C.J. Daniels, the Rams’ sixth-round rookie receiver, had a rough preseason debut against the Chiefs, catching just two of five targets for a measly 18 yards. In Sean McVay’s world, it’s not about how you play in preseason, it’s about how often you *don’t* play that really matters. Daniels played, and that’s not a good sign for his chances of sticking around.
The “Just a Guy” Problem for Daniels
Listen, folks have been trying to make a thing out of Rams rookie receivers and Puka Nacua for years now. Jordan Whittington got the comparison in 2024, Konata Mumpfield in 2025, and now it’s C.J. Daniels’ turn for the 2026 hype. Here’s the cold hard truth: none of them are touching Nacua’s already historic career, not even close. But there’s an even bigger gut punch for Daniels. Whittington and Mumpfield? They’ve actually earned enough respect from Coach McVay to *not* suit up for preseason action at all. Think about that for a second. McVay’s rule is clear: if you’re not playing, you’ve got a spot. These guys, along with Ronnie Rivers, Josiah Stewart, Tyler Davis, and Josh Wallace, were all on the list of notables who didn’t dress for the Rams. That’s the golden ticket in L.A., skipping those August games because your spot is secure. Daniels, though? He was out there, front and center. He caught just two of five targets for a meager 18 yards in that first preseason game. That makes him “just a guy,” and that’s the absolute last thing you want to be when you’re fighting tooth and nail for a spot on a very tough roster.
Nacua’s Blueprint Is Out of Reach
Let’s rewind to Nacua’s rookie offseason, shall we? Nothing out of the ordinary after he was drafted in 2023. Just typical draft hype, the kind we see for dozens of rookies every year. It started to matter *after* his preseason debut on August 12, 2023. Nacua balled out, catching three passes for 32 yards and even snagging a touchdown against the L.A. Chargers. Get this, he was even catching passes from Stetson Bennett, same as Daniels did for a short time this past Saturday. But the touchdown wasn’t the main event. What came next was the real story, the part that separates the contenders from the pretenders: McVay didn’t let Puka Nacua dress for the rest of the preseason. Period. End of story. He’d shown enough. McVay, through his actions, didn’t need words to tell everyone Nacua was going to be L.A.’s WR2 when Cooper Kupp was healthy, and WR1 when he wasn’t. That’s how you become a *real* diamond in the rough, not just some offseason chatter. Daniels is now up against an even bigger wall. He’s got to climb that depth chart, and he needs to do it fast before those final cuts come down. Eighteen yards on two catches just isn’t cutting it.
Daniels has got work to do, big time. He needs to show something significant, and he needs to do it quickly. Otherwise, we might be looking at another hopeful comparison that just didn’t pan out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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