Los Angeles Rams 2024 preseason schedule: Full list of games

It's August 2024, which means that LA Rams fans can start the countdown to the 2024 Rams Preseason Schedule. While preseason games give all NFL fans a chance to see their favorite players in action, that is not always the case for Rams fans. Whether injured, just bruised, or perfectly fit, the tradition of this team under Head Coach Sean McVay is to sit starters, and even rotational players.

It's just one more precaution that this team takes to minimize the risk of injury to key players. As a result, the team fields almost exclusively players who find themselves on the roster bubble. But with excellent performances, they can earn one of the final few roster spots up for grabs.

That is not to say that the games are meaningless. Due to the depth at some positions, key backups, rookies, and some unique players like punter Ethan Evans will almost certainly see action. And despite the depth at the quarterback position this year, the Rams may use not only reserve quarterback Dresser Winn, but may use both backup quarterbacks Stetson Bennett and Jimmy Garoppolo. Bennett is due to knock off the rust of being on IR for all of the 2023 NFL season. Jimmy Garoppolo, meanwhile, faces a two game suspension to start the 2024 NFL season, and may get preseason work to ensure he can carry over two weeks away from the team.

The 2024 Rams Preseason Schedule (all times PT)

• Week 1, Aug. 11: Dallas Cowboys | 1:30 pm PT | NFL Network
• Week 2, Aug. 17: at Los Angeles Chargers | 4:05 pm PT
• Week 3, Aug. 24: at Houston Texans | 10:00 am PT

While you may not be over excited about the Rams preseason games, keep in mind that due to the new NFL kickoff rules, these games will be the lab of which strategies make the most sense to use in 2024. Of course, no team is going to show their cards in a preseason game, but it should be easy enough to decipher the direction of team strategy under the new rules.

Beyond the new tricks of the trade, this team will be getting work out of players who are the most mysterious. While everyone knows what RB Kyren Williams brings to this offense, the coaches may want to get some rookies feet wet in preseason, just to get the shock of competing in the NFL out of their system before the regular season starts.

Finally, the tell-tale signs of who competes in the preseason games almost certainly indicates which of the players is earmarked to make the 53-man roster. So there are solid reasons to tune in. But for each individual game, you can look for the following.

Week 1, Aug. 11: Dallas Cowboys

In terms of NFC competition, the Dallas Cowboys are the only team from the NFC that the Rams will face in preseason. And with this game scheduled as the first preseason game, the LA Rams are likely to play more of their rookies and rotational players in this game than the remaining two. In 2023, rookie WR Puka Nacua played in the first preseason game before sitting out the rest of preseason.

That same scenario could play out in Game 1 of the 2024 Rams schedule. New offensive skill players such as TE Colby Parkinson, WR Jordan Whittington, and RB Blake Corum are most likely to appear in this game if any. And that could extend to the defensive side of the football too.

While I would not could on seeing any performance from OLB Jared Verse or even DT Braden Fiske, I would look for some defensive snaps from OLB Brennan Jackson and Michael Hoecht, NT Tyler Davis, DE Anthony Goodlaw and Desjuan Johnson. Even some key defensive backs might see some playing time in this one like veteran DB John Johnson III, rookie DB Kamren Kinchens. I would not rule out seeing ILB Christian Rozeboom or Troy Reeder getting some playing time as well.

I will be curious to see who plays quarterback in this game for the Rams, and in what sequence. Will the team start Jimmy Garoppolo, and then relieve him with Stetson Bennett in the second half? That makes a lot of sense based on how the Rams face the regular season. Still, how the team orders QBs in this one will be quite telling.

I will also be focused on how the team handles both tight end and wide receiver positions in this one. We know that the team will not play Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, or Demarcus Robinson in preseason. But who will play at the wide receiver position against the Cowboys? And which tight end(s) sit this one out, while which one(s) compete?

While I think the Rams will be at their most competitive in this one, we know not to get our hopes up too high in terms of final scores in preseason games.

Week 2, Aug. 17: at Los Angeles Chargers

While the LA Rams and Los Angeles Charges time share their home games at SoFi Stadium, this is no longer the Chargers led by HC Brandon Staley. Rather, this is the team led by former San Francisco 49ers and Michigan Wolverines HC Jim Harbaugh. Jim is the younger brother to Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh. When the two were coaching in different leagues, John with the Ravens and Jim with the Wolverines, the two brothers were happy to swap coordinators and positional coaches.

And you can expect very similarly styled approaches in 2024 by both Harbaughs.

The Rams typically have some form of competition with the Chargers in recent years, whether born out of their proximity or the fact that former Coach Staley was previously the DC for the LA Rams. But it makes sense to continue that tradition. Jim Harbaugh is bringing a fresh outlook to the NFL. While he was successful in his previous chapter, he wants to get out of the gate the right way. What better strategy than to compete against the LA Rams in preseason?

Meanwhile, Rams HC Sean McVay is shrewdly tapping opportunities to cross-pollinate with Jim Harbaugh and the entire Chargers staff. That won't happen only at a preseason game but with two separate joint practices and scrimmages scheduled before the season begins.

As far as this game, you will likely see less of key Rams rotational players. That may mean less Davis Allen, Blake Corum, Brennan Jackson and the like. But I would not rule out the Rams putting up some points in this game. After all, the team will likely player Hunter Long at tight end, Tyler Davis and Xavier Smith at wide receiver, and Ronnie Rivers and Zach Evans at running back.

I will go out on a limb on this one and predict that backup QB Stetson Bennett will light it up in this one. Crazy? Talk to me after the game.

Week 3, Aug. 24: at Houston Texans

By the time the LA Rams prepare for their third and final preseason game, much of the roster decisions have been made and thos players expected to compete in any signifcant role in 2024 will be benched. That means nearly 40-45 players will not see any action in this one. In the past, that has been a problem.

But this is a pretty deep roster now. And while I don't believe that the Rams will win the game, I do see this one as being a close game. After all, the Houston Texans are likely to be sitting their starters in the final preseason game before the 2024 NFL season begins. So it's depth versus depth.

I love the Rams depth on the offensive line. And if this team leans heavily into the running game, the team will score points, control the clock, rest the defense, and remain competitive enough to get solid looks at many depth players who are on the bubble.

I like the fact that the Rams will not only face the Texans in their final preseason game, but will hold a joint practice and scrimmage before that preason game. That will allow the starter's to face a gifted team just before the regular season arrives. And then, the junior varsity players of each team will face off to close out preseason and leave both teams to sort through their players as roster cuts will soon follow.

The Rams will put up some fight with a strong running game. But it won't be enough.

This team is deeper than in the past. But preseason is more about rice cakes than feast. No NFL team shows their hand in preseason. Unfortunately for fans who want to win preseason games, Rams HC Sean McVay is very good at holding the cards close to his vest.

Preseason games are simply dress rehearsals for the regular season. It's more about individual player performances that final scores. But even with all of that, I expect the Rams to be more competitive in preseason games in 2024. And you can too.

As always, thanks for reading.