Rams fans may see Jimmy G in action and Stetson Bennett as backup

Who on the Rams roster likely plays in Week 18?

The Rams offense in Week 18 will almost certainly be led by veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and he will have young Stetson Bennett as his backup. The Rams could feature RB Ronnie Rivers, and use newcomer Cody Schrader as his rotational relief. For wide receivers, this should mean many more targets to veteran Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, rookie Jordan Whittington, and perhaps even Xavier Smith. And the Rams backup tight ends Hunter Long and Davis Allen have already had a ton of work this season.

Since they are on expiring contracts, look for WR Tutu Atwell, TE Hunter Long, and RB Ronnie Rivers to see the lion's share of offensive snaps.

So who starts on the offensive line? The Rams could go with Joe Noteboom, Justin Dedich, Jonah Jackson, Dylan McMahon, and Warren McClendon Jr.

On defense, the Rams could go with Neville Gallimore, flanked by Tyler Davis and Desjuan Johnson. Behind them, the team could send out OLB Nick Hampton and Brennon Jackson, with Elias Neal and Jake Hummel in the middle. Rams fans may finally get to see Emmanuel Forbes with Josh Wallace. And safeties could be Jaylen McCollough and Kamren Kinchens.

As far as special teams, I'm afraid that the Rams have not Plan B punter or kicker on the roster. So it's likely that the team will see plenty of punter Ethan Evans and kicker Joshua Karty in Week 18. That's fine too, as they can use the reps to fine tune the craft even further.

Even if the Rams play backups and lose miserably in Week 18, it's a smart move. The offense has been ineffective this season, and the team has been winning in the most unexpected ways this season. Perhaps a week off for starters will help the team regroup and come out hot and prepared in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. In a worst case scenario, the coaches, front office, and fans will learn a great deal about players who have had little playing time.

As always, thanks for reading.

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