We look at the start of Arsenal’s Premier League title defense, Carrick’s mounting problems in Manchester and US teen star Cavan Sullivan living up to the hype
If it wasn’t already clear that Arsenal will be the team to beat in the Premier League this season, their comprehensive 3-0 win over Coventry City on opening night highlighted just how far ahead of the chasing pack Mikel Arteta’s team are right now. The defending champions may not have to put up much of a defense to retain their crown.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Wide receiver Kyle Williams #18 of the New England Patriots celebrates scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots concluded their preseason Thursday night in Cleveland with a 37-13 loss to the Browns.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ preseason opener.
Winners
WR Kyle Williams: Another week, another long Kyle Williams touchdown. The second-year receiver played just nine snaps over the Patriots’ first two offensive series but quickly made his mark, hauling in a 45-yard touchdown down the left sideline from Tommy DeVito. It was similar to his touchdowns from the previous two weeks, as Williams once again showcased his elite release package and vertical speed. Williams also caught a 10-yard curl on DeVito’s first pass of the night.
P Matt Haack and K Andy Borregales: The kicking game was one of the few bright spots for the Patriots on Thursday. New punter Matt Haack, who was signed on Monday following Bryce Baringer’s injury, impressed in his debut with three i20’s — the best coming on a 63-yard punt that downed itself at the two-yard line. Haack also assumed holding duties for kicker Andy Borregales, who knocked through all of his kicks (two field goals, one extra point).
LB Namdi Obiazor: In a depleted linebacker room, the sixth-round rookie played 39 snaps along the second level Thursday night. Obiazor posted a game-high 12 tackles as he was often around the football and seemed to read things well upon first watch in the run game. The rookie has assumed a top special teams role throughout training camp which likely will earn him a 53-man roster spot.
Losers
Depth cornerbacks: The Patriots’ depth cornerbacks were picked on by Dillon Gabriel and the Browns’ pass catchers throughout the night. Charles Woods and Marcellas Dial Jr. each gave up a touchdown, while Kindle Vildor and Karon Prunty allowed downfield completions (21 and 19 yards, respectively), with the veteran also flagged for defensive pass interference. Woods, who has been the fourth cornerback throughout training camp, played the duration of the third quarter. Kobee Minor then missed a tackle in the run game to directly lead to a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The group entered Thursday night with question marks behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones, and the performance from the depth players did little to provide confidence ahead of cutdown day — leading the whole defense’s struggles Thursday night.
“Not good enough,” Mike Vrabel said. “We got a couple sudden change stops, forced them to kick field goals, which I think is always positive. But, just not good enough. Couldn’t match the speed of the quarterback in a zone read and some of those things. But we’ll get back to work and figure out who we’re going to get back to work with.”
Honorable mentions
Behren Morton took a step back after last week’s positive showing. He took three sacks and threw a pair of interceptions.
Lan Larison started Thursday’s game but dropped a third-down pass (slightly behind him). Hassan Haskins continued to run hard between the tackles behind him.
Kyle Dixon posted a game-high eight catches (on eight targets) for 71 yards. He is a practice squad candidate.
Caleb Lomu played nine snaps at right tackle over the Patriots first two drives. He appeared clean in his six pass blocking snaps.
Fellow rookie tackle Dametrious Crownover continues to generate good push in the run game, as the whole line found success in the short-yardage run game.
Gabe Jacas played 19 snaps in the finale and logged one pressure but also bit again on a zone-read play. He might have been expecting a force defender to play the quarterback, but Jacas has been on the wrong side of the play often this summer.
The Patriots went the whole preseason without recording a kick return of 30 yards or more. Perhaps Kyle Williams assumes that role in the regular season, but the unit didn’t generate much confidence elsewhere.
To end on a positive: No major injuries to end the preseason.
As you are probably aware, the NFL CBA allows each team to have 90 players on its offseason roster, but it also makes provisions for a 91st player who joins the team via the International Player Pathway (IPP) program. For the last several years, the Commanders have made use of this IPP exemption, as they have again this season, so Washington’s offseason roster limit is once again 91 players.
Washington’s 91st player via the IPP is currently edge rusher TJ Maguranyanga, who spent the 2025 season on the Commanders roster.
Surprising number of roster changes since the Lions game
In the four days that followed the Lions game, the Commanders announced nine roster moves.
Released/Waived (3)
RB Jerome Ford (released from IR with injury settlement) The veteran running back will have the opportunity to sign with any of the other 31 NFL teams if he is healthy, but, per the NFL CBA, cannot play for the Commanders in 2026. This move did not affect the number of players on the roster since Ford, on IR, was not counted against the 91-man limit.
S Will Harris After entering spring OTAs as one of the presumed starting safeties, Harris was released after the Lions game, presumably to give him the opportunity to catch on with another NFL roster ahead of Sunday’s mass cutdowns.
OT Foster Sarell Sarell was released in conjunction with the signing of OT D.J. Humphries, which is simply an attempt by the Commanders to upgrade the position group.
Injured Reserve (2)
When a player is placed on injured reserve during training camp, he is ineligible to return to play for the team that season although he can subsequently be waived with an injury settlement and play for another team when healthy.
S Malik Spencer The undrafted free agent was expected by many to wind up on the Commanders practice squad. The rookie safety was waived with an injury designation (hamstring) on Tuesday. Because he went unclaimed by another NFL team, he officially cleared waivers and reverted back to Washington’s roster the following day. As explained above, he will either spend the 2026 season on IR with Washington, or he can be released later with an injury settlement, and will be free to sign with any other NFL team. He cannot take the field in a regular or postseason game for the Commanders in 2026.
EDGE Drake Jackson Jackson, who has lost past seasons due to issues with his patellar tendon, reportedly injured his hamstring during training camp/preseason work.
A quick NFL Rules Tutorial: One potential benefit to players of being placed on IR in preseason
Accrued Seasons vs. Credited Seasons
Credited and Accrued season are important to NFL players:
Credited Season (3 Games): Used strictly for player benefits (pension, 401k, life insurance).
Accrued Season (6 Games): Used to earn time toward free agency milestones.
What happens if a player is placed on IR during the preseason?
Automatic Benefit: If a player is placed on IR in the preseason and remains on IR for the first three weeks of the regular season, he will automatically accrue a credited season. A player on IR must remain on full-pay status for at least six regular-season games to earn an accrued season.
The Exception (Injury Settlements): If the team negotiates an injury settlement and releases the player during the preseason, he only gets a credited season if the financial settlement covers the equivalent of three or more regular-season game checks; if the settlement covers at least six, he qualifies for an accrued season.
Credited seasons are more likely to be of importance to marginal players — especially those with very short careers or who spend a lot of time moving on and off of team rosters and practice squads — as player benefits are often tied to credited seasons. Some things that are likely to interest fans, such as a player’s minimum salary, are based on credited seasons rather than accrued seasons.
For a player who might have been cut without ever making the team’s roster, being placed on IR during the preseason could potentially help that player add a credited or accrued season, enhancing his qualification for benefits or moving him a year closer to unrestricted free agency.
Signed (4)
OT D.J. Humphries Humphries spent nine seasons with the Cardinals (2015–2023), establishing himself as a premium blindside protector and earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. He accumulated 101 career NFL starts. Following a torn ACL near the end of 2023, he became a journeyman backup. Humphries played two games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and appeared in eight regular-season games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn made it clear that he would provide depth behind Brandon Coleman as opposed to taking over the starting LT position.
OLB Boogie Basham Over five seasons, he has played in 43 career games as a rotational pass rusher, bouncing between the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Before signing with Washington, he spent the first half of 2026 playing locally in the UFL for the DC Defenders, where he recorded 24 tackles and three sacks.
S Joshua Bledsoe A 6th-round pick in 2021, he spent his first three NFL seasons (2021–2023) with New England, appearing in four regular-season games primarily as a special teams contributor. Since leaving the Patriots, he has spent time on the offseason rosters or practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and also spent time in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.
S Quindell Johnson After going undrafted in 2023, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams and later claimed by the Chicago Bears. He appeared in nine regular-season NFL games with Chicago during his rookie year, recording two tackles and one interception. He also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Accounting for Laremy Tunsil & Johnny Newton
While today’s chart lists 91 players, we know already that two of those players, LT Laremy Tunsil and DL Johnny Newton, will not be on the active roster in Week 1.
Timing counts for a lot with players who suffer major injuries in training camp. Here’s a quick explanation of the considerations for placing a player on IR under the relevant NFL rules:
1. The Pre-Cutdown Rule (Season-Ending)
As mentioned above, if the Commanders place Tunsil or Newton on IR during training camp before the final 53-man roster reduction deadline on Aug. 30, the player is automatically ruled out for the entire season. He would not be allowed to practice or play for Washington at any point during the year.
While Tunsil and Newton have already undergone surgery, head coach Dan Quinn said that doctors have not yet determined the recovery timeline for either player. If doctors determine, in the coming days, that Tunsil and/or Newton will not be able to return to play prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose to exercise this option.
2. The Cutdown Day Exception (Designated to Return)
NFL rules allow teams:
a. to designate, on cutdown day (Aug 30th), up to two injured players to return from IR during the season.
b. alternatively, the team can carry a player onto the initial 53-man roster and move him to IR the following day (Aug 31st) or later, opening up a roster spot; the only reason to do this would be if the team needed to designate two other players to return at the time the initial roster was set on Aug 30.
(Option A is almost certainly the one that the Commanders would choose in Tunsil’s case, probably Newton as well)
This approach (either option a or b) allows the player (Tunsil/Newton/both) to keep his season alive, as it leaves the door open for him to return after sitting out a minimum of four games (obviously, in these two cases, it would be closer to four months than four games).
If doctors determine that the player’s (Tunsil’s/Newton’s/both) return to play could happen prior to mid-February, then the Commanders might choose this option to keep all possibilities on the table. The only cost to the team is the opportunity to carry one or two more players on the training camp roster between now and Aug 30.
Not your typical depth chart
The chart below is only a depth chart insofar as it assigns players to positions and stacks them in an order.
The primary purpose of the chart is to keep track of the 91 guys that currently comprise the training camp roster, not to predict game-day alignments.
You will note, for example, that I have 12 offensive position stacks and 12 defensive position stacks on the chart despite the fact that a team can only field 11 players at one time.
You will also note that each player’s name appears only once regardless of the fact that he may play in multiple alignments or positions (e.g., an interior offensive lineman who can play center and both guard spots will appear at only one of those positions, not all of them). Again, this is by design, since the goal is to provide handy visual reference of the 91 individual players while also offering an overall snapshot of team strength and depth. The bias, though, is to provide a visual list of the full roster, not so much to create a game-ready depth chart.
Finally, you will also note that, where players are capable of playing more than one position (and likely to do so on game days), my decision on where to align them may be very different from your idea of where they belong.
The updated offseason roster/depth chart
NOTES:The numbers that appear beside some players’ names are 2026 cap hits per Over the Cap. I have not included cap hits below $1.5m.
The Commanders currently have 44 defensive players, 44 offensive players and 3 special teams players.
Please note that assigned positions and color codes are my own personal opinions; they do not necessarily represent the thinking of Washington’s coaches or front office, nor are they necessarily consistent with fan consensus or the thoughts of other writers on Hogs Haven. Finally, when it comes to backup players, I don’t put much effort into making sure that they are on the right or left or behind the specific player that they backup. I mostly just try to fit everyone on the chart efficiently.
It’s also probably worth noting again that my goal is primarily to illustrate the full offseason roster, not to create a conventional depth chart. I have, for example, 12 position stacks on offense and 12 on defense. Readers can project 11 or 12 personnel (or whatever else) on offense, as well as multiple defensive alignments.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 27: Eddy Pineiro #18 of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a 51-yard field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders as Corliss Waitman #7 holds in the fourth quarter of their preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 49ers defeated the Raiders 18-12. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eddy Pineiro caps off the 49ers’ preseason with a perfect performance “Black benefitted from good blocking on a 14-yard run on the ensuing drive. His decisiveness shown on a 3rd & 1 run last week ended up being a mistake Jordan James made in his first action. Black gave way to James in the second quarter. On a 3rd & 1 run, James attempted to cut against the grain instead of staying on his path and picking up the first down. That’s a good learning moment for James.
James broke a run himself. He had a 17-yarder and also took a screen pass 20 yards. James isn’t flashy, but he’s the type of back to bounce off tackles and fall forward for a few extra yards. That’s what you want in a backup. He’ll learn to stick his nose in there and maximize the yardage in short-yardage situations…
…The most intriguing rookie may have been undrafted free agent tight end Khalil Dinkins. He’s listed at 6’4”, 226 pounds. That might be about 15 pounds too light. He played blocked with a level of intensity in limited action that is worth keeping around on the practice squad.”
Why is 49ers’ Carver Willis getting another start at LG? The rookie needs the reps (paywall) “Outsiders tend to fixate on pass protection when evaluating offensive linemen. The 49ers, however, scrutinize run blocking, especially following a season in which the team’s per-carry average, a robust 4.52 yards in the first eight seasons under Shanahan, dropped to 3.78 yards. It was the first time in his tenure the average fell below 4 yards.
Willis emphasized that the 49ers’ run-blocking scheme is an extremely precise choreography — a Chorus Line but with 315-pound defensive tackles trying to blow up the performance.
His biggest issue right now is that he’s slightly out of step. Or in his words: “My angles in the run game aren’t very complementary of the guys next to me.”
A false step by the left guard on a running play isn’t something a casual observer usually picks up on, but it is obvious — like a sour note during a piano recital — to an expert like offensive line coach Chris Foerster.
“There are so many plays where you can see that the four guys next to me — their hips are on a different angle than mine,” Willis said. “For me right now, it’s studying that aiming point and running on our angles, setting our backside shoulder, all that kind of stuff.”
One benefit to playing left guard for the 49ers, he said, is that he has Trent Williams, who’s played 11,334 career snaps, to his left and Jake Brendel (4,376 career snaps) to the right. And that means he often gets real-time coaching in the huddle.
“Those guys have been so great,” Willis said. “They’ll tell you when you did well. Be like, ‘Hey, great job on that. That’s exactly what we need.’ Or it’s, ‘Hey, come on. You have to see that quicker.’ Or, ‘You’ve got to get hands on the guy.’ I’ve got a combined 23 years of experience next to me. That’s huge. Our vets have been so helpful.”
Will 49ers trust Kaelon Black, Jordan James enough to lighten Christian McCaffrey’s load? (Paywall) “Thursday night was James’ only chance to put something on tape ahead of the season opener in Australia. And he looked good for the most part. James finished with 35 yards on eight carries, including a 17-yarder up the gut with good contact balance, along with a 20-yard catch, which was a screen pass that turned into much more upon his cutback and a nice perimeter block by rookie left guard hopeful Carver Willis.
His momentary lapses: Running sideways instead of vertical on a third-and-1 carry that lost a yard (one Black would probably convert) and getting flagged for an illegal block that negated a touchdown pass.”
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to have plenty of national exposure during the 2026-27 season. The NHL and its U.S. broadcast partners announced their national television schedule Wednesday, with the Flyers scheduled to appear in 19 nationally televised games throughout the regular season, and increase of five national broadcasts from last season.
Philadelphia will have nine games on TNT, six across ABC and ESPN and four exclusively available through ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu.
The Flyers will get their first taste of the national spotlight immediately, with their Sept. 30 home opener and playoff rematch against the Pittsburgh Penguins airing on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Plenty of Rivalry Matchups
The Flyers will face off against the Penguins three times on national television, bringing quite a bit of attention to the Battle of Pennsylvania. In addition to Philadelphia's season opener against Pittsburgh, both the Jan. 31 and April 3 games at Pittsburgh will air on ABC.
Washington will also receive plenty of attention in the Flyers' national schedule. Philadelphia will visit the Capitals on Oct. 28 for a 7:30 p.m. ET TNT matchup before hosting Washington on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
The Flyers will also be featured against several notable opponents throughout the season, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues.
Philadelphia's national exposure picks up considerably during the second half of the season. They have four nationally televised games scheduled in February, including matchups against Tampa Bay, Dallas, the Rangers and Buffalo.
The Flyers will have several more national appearances down the stretch with a March 25 game against the Lightning, the Capitals on April 3 and the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8.
The regular season will conclude with Philadelphia hosting Washington on April 10 in a 12:30 p.m. ET game on ABC with what could be Alexander Ovechkin's last NHL game.
After ending their five-season playoff drought last season, the Flyers will have many opportunities to show a national audience what the next stage of the franchise's rebuild looks like.
INDIANAPOLIS - MARCH 17: Jason Klotz #21 of the Texas Longhorns attempts a shot against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament March 17, 2005 at RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Nevada won 61-57. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Multiple outlets reported earlier this week that former Texas men’s basketball standout Jason Klatz has died. Klotz was 44 years old.
Klotz was a memorable player on former head coach Rick Barnes teams. In his five seasons in a burnt orange jersey from 2000 to 2005, Klotz played at center for the Longhorns. Texas men’s basketball also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those five seasons under Barnes: three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four appearance (back in 2003). Over that span, Klotz saw playing time in 12 NCAA Tournament matchups, which is tied for the most in Longhorns men’s basketball history.
Klotz logged seven minutes and scored one point in Texas’ Final Four loss to Syracuse.
He saw playing time or started in 131 games during that span, including 27 starts.
He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Prior to his college career, Klotz was a star at Klein High School in Houston.
We did one Q&A earlier in the week and had a ton of questions left over, so we thought we’d assemble a slightly different line up to tackle some more queries!
On today’s show, Martin, Sam, Jonny and Ant talk
• Attacking threat – in particular our wingers and forwards
• How many points would be a good return from the upcoming games?
• Which Sunderland player of the past would you add to the current squad?
• And loads more
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Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek works from the sideline during the second half of an NFL game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
With the preseason winding down this weekend, the NFL’s roster cutdown day—Sunday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. PT—is looming. That means the Las Vegas Raiders and the 31 other teams in the league will have to make decisions on which players to keep and let go. But with the Raiders being longshots to win the Super Bowl, +15,000 on FanDuel Sportsbook, cutdown day doesn’t mean Las Vegas’ roster is finalized before the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
That’s where the NFL’s waiver wire comes in post-cutdown day.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kubiak and general manager John Spytek take a long look at players who didn’t make another club’s 53-man roster but could help in Vegas. The organization’s decision-makers were different, but that’s how the Raiders acquired defensive tackle Jonah Laulu in 2024, who has started 22 games since getting waived by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of training camp two years ago.
But how does the waiver wire work, and how can the Raiders add players to the roster from it? Let’s dive in!
Who’s Eligible?
Any player who is cut and has less than four years of experience in the league, meaning they’ve been on a 53-man roster, physically unable to perform (PUP) list, or injured reserve (IR) for at least six games in four different seasons. That touches on why the Raiders are expected to scrounge the waiver wire on Sunday; they’re rebuilding, and every player who gets waived is young with three or fewer years of experience.
Players with four or more years of experience aren’t subject to waivers if they get cut and just become free agents. To clarify, a player who remains on PUP, the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, is on any sort of reserve list after cutdown day, or is put on IR ahead of cutdown day, is not available for another team to claim them. Those players are still under contract with their current clubs; they just aren’t on the active roster.
This is somewhat besides the point since it doesn’t apply to the post-cutdown day waiver wire, but after the trade deadline (Nov. 10), every player who gets released is subject to waivers regardless of how much experience they have. So, the rules will change a bit later in the season.
How do Raiders add players via waivers?
When teams submit their 53-man rosters to the NFL, they also include a list of the players who are waived or released. That creates the “waiver wire”, which is distributed to the rest of the teams and is publicly available. General managers and head coaches who are interested in adding players look over the list and see if there’s anyone that piques their interest.
If there is someone the GM and head coach want to add, they put in a claim for said player within about 24 hours of cutdown day. The timeline might be closer to 20 or 21 hours depending on the exact time of the two deadlines, but it’s roughly a day. So, a player gets cut on Sunday, another team puts in a claim for the player on Monday, and the player is officially on a new team’s roster by Tuesday.
Once all of the waiver claims are submitted, if two clubs want to claim the same player, the team that finished with the worse record last year/was higher on the draft order (removing trades) in April gets the player. That means the Raiders are in a pretty good spot with the waiver wire this year because they had the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft and, thus, will have waiver priority over any other team.
Also, the waiver wire/order isn’t like fantasy football where you have to submit a priority list if you want to add multiple players and hope that no one else in your league put in a claim for your second player. If the Raiders want to add five players on waivers, they get all five since they have priority over every team. However, they would have to cut five other guys by the following day to get back down to a 53-man roster.
Below is the waiver order to begin the 2026 season:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
After three weeks, the order changes week-to-week to reflect the current NFL standings.
What happens after player gets claimed?
This one is pretty simple. Once a player gets claimed, he’s on the 53-man roster of the team that won the claim for him, and that team absorbs his current contract. Additionally, the club will have to waive or release another player to make room for the waiver claim, and the waiver process starts all over again if they have less than four years of service. It’s just on a much smaller scale since every team isn’t making roughly 37 transactions/cuts on the same day.
What happens if player clears waivers?
If a player gets cut and doesn’t get claimed on the waiver wire or “clears waivers”, they become a free agent and are eligible to sign with any team, including the one that just cut them. Typically, said players will sign practice squad contracts, though. The only exception would be if the player is on an expensive contract and other teams are interested in having him on the 53-man roster but not at his current price tag. However, that’s pretty rare. Even 2021 first-round pick Alex Leatherwood was claimed off waivers when the Raiders cut him in 2022.
BROOKLYN, NY - AUGUST 27: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 27, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images BROOKLYN, NY – AUGUST 27: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 27, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Certain matchups can reveal a lot. When you’re matched up against one of the best teams in the league, you have to meet their level. You’re trying to catch them and see where you stand as we draw closer to the playoffs. A good outing can give you a boost heading into the postseason. A tough loss can leave you questioning what would happen in the playoffs. For the New York Liberty, they left Thursday night’s game with plenty of questions they need to answer.
The Liberty were held to a season-low 60 points in a 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on their home floor. Golden State’s physical defense kept New York’s offense out of rhythm for most of this one. The Valkyries played two nights back, while the Liberty had a five-day rest after playing the Indiana Fever on Saturday.
It didn’t matter. Golden State took grasp of this game and never looked back.
“With a team like this with the physicality and just really making it tough, after awhile that can make it really hard,” Breanna Stewart said. “And I think that we gave the effort and energy that we wanted but we got to knock down some shots, so we got to find an easier way to score.”
Stewart added 16 points and six rebounds, but New York’s offense became increasingly difficult to sustain as the game went on.
Jonquel Jones set the pace for the Liberty early on, finding range as her arsenal from deep kept the defenses honest as the ball hummed around the perimeter.
However, that’s where the good times for NY ended.
Cecilia Zandalasini hit a series of difficult jumpers in the second quarter, while the Valkyries’ rangy zone defense disrupted New York’s high-powered offense. The Liberty scored only 11 points in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 42-30.
Zandalasini ultimately led all scorers with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Gabby Williams added 16 points and four rebounds for Golden State.
New York tried to make a push after halftime, cutting the Valkyries’ lead to 10 points on several occasions, but never managed to make it over the hump. Veronica Burton stood out for Golden State, and tied her season-high for assists (13).
The Liberty lost because they missed opportunities… and open shots. They finished 7-for-31 from three-point range, and many of those attempts came on open looks created by solid ball movement. Sabrina Ionescu and Leonie Fiebich went a combined 2-15 from three, which is out of character for the both of them.
Open three-pointers in the corner, threes off of good ball movement, etc., but they couldn’t get anything going. That also answers our pregame question about how Fiebich would answer her 20-point outing against the Indiana Fever.
Throughout the second half, frustration started to mount. Fiebich got whistled for a… curious flagrant foul following a Tiffany Hayes fall. In the fourth quarter, tempers flared a bit as Jones and Burton got into a small collision.
The game was never in doubt, though.
With 3:13 remaining, the Liberty emptied the bench. Burton was a difference-maker, finishing with eight points, two rebounds and a game-high 13 assists without committing a turnover.
The Liberty shot just 19-for-63 from the field (30.2%) and 7-for-31 from three-point range (22.6%). Ionescu finished with seven points on 2-for-12 shooting, while Fiebich scored just three points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Final Score: Golden State Valkyries 79, New York Liberty 60
Chris DeMarco: "A game like this, if we're missing threes or we're missing shots, you have to find other ways to get points, obviously. So our offensive rebounds, eventually we got there. We feel like we could [have] rebound a little bit more defensively. Probably have to turn…
As we’ve mentioned several times: it was a season-low for the Liberty. By no coincidence, the previous lows for them this season were against the Valkyries as well (67, 70). Let’s just say it’s not looking good for New York if the two meet in the playoffs, a matchup some pundits deemed a potential playoff matchup preview.
“I feel disappointed with this one and a little bit embarrassed as well,” Rebecca Allen said after the loss. “I just don’t think that we should ever lose like that on home court.”
BROOKLYN, NY – JULY 22: Natasha Cloud #9 of the Chicago Sky hugs a fan before the game against the New York Liberty on July 22, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The last game before the FIBA World Cup break: New York closes things out with a matinee affair against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. Tip after 1:00 PM on August 29.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 27: Ty Simpson #15 passes a touchdown to Brennan Presley #81 of the Los Angeles Rams tduring the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on August 27, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams put the finishing touches on an unbeaten preseason led mostly by strong quarterback play. They held onto a last-minute surge by the Los Angeles Chargers to maintain a 20-18 lead.
Sunday brings an important deadline in the NFL calendar. All 32 teams must soon cut to their initial 53-man regular season rosters. The “Winners & Losers” list is largely shaped by those who helped build their case, although the framework is mostly set by those who sat out of Thursday night’s finale.
Who performed well on an individual level against the other LA team? Which players are watching their stock fall?
Winners
Ty Simpson, QB
Ty Simpson came into Thursday night’s game with the lowest average depth of target (ADOT) among all rookie quarterbacks—by far. Simpson averaged 4.80 air yards in the first two preseason games. That mark improved to 6.1 yards against the Chargers. That would still rank last among all first-year signal callers.
Simpson completed 18 of 23 passes (78%) for 119 yards and an impressive touchdown throw on the run. He finishes the preseason 47 of 60 (78%) for 382 yards, three scores, zero turnovers, and a passer rating of 109.9.
This isn’t meant to bash Simpson. Many fans didn’t like the pick. He’s won a lot of people over. There are still a number of questions that remain unanswered. We are able to check some boxes: short and intermediate area accuracy, value-add mobility, ability to throw on the run, sack avoidance, and an overall poised composure. We haven’t seen Simpson throw deep and it’s fair to wonder whether his efficiency can be sustained when the offense requires him to be consistently more aggressive.
I think fans are losing sight of the fact that Simpson seems to be a high floor player. We haven’t seen the rookie make many mistakes. We still have no idea how high his ceiling is. The preseason really taught us nothing in that regard.
So big picture, Simpson made as convincing as a case to be Stafford’s backup as to be reasonably expected. That is a win for the Rams. In terms of his potential to takeover the starting job as soon as 2027 and his viability as a franchise quarterback? That is still completely unknown.
The difficult truth is that the Rams may be completely set at running back with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Sean McVay is adamant that he trusts Rivers and values his contributions on special teams.
With Jarquez Hunter getting traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Tutu Atwell just hours before kickoff, there was an opportunity for Dean Connors and Jordan Waters to make their final argument to make the team. Connors did everything he could to help his case. It still may not be enough.
Connors rushed 18 times for 69 yards (3.8 average, although several carries came late to milk the clock and not put emergency QB Simpson in harm’s way). He also added three catches for 24 yards and a score through the air. This was his third touchdown of the preseason. It also happened to be quarterback Matthew Caldwell’s first NFL touchdown.
And if the Rams end up cutting Connors, he may draw attention from other teams. Running back tends to be a position where there is a short learning curve to adapt to a specific scheme. They are largely plug and play. That makes them somewhat interchangeable.
With their wealth of riches in the backfield, that may be enough for the Rams to not keep Connors on the 53-man roster. If there isn’t a stark drop off from Connors to Waters, why not bet that one of them will be available for the practice squad. It’s not personal. It’s a numbers game.
Matthew Caldwell threads the needle to Dean Connors for the TD! 🧵
You can’t ask any more from your kicker than being perfect in the preseason. Harrison Mevis made all six of his attempts across the three exhibition games. He hasn’t been asked to kick from distance—his longest attempt was from 40 yards out. Still, you can only convert the opportunities you get. This is real and positive momentum heading into the regular season.
CJ Daniels, WR
With another five catches on six targets for 42 yards, Daniels was clearly LA’s most talented and productive preseason receiver. The Rams were intent on running the passing game through him when they could, especially in last week’s contest against the New Orleans Saints.
But on-field production isn’t Daniels’ biggest challenge. He’s clearly behind Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield on the depth chart. If he makes the roster, it may be a long while before we see the rookie again.
Wesley Bailey, EDGE (maybe?)
Bailey played only two snaps on defense. He started the game and then exited after Justin Herbert’s fumble on the second play. Did the Rams want to limit Bailey’s time in order to keep him healthy because he’s in line to make the roster? The only other alternative is that Bailey was injured during the game. There were no such reports. This is a noteworthy result worth monitoring ahead of Sunday’s cutdown to the 53-man roster.
Bill Norton, DT
Norton is someone who has consistently flashed on preseason tape over the last two years. He has a high motor and can often be seen chasing ball carriers downfield. It’s impressive for a big man. Teams that need additional depth along the defense interior should have Norton atop their target list as the NFL trims their rosters. He can help someone and approaches the game in the right way.
Losers
Stetson Bennett, QB
Stetson Bennett obviously didn’t play on Thursday night. He filled up the box score last Saturday, though he was erratic as a passer.
Simpson seems ready to backup Matthew Stafford. If the rookie ends up winning the job, I fail to understand why it is worth keeping Bennett around. Would it be nice to have someone who knows the offense as an option if something happens to Stafford? Sure, but there will be veteran options like Jimmy Garoppolo available and somehow losing Stafford and Simpson would mean the Rams have awfully bad luck.
Bennett had to win the backup job convincingly. He didn’t. For that reason there is not sound logic behind potentially keeping him around.
Cam Lampkin, CB
Justin Herbert’s night was cut short after he threw a 64-yard pass to split two Rams defenders for a touchdown. Lampkin was on the wrong side of that deep ball. He also played late into the game despite having one of the most hyped starts to training camp. It’s not how you start, it’s about how you finish. Lampkin’s last impression likely won’t help him in what should be a lean cornerback room.
Failed to make a reception on four targets, and when quarterbacks looked his way he was often blanketed. Simpson gave him a contested catch opportunity deep along the left sideline and the corner handily won the rep.
WOODLAND HILLS, CA - JUNE 02: Head Coach Sean McVay during the Los Angeles Rams OTA on June 02, 2026, at the The Rams Village in Woodland Hills, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams concluded their preseason game slate with a 2o-18 win against the Los Angeles Chargers. All eyes now turn to the 53-man roster as decisions need to be made by Sunday, August 30th. After weeks of training camp practices and three preseason games, Sean McVay and the Rams’ coaching staff now have to make some difficult decisions as they trim the roster down.
Several players who appeared to be on the roster bubble have already done enough to secure their spots. Quarterback Stetson Bennett and running back Ronnie Rivers are among the notable players who have made the initial 53-man roster. Both entered the final stretch of the preseason with some uncertainty surrounding their status.
Bennett’s roster spot became particularly interesting because of the competition at backup quarterback. The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, creating a legitimate competition between the rookie and Bennett behind Matthew Stafford. McVay had not publicly settled the backup job heading into the preseason finale, but Bennett’s experience in the offense and preseason performances ultimately helped him remain in the mix.
Rivers also faced a legitimate roster battle in a crowded running back room. While players such as Kyren Williams and Blake Corum were viewed as locks, Rivers had to compete with younger backs for a roster spot. His special teams and return-game value helped separate him from the competition.
Now, attention turns toward the players who won’t make the final cut.
The Rams are required to reduce their roster to 53 players, meaning several players who spent the offseason competing for a job will soon be looking for their next opportunity. Some could eventually return to Los Angeles on the practice squad, while others could be claimed or signed by another team.
This tracker will be updated as the Rams officially announce roster cuts.
Roster Cut Tracker
Players released/waived:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
Players placed on injured reserve:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
Players traded:
[Tracker will be updated when official moves are announced.]
With roster decisions coming quickly, this page will serve as a running list of the Rams’ moves as they finalize their roster for the 2026 season and prepare for the regular-season opener. Anticipation for the Rams 53 man roster continues to grow with expectations sky high this year in Los Angeles. The Rams are currently the betting favorites (+550) according to Fan Duel to win Super Bowl LXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL deadline for teams to get down to the initial 53-man rosters is at 3 p.m. PT Sunday. Teams are starting the process early and the Las Vegas Raiders could make cuts as soon as today.
The Raiders are entering a rebuilding season—owning the third-longest odds (+500) in the AFC to make the playoffs this season, per FanDuel Sportsbook—which makes it more interesting to see who the coaching staff keeps on the roster. A youth movement has already started in Las Vegas, so we could be in for a surprise or two on cutdown day.
This is your place to find out all the latest news and rumors about the Raiders’ moves plus decisions around the league that could affect your favorite team. Come back early and often.
The third-year coach had his wish somewhat granted, as the Chargers presented several encouraging performances in a 20-18 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.
Here are five takeaways from the Chargers’ final tune-up before 53-man rosters must be finalized Sunday:
Starters show up
The Chargers’ first-string defense, without safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Khalil Mack, did its part against the Rams’ second-stringers.
Chris O’Leary’s unit forced a punt on its first drive. And despite the Rams’ second drive starting at the Chargers’ 9-yard line, the defense limited the damage to three points.
Mike McDaniel’s bunch, meanwhile, started on the wrong foot. Quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled a handoff to running back Omarion Hampton on the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, setting up that second Rams drive.
Justin Herbet LAUNCHES it to Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard TD 🎯
Herbert and the starting offense, though, made sure they left something pleasing on film. On the second play of the Chargers’ second possession, Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle on a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass.
Herbert’s pass traveled 57.6 air yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
DJ Uiagalelei outduels Trey Lance
Lance, the incumbent backup quarterback, used his legs well and earned 22 yards on four rushes. Uiagalelei, however, looked like he could become the Chargers’ new backup signal-caller.
Uiagalelei made some nice, quick reads and completed 11 of 18 passes for 141 yards. He lost a fumble to seal the loss, though, after being strip-sacked by Rams outside linebacker Darryl Peterson.
Lance, hurting his case, looked rushed on most of his snaps and didn’t connect on his two passing attempts.
There hasn’t been much separation between Lance and Uiagalelei throughout training camp, but the St. John Bosco product was better on Thursday.
Rookies Rodney Shelley, Greg Desrosiers Jr. make strong cases
Shelley, an undrafted cornerback, and Desrosiers, an undrafted running back, are on the bubble of making the Chargers’ 53-man roster.
Even with an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth, Shelley made his reps count, making five tackles and breaking up a deep pass from Rams quarterback Ty Simpson intended for Tyler Scott.
Desrosiers erupted for 118 yards on nine rushes, including a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Left guard race still going?
Kayode Awosika is the favorite to win the Chargers’ starting left guard job, and he played there during the first two series.
But when Lance and the second-stringers replaced the starters, Awosika moved to right guard. Trever Penning replaced Awosika at left guard.
Maybe Trey Pipkins III, who McDaniel said remained in the left guard competition, still has a shot. He played left tackle with the starters Thursday. Another candidate, Logan Taylor, started at right tackle.
Special teams not sharp
Cameron Dicker missed an extra-point attempt in the Chargers’ preseason win over the Houston Texans. Scott made unfavorable headlines against the 49ers after an abysmal tackling effort during Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.
On Thursday, Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal to end the first half, a distance he’s usually sharp from. And Scott, although he didn’t have to make any tackles, shanked a punt 20 yards down the right sideline from the Chargers’ 9-yard line, setting up a 29-yard Rams touchdown drive.
Inglewood, - August 20: Tight end Jerand Bradley #36 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts with teammate running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. #31 after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of a NFL preseason football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Chargers fell 20-18 to the Rams in a back-and-forth matchup inside SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert and the majority of the starters got four plays on the night, headlined by a 65-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.
The stars of the night for the Chargers were third-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. “DJU” led the team with 141 passing yards with a completed pass for a two-point conversion. DesRosiers took nine carries for a whopping 118 yards, including a bruising 34-yard touchdown run.
Defensively it was a fine day as the Chargers stood their ground on fourth downs several times, but otherwise got diced up by rookie Ty Simpson who completed 18-of-23 passes. The Rams offense has always looked to get the ball out fast which made it tough for the Chargers pass rush to make plays.
With the preseason now over, final cuts are next. The deadline to cut a roster down to 53 players is this Sunday (August 30th) by 4:00 p.m.
First Quarter
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Rams offense found early momentum with a nine-yard pass to CJ Daniels and a two-yard run by Jordan Waters to move the chains. The Chargers starters then allow just five yards on the next three plays to force the first punt of the game.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense got started with a nine-yard pass to Charlie Kolar who authored a similar play to begin last week’s game against the 49ers. Unfortunately the starters’ first drive of the game was cut short after Herbert fumbled a handoff to Omarion Hampton and the Rams recovered.
Chris O’Leary’s unit held strong after the sudden change and held the Rams to a short 27-yard field goal as they took the 3-0 lead.
The second Chargers drive of the game was also just two plays, but the end result was as far as you can get on the other side of the spectrum.
Herbert took the snap, faked a handoff right, and lofted a moonshot to Quentin Johnston who caught it in stride for a 65-yard touchdown.
Simpson took the Rams on a long 17-play drive before the end of the quarter, but the Chargers shut the door on fourth down near the goal line to keep points off the board. Linebacker Marlowe Wax and safety Tony Jefferson each authored big stops on third and fourth down.
Second Quarter
Trey Lance took over for Herbert to begin the second quarter but his opening drive of the night was a three-and-out. Punter JK Scott, who has had a rough preseason thus far, shanked his first punt of the night for only 20 yards. Simpson and the Rams quickly turned it into a five-play drive that ended in an 11-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brennan Presley.
The Chargers offense was more successful on their next drive as they went 10 plays and 50 yards without Lance needing to complete a pass. Unfortunately Lance was sacked on fourth down at the LAR 30-yard line which forced a turnover on downs.
Simpson continued to slice and dice the Chargers defense on another lengthy drive that stretched 13 plays and 61 yards before stalling in the red zone. Harrison Mevis came on again to bang home a 27-yarder to push their lead to 13-7.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, D.J. Uiagalelei stepped in for Lance and immediately brought the Chargers downfield with a pair of throws that went 21 and 20 yards, respectively. With nine seconds left, Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards and Dicker came on to attempt a 49-yard field goal but he pushed it wide right.
Third Quarter
The third quarter was a fast one as both teams leaned on their run games throughout. The Chargers took the second half kickoff and put together a nine-play drive that only went 23 yards due to a facemask penalty on rookie offensive lineman Alex Harkey. Scott’s second punt of the night went just 33 yards, continuing his very poor preseason performance.
The Bolts held the Rams to another punt after a short six-play drive. UDFA running back Greg DesRosiers Jr. then put the team on his back with runs of 15 and 14 yards. After stalling just inside the red zone, Dicker came on and converted from 34 yards out to bring the Chargers within three points.
Fourth Quarter
Rams quarterback Mattew Caldwell helped march their offense down the field on a seven-play, 60-yard drive that spanned over the break. Caldwell capped it off with an eight-yard pass to running back Dean Connors which pushed their lead back to 10 points.
DesRosiers Jr. ripped off a huge 34-yard run touchdown run on the ensuing drive, breaking numerous tackles on the way. Uiagalelei then found tight end Evan Svoboda for the two-point conversion which brought the score to 20-18.
After a short drive ending in a punt for either team, the Rams found their offensive momentum again. Caldwell moved the Rams 44 yards in 12 plays but could not overcome an ill-timed penalty near midfield. Once backed up, the Rams turtled up and the Chargers stuffed several runs before they punted once more. Fortunately for the Rams, their punter pinned the Bolts all the way back to their one-yard line.
But did that matter to Uiagalelei? Apparently not.
DesRosiers started the drive with a three-yard run to create some breathing room. Then, Uiagalelei found wideout Liam Clifford for a gain of 13 before hitting Gary Jennings for 24 yards. With a fresh set of downs and facing a first-and-five at the Rams 40-yard line, things quickly evaporated.
Uiagalelei was sacked for six yards, despite looking as if he pitched the ball before the whistle. On the very next play, DJU was stripped from behind and the Rams recovered to snuff out the final comeback attempt.
Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson passes during a 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Rams coach Sean McVay does not play starters or players expected to be significant backups or contributors during the preseason, especially in the final game.
That would seem to indicate that Bennett, not rookie Ty Simpson, will open the season as Matthew Stafford’s backup.
Simpson led three first-half scoring drives in a 20-18 victory at SoFi Stadium.
Simpson, the 13th pick in the draft, completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards, including a second-quarter touchdown.
It was Simpson’s second no-turnover performance. In the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Simpson played all but the first two series and completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
On Thursday, his most impressive play came early in the second quarter on third and seven from the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.
“A lot of times, his first read wasn’t necessarily there and he did a great job progressing on, making plays, making plays with his feet,” offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase said of Simpson during an in-game television interview.
Matthew Caldwell, an undrafted free agent from Texas, started the second half and played into the fourth quarter before suffering an apparent injury. He completed five of 10 passes for 31 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Dean Connors.
Rams quarterback Ty Simpson slides in front of Chargers linebacker Nadame Tucker during the first half Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Bennett, a fourth-year pro, took the vast majority of second-team snaps during training camp and preseason practices, and took first-team reps on days Stafford was held out. Bennett played the first half against the Saints and rushed for two touchdowns.
He appears on track to be No. 2 on the depth chart for the Sept. 10 opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia.
Other noteworthy items from the Rams’ victory:
No Jarquez Hunter
Running back Jarquez Hunter did not play — and was not in the building — but not because he was assured a roster spot with the Rams.
On Thursday, the Rams traded Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Tutu Atwell, who played five seasons for the Rams before signing with the Dolphins last March.
“Tutu’s an alumni,” Rams general manager Les Snead said during an in-game television interview. “He should come back. He’s someone who knows Sean’s offense. He can come in and play all three [receiver] positions.”
Connors, who played at Murrieta Valley High and Riverside City College before finishing his college career at Rice and Houston, rushed for 69 yards in 18 carries. Jordan Waters rushed for 53 yards in 15 carries.
Defensive standouts
Rams safety Nick Andersen, center, celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in the first half Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III had two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Safety Nick Andersen recovered a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Cornerback Cam Lampkin also had a sack.
Edge rusher Wesley Bailey, who made a big impression in the first two preseason games, started against the Chargers but played only two snaps and had one quarterback pressure.
Kicker Harrison Mevis finishes perfect preseason
Mevis kicked two 27-yard field goals, making him six for six in three games.
Mevis kicked two field goals against the Chiefs and two against the Saints.
