I really appreciate the author's approach to roster building. But I think he made an error when he said this: "Hardy has a high ankle sprain and that rules him out for the start of the season too. That should keep him off the official 53-man roster to open things ..."
As far as I know Hardy has to be on the initial 53 man roster and then placed on IR in order to play this year. He can't be IR'd prior to the final cut down and then activated during the season.
So if the Rams have plans for Hardy this year he has to be on the initial 53 man roster and then IR'd. Once he's IR'd the Rams can add someone else to the roster, but that player has to be cut first and pass thru waivers prior to being added to the roster.
Thoughts on who that player might be?
AlbaNY_Ram