Sean McVay’s preseason finale twist proves old habits die hard for Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have several significant NFL landmark dates lined up, making things very busy for a while. The team must travel to face the Cleveland Browns in its third and final preseason game of 2025. But that’s only the start of a host of NFL dates that follow immediately after. As is the case for every NFL team each year, these dates signify actions that can make or break the success of the season.

The first order of business is Game 3: a final tune-up for the starters and a last hurrah for players who won’t make their team’s roster. Those players are hoping to play well enough to catch the eye of another NFL general manager. For the Rams, many of the players competing in this final game fall into that second category. Starting quarterback Dresser Winn is among them as well:

This is the same pattern the Rams followed in 2024, and it comes with several clear advantages. It may even be why the team originally signed Dresser Winn. While fans weren’t exactly thrilled with the approach, repeating the same pattern helps manage expectations. Winn knew his role would be short-term, but he signed on anyway.

Rams offered Dresser Winn offseason opportunity he couldn't refuse

When the UFL season ended in mid-June 2025, many talented football players were no longer fettered to the daily regimen of practice and training. But professional football players understand the offseason is merely an opportunity to sharpen their football-related skills. Players can either pay private trainers to work with them and help improve those skills.

Luckier players simply find an NFL team willing to sign them over the course of the summer and pay them while coaching them up to enhance their football-related skills. The team’s QB4 is one of the luckier ones.

We’ve talked about how the injury to veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford shifted reps to both Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett. Even Winn benefited from those extra reps, which is why he joined the team. As a result, he’ll once again start in Game 3 of the preseason, just like he did in 2024. Consider the game his final exam.

Winn will be released by the NFL cut-down deadline of 1:00 p.m. PT on Tuesday. But that’s exactly what he signed up for. He joined the team as a training camp arm — one more quarterback to throw to the many receivers who need the reps. And when the UFL kicks back up for a new season, he’ll be among the returning players.

The Rams benefited from having a familiar training camp quarterback. Dresser Winn was paid throughout the summer to keep working on his football skills. In the end, everybody wins with this deal. As always, thanks for reading.

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