Joint practice vs Cowboys leaves Rams with several significant questions

The Los Angeles Rams hosted a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. For the first time, fans can put the team under the microscope and dissect an event featuring an actual opponent. Who started? Who played well?

Despite a controlled scrimmage with scripted downs and distance, some meaningful results emerged. Let's dive right in

Because the joint practice was hosted in Los Angeles, no videos of the action were permitted per Rams rules. Of course, Cowboys coverage did not comply with the request, and so you will find only Cowboys highlights from the session. Still, the 23-21 "final score" of the joint scrimmage tilted in LA's favor. How 'bout them Cowboys?

Here is the complete scripted play-by-play including observed results. As fans come to expect, the internet is flooded with pro-Cowboys reactions. The Rams outplayed Dallas on both sides of the ball.

Key Rams questions resulting from Tuesday's practice

How severely was Puka Nacua injured? Nacua was apparently hurt during the practice, as he left the field with an ice pack on his knee. The Rams star already faces a possible suspension to open the season.

Now, he must overcome an untimely injury. Still, head coach Sean McVay was not overly shaken as he relayed his perspective in a post-practice interview:

"Puka Nacua left early on in the practice. I'm not exactly sure what was going on with him, but I thought (wide receivers Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield) did a great job stepping in."

From McVay's reaction, it seems safe to conclude that Nacua's season is not threatened by injury. But stay tuned as details become available.

Despite the team returning all of its offense and a majority of its defensive and special team starters, multiple questions remain.

How well does Myles Garrett gel with his new defense? LA continues to be very cautious with Garrett, benching him for the joint practice with knee swelling. That was just fine with Cowboys offensive linemen. Garrett's training-camp performance was so dominant that he had to be pulled to give Rams offensive tackles a breather.

If there is an NFL Kraken to be unleashed this season, his name is Myles Garrett. We just have to be patient until he gets the go ahead from the Rams' medical staff.

Who will sit in the first preseason game? We already know key players will sit out the preseason, and new names appeared to join the won't-play category. Rams starters dominated the scrimmage; their performance thus adds nothing new to the roster-projection database.

Don't fret. Even outside the starters, the Horns have plenty of playmakers. By nature, this exercise offered little chance for bubble players seize a roster spot. We'll learn more about them shortly, when the Rams kick off the preseason Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

As always, thanks for reading.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow