Rams Take on the Browns in Last Preseason Game Before Final Roster Cuts

After two impressive preseason starts from Stetson Bennett, it seems as though the Rams have seen enough and have stamped his ticket on the 53-man roster. The team announced that he won’t start in the final preseason game before the season begins, giving fourth-string quarterback Dresser Winn the opportunity this weekend. Sean McVay said Thursday that Winn will start for the Rams in Cleveland on Saturday, marking his first start of the preseason. Winn only played a few snaps in the game against the Dallas Cowboys, so this will be his chance to get a full game under his belt and show what he can do against a Cleveland defense that's expected to feature many of its starters.

This game appears to be an opportunity for players fighting for a roster spot while getting valuable game experience before the Rams reduce the 90-man roster to the mandated 53. McVay has said that spots are still undecided, making this a crucial game for those looking to secure a place or at least make the practice squad. With how the Rams have been playing this preseason, it will be interesting to see if that momentum carries over, even with a lineup full of players still fighting for their jobs, as it could show whether the team’s system and energy translate even with less experienced personnel on the field. Meanwhile, the Browns are approaching Saturday’s contest as a “dress rehearsal,” with starters expected to play at least the beginning of the game.

With so many moving pieces and the quarterback situation now settled, McVay is taking a careful approach to make sure the final selections are capable of producing when needed. Especially when “things can change with the snap of a finger,” McVay said. It will be a final prove-it game for several players still being evaluated, with the Rams head coach adding, “I’m looking forward to watching a handful of guys compete because there are still some spots to be determined.” The Rams have until Tuesday to make their cuts and reach the mandated 53-man roster by the 1 p.m. PST deadline.