Rams Preseason Opener: Who Will Play and Who Won’t vs. Chiefs

The Los Angeles Rams will play their first preseason game on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ever since Sean McVay has been the head coach, the Rams have not played their starters during the preseason and that isn’t about to change in 2026. Here are the players who won’t play, might play, and will definitely play during the preseason, along with who to watch.

Players Who Won’t Play in the Preseason

Rams Offensive Starters Who Won’t Play

iOL Steve Avila
iOL Kevin Dotson
OT Alaric Jackson
OT Warren McClendon
iOL Coleman Shelton
QB Matthew Stafford
RB Blake Corum
RB Kyren Williams
TE Davis Allen
TE Terrance Ferguson
TE Tyler Higbee
TE Colby Parkinson
WR Davante Adams
WR Puka Nacua
WR Jordan Whittington

There shouldn’t be any surprises here when it comes to the players on offense who won’t play in the preseason. The Rams don’t play their starters in the preseason and everybody on this list fits in that category. Throughout training camp, the Rams have erred on the side of caution with injuries to starters. They aren’t going to risk that in the preseason.

While some would argue that Whittington should play, he didn’t last year and is the WR3. In his third season, there’s no reason for him to play given the numbers the Rams have at the wide receiver position.

Rams Defensive Starters Who Won’t Play

CB Emmanuel Forbes
CB Trent McDuffie
CB Jaylen Watson
DL Braden Fiske
DL Kobie Turner
DL Poona Ford
EDGE Myles Garrett
LB Nate Landman
LB Omar Speights
LB Grant Stuard
EDGE Josaiah Stewart
EDGE Byron Young
S Kam Curl
S Kam Kinchens
S Quentin Lake

Moving on to the defensive side of the field, it’s very similar. All of these guys are projected to start or are considered key depth. Josaiah Stewart has had a strong offseason and will be key in the edge rusher rotation. Additionally, Grant Stuard is an important special teams player. There’s no reason for the Rams to put these guys at risk of injury during a meaningless game.

Players Who Might Play in the Preseason

Rams Offensive Players Who Could See Preseason Action

iOL Beaux Limmer
iOL Dylan McMahon
OT David Quessenberry
OT Keagen Trost
QB Matthew Caldwell
RB Ronnie Rivers
WR Konata Mumpfield
WR Xavier Smith

These players could all be in their own categories. It’s probably more likely that Limmer and McMahon play to some extent, but they are key depth on the offensive line. The same can be said about Trost and Quesenberry. It simply depends on how the Rams feel about the guys behind them. They also want to create a situation where Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson can at least operate the offense.

If Caldwell plays, it will be in the final preseason game. At wide receiver, Mumpfield and Smith may play to start the game, but the Rams have the numbers at wide receiver to keep those guys healthy.

Rams Defensive Players Who Could See Preseason Action

CB Josh Wallace
DL Ty Davis
EDGE Desjuan Johnson
LB Shaun Dolac
S Tanner Ingle
S Jaylen McCollough

It would be surprising if Wallace, Davis, and Johnson played. They are all key depth and both Wallace and Davis didn’t play in the preseason last year. The same can be said about Jaylen McCollough. What the Rams do with Johnson, Ingle, and Dolac will be interesting. It’s probably more likely that Dolac and Ingle play than Johnson

Players Who Will Play in the Preseason

Rams Offensive Players to Watch in the Preseason

OT AJ Arcuri
OL Austin Blaske
iOL Wyatt Bowles
OT Blake Hance
OT Bryce Henderson
OT Bill Burray
QB Stetson Bennett
QB Ty Simpson
RB Dean Connors
RB Jarquez Hunter
TE Rohan Jones
TE Max Klare
TE Mark Redman
TE Dan Villari
WR CJ Daniels
WR Tru Edwards
WR Brennan Presley
WR Tyler Scott
WR Mario Williams

Most of the players on this list will be looking to improve their spot on the depth chart or earn a place on the practice squad. The exceptions to that are Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson. There may not be a player fans are looking forward to watching more than wide receiver CJ Daniels. Daniels had a strong training camp and could look to carve out a role in the offense.

All eyes will also be on Max Klare as he’ll get his first action in a preseason game after being drafted in the second round. Dean Connors and Dan Villari are intriguing undrafted free agents. Villari was the highest-paid UDFA that the Rams signed. With his roster spot far from guaranteed, Jarquez Hunter should get an opportunity to show what he can do.

Rams Defensive Players to Watch in the Preseason

CB Nyzier Fourqurean
CB Al’Zillion Hamilton
CB Cam Lampkin
CB Zech McPhearson
CB Alex Cook
CB Alex Johnson
DL Larrell Murchison
DL Jaxson Moi
DL Bill Norton
DL Payton Zdroik
DL Tim Keenan III
LB Kai Hill-Green
LB Elias Neal
LB Monty Rice
LB Daniel Rickert
EDGE Wesley Bailey
EDGE Tomon Fox
EDGE Darryl Peterson
EDGE Keir Thomas
S Nick Andersen
S Nate Valcarcel

Much like CJ Daniels, Cam Lampkin consistently made plays on the ball throughout training camp. With a strong preseason, he’ll lock up a spot on the roster. It will also be interesting to see how much action Tim Keenan sees during the preseason. Keenan was an intriguing selection in the seventh round during the draft.

Other players to watch will be Nate Valcarcel and Kai Hill-Green. Valcarcel had a strong preseason last year and spent the season on the practice squad. After not drafting a linebacker, the Rams signed Hill-Green as an undrafted free agent. He’s someone the Rams could look to develop at the position. Wesley Bailey is another undrafted free agent to keep an eye on.

Rams Special Teams Players to Watch

K Harrison Mevis
LS Joe Cardona
P Ethan Evans

The Rams didn’t bring in any competition at kicker or punter during the summer. However, that will be a good thing, as it gives them an opportunity to smooth out the operation before the start of the regular season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google