Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua, two of the biggest stars in the league, haven’t been at Los Angeles Rams practice for “quite some time,” but the team fully expects them to be ready for Week 1. This isn’t some crazy gamble though, it’s actually part of Sean McVay’s calculated strategy: if you’re important, you don’t play in preseason. And honestly, it seems to be working out pretty well for them right now.
Dodging the Injury Bullet
While plenty of teams are already dealing with serious headaches, the Rams have largely dodged any major blows to the guys expected to make their 53-man roster. You just gotta look at Dr. Jesse Morse’s list of season-ending injuries circulating on X to see how brutal it’s been elsewhere. That list has 53 players on it, with some teams losing multiple guys to knee injuries and other big ailments. The Saints, for example? They’ve already lost five players for the season! That’s just wild, man. The Rams might have a couple of key players sitting out practice, but their core is looking solid where it counts.
IR, But Not Who You Think
Now, don’t get it twisted. The Rams aren’t completely untouched by the injury bug. They’ve placed OLB Keir Thomas on IR with a groin injury, effectively ending his 2026 season. Same deal for CB Zech McPhearson, who’s also on IR and out for the year. But here’s the kicker: neither of those guys were even expected to make the roster. Thomas hasn’t played an NFL game since 2024! Undrafted outside linebacker Eddie Walls III is also on IR for the Rams, and Daniel Rickert was waived after being on IR previously. So, while names are hitting the IR list, it’s not the guys who are going to make or break their season. Rookie tackle Keagen Trost has also been out of practice and isn’t expected back this week, making Week 1 a long shot for him.
The bottom line? The Rams seem to have basically everyone healthy enough for Week 1 who they’ll actually need on the field. That’s a luxury not every team in the league has right now, and it shows that McVay’s preseason philosophy might just be the smart play.
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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