11 Rams players most hurt by shortened preseason...

11 Rams players hurt most by shortened preseason

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

The NFL is shortening the preseason to only two games this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The first and last weeks of the preseason are being cut, leaving just Weeks 2 and 3 to be played in August.

While fans and most players seem fine with a shortened preseason, there will be plenty of guys hurt by this news. The preseason is an opportunity for lesser-known players and undrafted free agents to make a name for themselves, hoping to earn spots on the 53-man roster.

Here are 11 players who will be impacted most by the NFL trimming two exhibition games from this summer’s slate.

QBs John Wolford, Bryce Perkins and Josh Love

The Rams’ backup quarterbacks stand to lose the most with this shortened preseason. Wolford, Perkins and Love are all competing to back up Jared Goff, but with only two preseason games now, their game reps will be seriously limited.

It doesn’t bode well at all for the Rams and could lead them to sign a veteran such as Blake Bortles or Matt Moore. If not, they’ll roll into the regular season with three unproven backups behind Goff.

Kickers Austin McGinnis, Lirim Hajrullahu and Sam Sloman

It’s almost impossible to simulate the pressure of an NFL game in practice for kickers, but the Rams will need to do their best this year. With a wide-open kicking competition and only two exhibition games to work with, the Rams will have minimal opportunities to evaluate their kickers in game action.

The winner of this competition will probably be the guy who impresses most in practice, not necessarily in the preseason. As of now, no one really has an edge because none of them have been able to kick in front of coaches.

OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo is a player plenty of fans are excited about, but the reality is, he’s also a candidate to be cut if he doesn’t stand out in camp and the preseason. It’s not all doom and gloom, of course, because he could also be a starter opposite Leonard Floyd, but the clock is ticking on Okoronkwo.

He needs to make impact plays in the preseason with however many reps he gets. With four games, he had plenty of chances to shine, but those chances will be limited now.

ILB Travin Howard

Howard is in a wide-open competition at inside linebacker with Micha Kiser, Kenny Young and a few others. The Rams won’t have much time to evaluate this group now, which probably gives Kiser an edge after he was slated to be the starter last year before getting hurt.

Howard has to stay healthy and show he can succeed both against the run and the pass, using his athleticism and range to his advantage. If not, he could be cut before the season begins.

CB Darious Williams

David Long has the pedigree of a third-round pick, so he’s probably safe even if he doesn’t win the CB3 job. And even as high as the Rams are on Williams, he’s hardly a lock to make the roster.

A shortened preseason will give Williams even fewer chances than originally expected to prove himself to the coaching staff – including new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.

C Brian Allen and OL Joseph Noteboom

Allen and Noteboom should be safe this year, but their spots on the roster aren’t guaranteed by any means. They’re certainly not locks to be starters again after last year’s mess, and the absence of two preseason games won’t help their case.

Both Allen and Noteboom are coming off season-ending injuries, too, so they could be kept on the sidelines initially in camp. Any missed time will greatly hurt their chances of starting.