The Los Angeles Rams‘ first preseason game of the year is on our doorstep. While this doesn’t mean much for the starters, it means everything for players competing to make the roster.
Every snap could mean the difference between seeing September or seeing the door. That said, even players unable to make the Rams roster could plant the seed for continuing their career on another franchise, depending on how they play.
However, most, if not all, of the players suiting up for Saturday’s tilt against the Dallas Cowboys are hoping not to need to move in the near future. Here’s a look at five of the players who the preseason showdown could most heavily impact.
5 Los Angeles Rams Roster Bubble Players
Dresser Winn, QB
Dresser Winn finds himself staring up at the rest of the depth chart heading into the first preseason game. Of course, he’s familiar with this position as he has bounced on and off the team’s practice squad since 2023.
The Rams appear to be lukewarm on the quarterback, and after years, this could be his final opportunity to make a significant enough impression to overcome Stetson Bennett for the third-string spot and get any sort of chance at a regular-season appearance.
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With the quarterback room heading for a huge change potentially as soon as 2026, this could be one of his last chances to fortify a position against a potential quarterback house-clearing in the somewhat near future.
Ronnie Rivers, RB
Ronnie Rivers saw action in all 17 games in 2024, continuing a pattern of increasing his workload from eight games in 2022 and nine games in 2023. However, it’s far from the same running back room this time around. Jarquez Hunter, the impressive rookie prospect from Auburn, is now in town.
While Rivers has the edge in experience, it’s clear the Rams are interested in shaking up the running back room, which could lead them to move on from Rivers. A strong showing against the Cowboys might slow this line of thinking, but the ball is in Rivers’ court to make a new impression on the franchise that elected to add from the outside.
Derion Kendrick, CB
Derion Kendrick is in limbo after failing to log a snap during the 2024 season. Kendrick has seen lots of action in his two active seasons, playing snaps in 32 games in his career. However, with the cornerback heading into his fourth season after missing 2024, nothing is guaranteed.
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Kendrick hauled in an interception in 2023, which might buy him an extra preseason game after facing the Cowboys, but it’s clear that the onus is on the cornerback to make an impression early.
Stetson Bennett, QB
Many who have already seen him in action agree that Bennett has had a solid camp thus far. However, there’s a difference between practice and a live situation. Fans and television cameras will be locked in on the quarterback against the Cowboys, which will turn up the pressure a notch.
His overall preseason performance from 2024 (one touchdown and four interceptions in his worst outing against the Cowboys) also left plenty of reason for a sense of urgency heading into the year.
While Bennett has created some goodwill this year, that can all go down the drain with another subpar performance against the Cowboys on Saturday. If he can deliver a strong performance against the same team he struggled against last preseason, it will be a clear-cut piece of evidence that can be used to prove he’s making strides in his development. Will Bennett deliver?
David Quessenberry, OT
The Alaric Jackson blood-clot trouble has potentially created an opportunity for David Quessenberry to get some extra action this season, but he needs to prove he’s up to the task. Quessenberry is heading into an age-35 season, so the biggest question is whether he can still perform at a level that helps the Rams.
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If Quessenberry struggles, it will be clear that the tackle has reached an age where he might not be able to carry an NFL workload. Of course, if he ascends against the Cowboys, the Rams can feel much more confident that no matter how things go with Jackson, they have an experienced tackle with some gas in the tank that they can rely on as a backup this season.