LA Rams roster cuts tracker: All the Live updates before cut day

Parting is such sweet sorrow. But in the world of the NFL, it's time to begin those touch conversations about who stays, and who does not. From 90 to 53 is the task of every one of the 32 teams in the NFL. As such, the LA Rams are not being singled out now, or at any other time.

It's simply that with the depth and performance of this roster, roster cuts will be excruciatingly painful this year. The team has solid performers up and down the roster. That makes the task of saying farewell to players a bit less clear.

While there is still some time remaining before the staff must pare down the LA Rams roster to achieve the initial 53-man limit, roster adjustments are already underway. What that means is that injuries to players who are projected to start for the team in the 2024 NFL season has already required the front office to reinforce the team at those affected positions until the staters are healthy enough to resume football related activities.

All 32 NFL teams must trim their active roster to 53 players by 1:00 pm PT on August 27, 2024. There is a new wrinkle to the rules this year. Per the NFL rules for trimming rosters, teams can designate up to two players who will be added to the Reserve List and not count against the initial 53-man limit, but who will count against the limited number of players who can be reactivated from injured reserve throughout the NFL season.

Clubs are permitted to designate for return a maximum of two players who are placed on an applicable Reserve List during the business day of the final roster reduction. Any such player will immediately count against the club’s number of designations, even if the player does not subsequently return to practice.

At 9:00 am PT on August 28, 2024, NFL teams can begin signing up to 16 players to their practice squad rosters.

Updated: August 27, 2024, 3:00 pm PT

Official Rams Roster site: 53 - effectively 53

Cuts remaining: 0

Rams Trade Ernest Jones for draft pick swap

It seems that the rumors about ILB Ernest Jones were true, and we have learned that Ernest Jones has reportedly been traded to the Tennessee Titans for an upgrade of a 2026 Round 6 pick into a 2026 Round 5 pick. With many projections citing Ernest Jones as a potential Pro Bowler in 2024, that seems pretty much like a bargain basement asking price for the team's young inside linebacker.

Is the team done? I think for now, yes. Omar Speights wowed fans and the coaching staff. While the exchange could be viewed as a deep discount for Jones, keep in mind that Speights was undrafted. If he starts in 2024, the Rams essentially trade Jones and a Round 6 pick for Speights and a Round 5 pick. The teams has done worse trades, by far.

Rams Roster Cuts

• Tight End Neal Johnson - Neal Johnson is an undrafted collegiate free agent signed to the team after the 2024 NFL Draft. He is a 6-foot-4 260-pound tight end out of Louisiana. He was competing at a rather deep position, tight end. While the Rams have released him, the New York Jets have signed him. (Aug 6, 2024)
• Defensive Back Kenny Logan Jr. - Kenny Logan is another undrafted collegiate free agent signed to the roster after the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 205 pounds, Logan was also fighting for reps at a very deep position on this team, safety. The Rams seem to have several NFL-caliber players at the position. Unfortunately, Kenny Logan Jr. is not one of them. (Aug 6, 2024)
• Kicker Tanner Brown - The Rams had seen enough from their kicking competition. While Joshua Karty is now the uncontested kicker for the LA Rams, the Rams released Tanner Brown (Aug 13, 2024)
• Defensive Back Jerry Jacobs - In a mild surprise, the team released Jerry Jacops with an injury settlement. He can sign with another team if/when he is fit. If not, he will remain associated with the Rams and can compete for a roster spot in 2025.
• Running back Boston Scott - He brought a veteran presence to a very young running back room. But his true value lay in leading the return group of the Rams special teams. With the ascension of both WR Tutu Atwell and Xavier Smith into leading roles with that group, Scott became redundant.
• Offensive lineman Matt Kaskey - While he didn't make the Rams roster, former UFL OL Matt Kaskey was a solid gap player who filled in while the team dealt with multiple injuries to offensive linemen. With training camp and preseason now in the rearview mirror, Kaskey is no longer a necessity.
• DE Carlos Watkins - Not unexpected, Watkins was a late signing who showed up in the preseason. But the Rams feel good about their young defensive linemen. If they need more help this season, he could be re-signed to the team.
• QB Dresser Winn - Winn was never truly considered 'in the mix.' He has had enough experience with this offense to come back to the practice squad. But keep his name on your radar for other football leagues as a chance to find another outlet.
• ILB Olakunie Fatakusi - Olakunie Fatakusi was a carryover from 2023. But it was clear that the impressive debut of both undrafted rookies Neal Elias and Omar Speights left little opportunity to make this team. He may be re-signed to the practice squad. He may not.
• WR J.J. Laap - I have to admit that I thought JJ Laap had a chance to make the team's roster after his superb touchdown reception in Game 2 of the preseason. That won't be the case, but I still expect the team to sign him to the practice squad.
• OT Blake Larson - Larson simply fell behind the pack of offensive linemen this season. I suspect that the addition of Conor McDermott may have made him a likely roster casualty.
• OL Alec Lindstrom - Alec Lindstrom joined the team with Matt Kaskey and Conor McDermott. And initially, he may have had a remote chance of climbing the depth chart. But this team benefited from incredible preseasons from IOL Zach Thomas, Beaux Limmer, and a returned-to-health Logan Bruss. He may have made the team in 2023. There was simply no chance to do so in 2024.
• OLB Ochaun Mathis - While he was selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, OLB Ochaun Mathis simply did not develop quickly enough to make the suddenly deep; and talented Rams roster as a pass rusher in 2024. He did play well enough to return via the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.
• DB Cameron McCutcheon - I have to say that this one is a bit stunning. While he was relegated to preseason, I thought that the 6-foot-3 204-pound cornerback Cameron McCutcheon out of the Western Carolina Catamounts had a real shot. He recorded seven solo tackles, allowed just three of six targets to find their mark, and was one of the swarming hordes of defenders who loved to gang-tackle opposing ball carriers. If he is not claimed off waivers, I truly expect the team to re-sign him to the practice squad.
• RB SaRodorick Thompson - SarRodorick Thompson was signed to ensure that the team had enough RB depth for Game 3 of the 2024 preseason. He is a bigger RB, akin to the size of Zach Evans. He rushed three times for six yards in his lone preseason performance. He likely won't be back, unless the team finds itself in a tight spot this season due to multiple RB injuries.
• C Mike McCallster - This one is no surprise. Mike McCalister had no chance when competing for a roster spot with the likes of Steve Avila and rookie sensation Beaux Limmer. The team will want to re-sign him to the practice squad when he clears waivers.
• OLB Keir Thomas - Keir Thomas simply could not keep up the pace with the other Rams edge rushers. He may be brought back, but if it's a choice between Ochaun Mathis and Keir Thomas, flip a coin.
• DB Tre Tomlinson - Tre Tomlinson has been placed on season-ending IR. He will remain associated with the team but is ineligible to return to the active roster in 2024.
• OL KT Leveston - Rookie OL KT Leveston has been placed on IR - Designated to Return. Per NFL rules, Leveston will need to be on IR for a minimum of four games.
• DL Larrell Murchison - DL Larrell Murchison has been placed on IR - Designated to Return. Per NFL rules, Murchison will be eligible to return to the active roster after no less than four games have been played.
• OT AJ Arcuri - OT AJ Arcuri played well enough. This release was a numbers game
• IOL Justin Dedich - Undrafted IOL Justin Dedich was an eyebrow-raiser in training camp and preseason. If he clears waivers, he will likely return to the practice squad.
• RB Zach Evans - No surprise here. The Rams showed their hand by sitting Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers throughout the preseason.
• TE Miller Forristall - Again no surprise. He played well. But the Rams won't keep more than 3 tight ends
• DB Tanner Ingle - This release stings a little. Tanner Ingle played his heart out. I have to believe that he will return to the team's practice squad
• DB Shaun Jolly - The Rams coaching staff like Shaun Jolly. But this secondary competition was fierce in training camp. Jolly could be back on the practice squad
• TE Nikola Kalinic - He had a rough Game 1 in preseason but did recover nicely in Game 2. Unfortunately, the odds were stacked against him.
• DB Cam Lampkin - Cam Lampkin was a fierce competitor but lost out to the numbers.
• DT Tuli Letuligasenoa - I like what I saw from rookie DT Tuli, but apparently, the coaching staff did not see enough.
• DT David Olajiga - David Olajiga faced fierce competition, but he could return via the practice squad.
• WR Xavier Smith - A surprise. Xavier Smith competed hard, and I have to believe that he will be back on the practice squad. If he clears waivers that is.
• WR Drake Stoops - Drake Stoops had to play perfectly in the preseason to have even a remote chance. That was too much to ask of the rookie.
• DB Jason Taylor II - This is a surprise too. Jason Taylor played well in the preseason. He should return to the practice squad.
• OL Zach Thomas - Another surprise. The guy dominated in preseason. I think that the team wanted to give Logan Bruss a chance this year, and Beaux Limmer was simply too good. Thomas should be back via the practice squad.
• OLB Zach VanValkenburg - ValValkenburg has been down this road before. He was on the team's 2023 practice squad. He may return in 2024.
• WR Sam Wiglusz - A gutsy performer, rookie WR Sam Wiglusz was not the best wide receiver released on this list, but he is arguably the toughest.

Rams cut 2

The LA Rams cut two players to make room for the team's addition of three offensive linemen. The players who were released were:

While those roster moves were designed to clear the way for signing three free agent offensive linemen, the pair was originally signed to compete for developmental roles, and perhaps even to be signed to the team's practice squad. It seems their fates are sealed to go in a different direction now.

Rams release this player for the second time

After competing for the team's starting placekicker role in 2023, Oklahoma State kicker Tanner Brown was released by the team just before the 2023 NFL season began. After a rather chaotic season at the kicker position, the team signed Tanner Brown to a Reserve/Future contract to add competition to training camp.

He had an uphill battle this year. The team drafted kicker Joshua Karty, a prospect that some draft analysts described as the best kicker to emerge from college in the past five to ten years. And after his first preseason game performance, the competition is over. The team released kicker Tanner Brown for the second time.

There seems to be a shortage of reliable kickers in the NFL right now, so I expect Tanner Brown, as other kickers before him, to find himself on a new team soon.

A bridge player given his release

The LA Rams appear to be pruning the roster on Tuesdays, as for the third time in three weeks the team has announced the release of another player on that calendar day. On this occasion, the Rams have announced the release of formerly signed DB Jerry Jacobs. He has be given an Injury Settlement by the team.

The roster moves continue to trickle in, but the team has been proactive in sustaining the roster at 90, at least for now.

Rams release this veteran RB

The LA Rams are going to go with RBs Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers without any preseason competition. While I could see a role for former Philadelphia Eagles veteran RB Boston Scott in this offense, it was dependant on Scott earning a key role in returning kickoffs and punts for the team.

When he lost the competition for those roles, his overall utility on the team was limited.

That is the first of many releases. Stay tuned. There will be a lot of action until the NFL Roster Cuts deadline on August 27.

Rams part ways with offensive lineman

When the LA Rams roster was suddenly deprived of multiple offensive linemen due to an unexpected outbreak of injuries, the team acted quickly to add three offensive linemen: OL Matt Kaskey, OL Alec Lindstrom, and OL Conor McDermott. With the imminent deadline to get under 53 players, the Rams expectedly are parting ways with Matt Kaskey, and will likely soon release Alec Lindstrom.

The team did play OT Conor McDermott 50 snaps in the preseason, and with the team still dealing with ongoing injuries to both LT Alaric Jackson and RT Rob Havenstein, he could be an option as an emergency player to keep until either or both starters are suited up and practicing once more.

Rams cut veteran DL

There is a rule about inventory control in accounting known as LIFO. That is, last in, first out. It's the method to ensure that the appropriate cost of goods are assigned in manufacturing. But the same last in first out can be used to anticipate players who are to be shed from NFL roster.

DL Carlos Watkins was added very late to the team. And as a result, he has been one of the first batch of players who the team has parted ways with.

Watkins had just one appearance in preseason, but he did make the most of it. He recorded five tackles, four solo. And he had a quarterback sack. Will the Rams re-sign him to the practice squad? Well, I would like to see more from the team.

Rams release a batch of players for first round of roster cuts

The remaining nine players did have some minor surprises. OLB Ochaun Mathis, CB Cameron McCutcheon, and WR JJ Laap were part of the first wave of players to part ways from the team, and I expect all three to return via the practice squad if they clear waivers.

The remainder of players were not surprises. They get an early out from the team, which may elevate their chances of being claimed by another NFL team.

It's a pretty big first step, but the team has nearly two dozen more players to part ways with before the NFL Roster Cuts Deadline arrives. The team will have to get busy.

Rams nix backup center and former OLB

Rams designate 3 players to IR, 2 to return

Rams batch release Rams players

The LA Rams batched their final round of roster cuts. Some surprises in this list.

Later confirmed by the team:

Now we pivot to the practice squad, while unpacking what the team's initial 53-man roster tells us.

Thanks for reading.