The Los Angeles Rams announced that they signed the following 15 players to their practice squad: linebacker Daniel Bituli, tight end Kendall Blanton, center Cohl Cabral, defensive tackle Marquise Copeland, defensive back Donte Deayon, guard Jamil Demby, defensive tackle Michael Hoecht, defensive back Juju Hughes, wide receiver J.J. Koski, defensive back Tyrique McGhee, linebacker Derrick Moncrief, linebacker Natrez Patrick, quarterback Bryce Perkins, linebacker Christian Rozeboom and defensive end Jonah Williams.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic this season, teams are allowed to have up to 16 players on their practice squad. That leaves one available space remaining for the Rams as they likely take a look at some other options.
Among the Rams’ practice squad players, the most notable names are Deayon, Demby and Perkins.
Deayon is a defensive back that signed to the Rams practice squad in 2018 and wound up being promoted to the active roster last November. He was a favorite on this year’s Hard Knocks due to his big personality, and while he didn’t make the roster, he will provide valuable depth in the secondary.
Similar to Deayon, Demby will serve as depth on the offensive line. He was a sixth-round pick of the Rams in 2018 out of Maine and appeared in six games last season, starting one of them.
Perkins is the biggest wild card of the bunch as he is an undrafted free agent that the Rams signed out or Virginia. He received rave reviews for his play during training camp, but ultimately the team went with John Wolford as their backup to Jared Goff.
Perkins gives Sean McVay a talented quarterback to develop though, and given his unique skill set and running ability, he may be someone to watch out for in the future.
Perhaps the biggest omission on the Rams’ practice squad is their seventh round pick this year – linebacker Clay Johnston. He was waived at the end of camp but ultimately decided to join the Carolina Panthers practice squad where his college coach at Baylor, Matt Rhule, is the head coach, and his dad is the strength coach.
