 1 and score two rushing touchdowns, the overall body of work was not nearly as impressive as hoped. He carried the football nine times for just 32 rushing yards, an average of 3.6 yards per carry. The offense is seeking explosive playmakers. Nothing about 3.6 yards per carry in preseason says explosive. Two touchdowns were fantastic. Now he needs to generate a better rushing average.

(1) - OLB Brennan Jackson

Second-year outside linebacker Brennan Jackson seemed to be generating some buzz in training camp, but the first unofficial Rams depth chart showed little sign of it. He is clearly on the roster bubble, and getting one tackle and no quarterback sacks despite playing 31 defensive snaps is not going to get him a roster spot. He has a reputation for playing physical football, which the team would love to add. But he has yet to show up with that single 'there he is' performance yet.

This is not an exhaustive list by any means. These are simply the players whose preseason work has not matched their training camp buzz. As such, fans are looking for signs of them in the next preseason game, which is just hours away. As always, thanks for reading.