As the NFL preseason winds down to the third and final game, the Los Angeles Rams personnel universe is working overtime in preparation for the flurry of player transactions that will officially start right after the closing gun of L.A.’s final game with the Cleveland Browns. Coaches are strategizing over who and how helps best to build out the initial roster, while pro scouts glean over opposing teams registers, looking for possible gems that fit into the Rams schemes.
While training camp rosters are currently at 90 players, teams must reduce that number to 53 for the regular season. Tuesday August 26 at 1 p.m. PST is the deadline for all to comply. That is the hard line and many teams start the process right after their final preseason game, with names both officially tendered and leaked over the final weekend and right up to the deadline.
At its most basic, you either make the opening roster, or you don’t, but there are six basic subset categories for all players under that broad rule. Even though all the players trimmed comes under the heading “roster cuts”, there are six basic subset categories for all players involved, kept or released.
1) Activate player
The opening 53 L.A., under Sean McVay, has been transparent when it comes to how his roster takes shape. During the preseason schedule, McVay doesn’t play, or in a few cases very little, any player who has been penciled in as starter or top backup. That would be about 40 players in 2025.
Rams examples: The initial roster. Projected starters on the offense, defense, and their backups, along with the core special teamer’s and three specialists. (Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, Josh Karty, etc.)
2) Request waivers
Reserved for players with less than four accrued seasons, it is the most widely used transaction. An accrued season is considered six games on an active roster, Injured Reserve List, or PUP List. Waiving a player puts him on the “wire” list with similarly designated players, making them eligible to be claimed by any other NFL team in a pecking order decided by the team’s previous season record— basically mirroring their draft order before trades. One caveat: If the claim is successful, players signed off the waiver wire must be elevated directly to the signing team’s 53 man roster. If a player is not claimed in 24 hours, he becomes a free agent.
Rams examples: Any players without three accrued seasons, L.A. has 40+ that fit the criteria, many are undrafted free agents. (Brennan Presley, Wyatt Bowles, Bill Norton, Nate Valcrcel, etc.)
3) Terminate Contract
Players with four or more accrued season are not left to the vagaries of the waiver list. When a veteran player is cut, he immediately becomes a free agent and is free to negotiate and sign with any of the 32 teams.
Rams examples: (David Quessenberry, Larrell Murchison, Troy Reeder)
4) Trade
While not the usual time to swing any real blockbuster deals, teams with obvious/deep needs at a particular position may want to skip the risk involved in the waiver claim or veteran free agent dealings by inquiring about a particular player that would patch roster holes.
Rams examples: The 49ers are short on wide receivers and offensive linemen, don’t let them get one of ours off the wire. The Rams receiving core and offensive have been a camp strong suits, try to make them pay a little something. The Titans are thin at running back, Cody Schrader might bring a little in return. The Patriots are trying defensive interior players, Larrell Murchison should have some value.
5) PUP/NFI List
Physically Unable to Perform or Non-Football Injury. If a player begins camp on the PUP List, he cannot participate in practice or play in preseason games until cleared by doctors. If he remains on the PUP List all through camp, during final cuts he can be put on Reserve/PUP and will not count against the opening 53. He must however, sit out four games before being eligible for activation. Placed on the PUP List before final cuts, means a player is out for the season.
Starting on the NFI means a player has suffered injury or long-term illness not related to football.
Rams examples: L.A. did not have any players on the NFL List, but did have two on the PUP, Mark Redman and Tru Edwards were both eventually cleared to practice.
6) Injured Reserve List
Injuries occurring related to football. Players on the IR do not count against the roster. Players placed on this list during camp/before final cuts are generally out for the season. A new rule allows teams two exemptions if designated to return on final cuts. For the season, teams are allowed as many IR player placements as needed, but may only re-activate a total of eight players after a minimum four weeks out. It jumps to 10 for teams in the playoffs.
Rams examples: Mario Williams was waived earlier this week with an injury designation. If he clears waivers and doesn’t come to terms with L.A. on an injury settlement, he goes on IR. If the Rams so choose to use one of their exemptions on him, he can can be designated on final cuts as IR/return and sit four weeks before being re-activated.
In the aftermath
It’s all about building out the roster. There’s a need to be properly balanced between the offense/defense and within the individual units. While starters and their main backups should have similar skillsets that fit into the schemes, there should also be some change-of-pace traits in the depth chart.
Most, if not all, of the Rams Top 46 are likely already decided, so now it becomes a jigsaw puzzle. Trying to figure out and fit which seven players (likely weekly inactive’s) to protect on the 53 and weigh those decisions against the 16 players that L.A. wants for the practice squad. Who will clear waivers and who won’t?
Expect the Rams to use as many of the transactions subset categories as they can to protect their coveted prospects.
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