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7 Rams players with the most to prove in training camp, including Stetson Bennett
7 Rams players with the most to prove in training camp, including Stetson Bennett

USA Today

time18 hours ago

  • Sport
  • USA Today

7 Rams players with the most to prove in training camp, including Stetson Bennett

Training camp is the ultimate proving ground for players each summer, giving them the opportunity to not only make the regular-season roster, but rise up the depth and earn meaningful playing time. The Los Angeles Rams kick things off with their first practice at Loyola Marymount University this week and these seven players have a lot to prove. Stetson Bennett is atop the list, aiming to make the Rams' 53-man roster for the third straight year despite a tough start in his first two seasons since being draft. QB Stetson Bennett Bennett managed to make the 53-man roster last season despite struggling badly in the preseason, but he may not be afforded such a long leash this time around. With the Rams' roster getting even deeper across the board, they may not have the luxury of keeping three quarterbacks again. Since being drafted in the fourth round, Bennett has struggled with turnovers in the preseason and looked a bit overmatched. His athleticism is encouraging but in terms of becoming an NFL-level passer, he has a long way to go still. RB Blake Corum Corum joined the Rams as a third-round pick last year and despite a perception that he might push Kyren Williams for playing time, that never happened. He carried the ball just 58 times for 207 yards, an average of 3.4 rushes for 12.2 yards per game. Those aren't the numbers anyone expected to see from the former Wolverine, getting very little chance to prove himself as a rookie. This season, Corum faces more pressure with the arrival of rookie Jarquez Hunter, a fourth-round pick out of Auburn. He's a faster, more explosive running back than Williams and Corum, which could conceivably push him ahead of Corum as the RB2. Corum must prove he can be the next man up if he wants to hold onto his position on the depth chart. TE Davis Allen It's approaching "now or never" time for Allen, a third-year tight end who was drafted in the fifth round out of Clemson. He's currently penciled in as the No. 4 tight end behind Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson, so he's not even a lock to make the 53-man roster again. With his size and athletic profile, he has a chance to be productive in the NFL, as we saw during his rookie year when he caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, but his opportunities were few and far between last year despite Higbee missing most of the season. OL KT Leveston Leveston spent his rookie year on injured reserve, the only draft pick by the Rams in 2024 to play zero games last season. It was an unfortunate way to start his NFL career, essentially making this his rookie year. As a former seventh-round pick, his job isn't yet secured so he's got work to do. Leveston played tackle in college and could remain there with the Rams, but with D.J. Humphries, David Quessenberry and Warren McClendon Jr. all competing to be backup tackles, there may not be much room for Leveston. He may have to cut his teeth at guard instead. DT Desjuan Johnson The defensive line is pretty open after the top four of Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford and Ty Hamilton. Tyler Davis should probably make the team, too, but Johnson, Larrell Murchison and others will be competing for a roster spot further down the depth chart. Johnson was Mr. Irrelevant in 2024 and has only played 14% and 18% of the defensive snaps the last two seasons, so he hasn't been on the field much. The time is now for him to prove he belongs on the roster. OLB Brennan Jackson Jackson missed time last summer with an injury, which was an unfortunate setback during his rookie year. He sat out the first five games and wound up playing just seven total games (47 snaps) all season. Like Leveston, the Rams didn't get much of a look at their fifth-round rookie, which gives Jackson an opportunity to showcase his skill set for truly the first time in camp this year. The Rams need a new No. 3 outside linebacker following the departure of Michael Hoecht in free agency and Jackson is a real candidate to fill that void. CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. This might be the biggest camp of Forbes' career so far. The former first-round pick fell out of favor in Washington and was cut last season, which led to him landing with the Rams. He arrived in Los Angeles late in the season so he was put in a tough spot, but with a full offseason in 2025, Forbes is set up for success. There's a real chance he makes the 53-man roster and plays meaningful snaps, potentially as the No. 3 or 4 cornerback on the depth chart. The Rams didn't make many moves at cornerback in the offseason, in part because they're confident in Forbes' ability. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!

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