Stetson Bennett gears up for Rams 2025 training camp dates and a full preseason

The Los Angeles Rams have a lot going on right now. The team is immersed in another annual Rams minicamp, located on Maui, Hawaii. The front office continues to dabble with the roster, most recently re-signing defensive back Derion Kendrick after releasing him. And then there is the uncertainty of LT Alaric Jackson's future, as he faces a similar ailment that benched him for nine games in 2022.

The Rams signed veteran left tackle D.J. Humphries to handle the workload at the position until Jackson returns.

It's still only minicamp, but the Rams organization is already humming along in peak form. And there is plenty more work to do. After all, with all the new additions and returning young players, the coaching staff has its work cut out for them. After all, building a roster is more than just luring players to sign contracts. Now players must be shown their roles, taught their techniques, and held accountable to execute instructions.

That all falls under the team's annual minicamp, and the Los Angeles Rams have finally shared their dates for the annual event.

So, how quickly must this team turn things around to be in regular season form? Well, believe it or not, the Rams pivot from training camp to preseason rather quickly.

Joint Practices: Dates and locations

While the Rams have maintained a strict policy of not allowing starters, or even key rotational or backup players, to participate in preseason games, that has not discouraged Rams fans from tuning in to see the competition of players who are fighting for their NFL careers. But veterans and rotational players will get plenty of work at communication and synchronization through a series of joint scrimmages with other teams.

The benefits of joint scrimmages over preseason participation are twofold. First, the scrimmage can be scripted. That is, the down and distances for specific scenarios are scripted and agreed upon by both teams. That allows coaches to see first-hand how projected starters and rotational players handle themselves in a variety of game-like conditions.

The second piece to the puzzle is even more beneficial. As it is a scripted competition, there is less risk of player injuries. As such, the Rams hope to ensure a healthy roster for the start of the 2025 NFL season.

August 5 - @ Dallas Cowboys at Oxnard, California

As much as I hate to say it, the Dallas Cowboys are a fixture in California, and their annual scrimmage with the Rams is somewhat of a tradition. The Rams are unlikely to face Cowboys starters in preseason, but they will face the likes of QB Dak Prescott, WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and edge rushers Micah Parsons and Dante Fowler Jr. in joint practices.

It will almost certainly be the debut of left tackle D.J. Humphries (subbing in for Alaric Jackson) and nose tackle Poona Ford. But you can bet that most of the post-scrimmage reports will focus on the chemistry between QB Matthew Stafford throwing to veteran WR Davante Adams.

August 13 - @ Los Angeles Chargers at El Segundo, California

The team will compete in a second controlled scrimmage against the Los Angeles Chargers and will get plenty of solid preseason experience for players who are certain to make the 53-man Rams roster. Once again, this will be starters versus starters, but with scripted plays and running at a fraction of the speed and physicality of regular-season competition.

While the starting players will likely be known, this scrimmage will play a huge part in determining primary backup and rotational order. Both teams are projected to be vying for seeding in the upcoming NFL Playoffs, so I would not look for much to be revealed in terms of innovations or nuances in this scrimmage. It will be basic vanilla football.

Preseason Games : Dates and locations

Preseason games seem to be almost anti-climactic for the Los Angeles Rams. Even as other teams sprinkle in as much as an entire half of work for their projected starters to knock off the rust, the Rams continue to hold anyone who is projected to have a significant workload in the upcoming season out of the competition. So preseason games ultimately come down to a series of David vs. Goliath confrontations.

And the Rams are David.

Even so, some Rams roster spots are still up for grabs. Preseason games allow fans to see the performance of players who are either talented rookies or wily veterans. With no fourth quarterback, the team is locked in on starting reserve quarterback Stetson Bennett in all three preseason games. While some may scoff at that, the fact that Bennett will almost certainly play full games in all three competitions is worth the price of admission alone.

August 9 - Vs. Dallas Cowboys

Despite throwing four interceptions, Rams reserve quarterback hung in the 2024 preseason game against the Cowboys defense to complete 24 of 38 passes for 234 yards and a game-winning touchdown as well. Rookie WR Jordan Whittington showed up big in that game, as did veteran RB Boston Scott. On the defensive side of the football, rookie DL Tyler Davis and rookie S Jaylen McCollough were the standouts.

The Rams roster is bursting with players who could show up big in this game. Of offense, (if he plays), prepare to be wowed by RB Jarquez Hunter, WR Konata Mumpfield, and TE Davis Allen. And yes, you can bet that QB Stetson Bennett will have a solid command of this offense.

On the defensive side of the football, I look for rookie DL Ty Hamilton to have a solid performance, ILB Shaun Dolac to drop some jaws, and IOL Willie Lampkin to pancake somebody.

August 16 - Vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Do not be lulled into napping in this one. In the second preseason game of 2024, the Rams' reserves faced off against several key players from the Los Angeles Chargers and still emerged with a victory. Granted, the Rams played backups all game, while the Chargers platooned starters to open the competition, and had cycled through their depth chart by the final whistle.

As in their track record, anyone who plays exceptionally well in the first preseason game may earn a roster spot and sit out Game 2. That will almost certainly be the case for RB Jarquez Hunter and perhaps even for WR Konata Mumpfield. But the Rams have more weapons than you may realize. RB Cody Schrader will get plenty of work, as will impressive rookie WR Brennan Pressley.

I expect that rookie ILB Shaun Dolac will continue to impress, as will man-mountain rookie NT Bill Norton.

August 23 - @ Cleveland Browns

By the time the third preseason game rolls around, almost all 53-man Rams roster spots will be decided. And yet, this is the game that gives all remaining players one last chance to show up and get compelling video footage on record to lure teams into signing them to practice squads or even to fill a roster spot for injured players.

With no QB Dresser Winn on the Rams roster, Steton Bennett will be compelled to play all three preseason games. But that is not a bad thing, as the offense will put on a good show in the final preseason game. The Rams' offensive line will show up in this one, as many of the depth chart players are better than many fans realize. C Dylan McMahon, OT Trey Wedig, and OG Ben Dooley could put up admirable performances in this one.

Look for a big game out of undrafted rookie power back Jordan Waters and undrafted edge rusher Jamil Muhammad. This may be the final preseason game of the season, but look for several young Rams players to cut loose with huge performances.

As always, thanks for reading.

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