Rams fans can expect a few familiar faces to re-up their preseason roster bids

The Los Angeles Rams seldom pay much heed to the final scores or stat-sheet outcomes of preseason games. After all, they deliberately pit the bottom rungs of the roster against other teams' starters and rotational players. LA's game-planning consists of entirely vanilla play-calling.

Still, it gets the job done. Devoting the entire preseason to players fighting for their NFL careers also reveals who can withstand the heat of competition. Even players unlikely to make the roster get a full opportunity to showcase their skills to the rest of the league.

It's what the Rams have done for years. Entering the preseason, those who have already earned a roster spot have nothing to prove. Those who haven't have nothing to lose. Head coach Sean McVay leverages those opposing forces to determine who should fill the final spots on his active roster and offer the most upside on the practice squad.

Here, then, are several names starred in preseason games a year ago and are likely to do so again.

2025 preseason stars Rams fans should watch in 2026

Offensive lineman Wyatt Bowles. Nobody is talking about Bowles, and that is a shame. The former Utah State graduate is back for his second season in Horns. 51 pancake blocks in college helped earn him an NFL contract, and Bowles balled out in the 2025 preseason before signing with the practice squad.

Wide receiver Brennan Presley. Another nearly anonymous performer, receiver Brennan Presley, starred for the offense a year ago. In fact, he hauled in 11 of 13 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. In addition to working with Stetson Bennett at quarterback, he even managed three catches for 24 yards from Dresser Winn.

At 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Presley must put his 4.46-second 40-time to work. Will he make the roster? Probably not. But he is a highly intriguing prospect for the practice squad.

Safety Nate Valcarcel. While not a force in the regular season, Valcarcel, a former undrafted free agent, was a stud last preseason. He played all three games and recorded 15 tackles. Now, the 6-foot-1, 194-pound DB will pick up right where he left off.

Showing up big in the preseason guarantees nothing, but it does pave the way to hanging around, if only on the Rams' practice squad. Some standouts ultimately earn promotions. Quarterback Stetson Bennett, one of last year's headliners, has established himself as the presumed QB2 in 2026. So it can lead to good things.

The three above prospects have yet to see the fruits of their labors, but another outstanding preseason could go far to earning them one of the final roster spots in 2026. Hopefully, the encore is even better.

As always, thanks for reading.

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