Rams' roster going to great depths as notable players cut

Veteran back Rivers, linebacker Jackson, rookie Paul are among those waived by club.

- BY GARY KLEIN

Photographs by ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times RAMS ROOKIE running back Jarquez Hunter did enough in the preseason to make the club's 53-man roster.

With a strong nucleus of veterans and ascending young players, and the addition of several key free-agents, the Rams went into training camp with a deep and talented roster.

So deep that veteran running back Ronnie Rivers and several recent draft picks were among 23 players waived on Tuesday as the Rams trimmed the roster to the NFL-mandated 53 players.

Among those waived: Inside linebacker Chris "Pooh" Paul, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, and outside linebacker Brennan Jackson, a 2024 fifth-round pick.

Offensive lineman KT Leveston, a 2024 seventh-round pick, was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a 2028 seventh-round pick.

That qualifies as minor drama compared to last year, when the Rams traded starting inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Here is a look at the Rams' initial 53-man roster:

Quarterbacks (3): Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett

Stafford, a 17th-year pro, appears on track to start the opener after missing all of training camp and several weeks of preseason workouts because of a back issue. Garoppolo took first-team reps during Stafford’s absence. During training camp and two preseason starts, Bennett played with the confidence he displayed while leading Georgia to consecutive national titles.

Running backs (3): Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter