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In the final stages of building out their 2026 roster, the Los Angeles Rams took time out to knock off their roommates, the L.A. Chargers, 20-18 in the preseason finale. In perfect Hollywood fashion, the game and roster build was shrouded in mystery, a last-minute plot twist, and a touch of drama.

Mystery still surrounds the fate of Aaron Donald’s return. Just hours before the kickoff, the Rams turned the the table on roster projections by trading running back Jarquez Hunter, in the midst of a heated roster battle, for wide receiver Tutu Atwell, a roster lock. The controversy, amongst fans at least, is that Atwell had spent his first five years in L.A. with more potential than distinction and wasn’t offered a contract after the 2025 season. 

For the Rams newcomers, this roster was gong to be tough to make, there were just a few positions in play. General Manager Les Snead has filled the coffers with players that fit into Head coach Sean McVay’s exacting protocols. The Rams coaching staff has put together a mentally/physically tough squad that plays hard to the whistle. 

While the Charger game had a few watch-worthy individual performances, It appeared that the game had little effect on a roster reset. In fact, it was the few players that didn’t/hardly participate that told the story.

Here’s my final roster reset, an opening 53 projection (players in bold), a 17-man practice squad (PS), and individual snap counts (in parentheses) from the Rams/Chargers game.

Quarterback (3)

Matthew Stafford, Ty Simpson (48), Stetson Bennett

No changes, the only debate is the “official’ naming of QB#2. Simpson looked decisive and sharp on the short throws and it was cool to see Matthew Caldwell (26) get some play time. McVay doesn’t usually give his QB#4 camp arms that much action. 

Running back (3)

Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers

All of the roster battle debate went out the window before kickoff with the trade of Jarquez Hunter.  The Rams do not usually give up on draft picks, unless their just not a fit. I’m going with Dean Conners (38) over Jordan Watwers (36) for a PS berth.

Wide receiver (6)

Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Tutu Atwell

Welcome home, Tutu. “You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.”

His addition almost assures that both CJ Daniels (34) and Brennan Presley (53) are the odd men out. Both are likely destined for the PS. I thought Presley was outstanding throughout the preseason slate, the best of the L.A. receivers. Tyler Scott (42) showed flashes over the preseason, but as is in his past, not near enough to justify a roster spot. Goodbye to Tru Edwards (38) and Alex Bachman (32). 

Tight end (5)

Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max Klare (41)

No surprises, most fans would agree that this was always going to be the lineup. Mark Redman (24) to the PS for sure and the Rams initial monetary investment in Dan Villari (20) gets him there as well. Rohan Jones (12) only received a handful mop-up offensive reps over three games.

Offensive line (10)

Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon, Beaux Limmer, David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich, Keagan Trost, Dylan McMahon

Throwing in Dylan McMahon as the surprise 10th offensive lineman, he really played solidly in the first two games and got the night off in the finale. RG Austin Blaske, C Wyatt Bowles, LT AJ Arcuri, and RT Bryce Henderson all played every snap, 74. Bill Murray (30) was the fifth starter. In the first two drives, against most of the Chargers first teamer’s, they had their hands full, but over a body of work, all handled themselves quite well. Blake Hance stepped in for Murray.

Tough battle for the PS. As much as I liked Wyatt Bowles effort and C/G versatility, the combination of AJ Arcuri, Austin Blaske and Bill Murray offers the Rams comprehensive versatility insurance.

Special teams (3)

Ethan Evans, Harrison Mevis, Joe Cardona

No need to worry about the specialists, all three are solid. Again, double-teaming the gunner’s on punt returns, could really open things up. Upgrade onkick coverage? Well, fans will believe it when they see it.

Defensive line (5)

Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton

The defensive interior, as a whole, has not played well in preseason. Bill Norton (30) has led the way, he’s tough to move, but doesn’t get much push. Tim Keenan (24) needs plenty of seasoning. Larrell Murchison (26) looks to be near the end. Although Payton Zdroik (27) and Jaxson Moi (27) both looked to have improved over three games, neither are ready to contend with higher grade competition.

Edge (5)

Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Wesley Bailey (2)

The biggest recipient of the defensive line’s ho-hum play will be Bailey. I think the Rams will want to protect him, he strikes me as the only player at the bottom of the roster that would not clear waivers. Darryl Peterson (42) improved incrementally over his three outings and wins a PS role. Latecomers Tomon Fox (45) and Devean Deal (23) were always here as camp bodies.

Off-ball linebacker (4)

Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard

Another position where the end result was never in doubt. Nikhai Hill-Green (49) got in a lot of work over three games and while not outstanding, showed enough for a PS berth. Elias Neal (21) is cut from the same cloth, a good guy to have on the practice squad. Monty Rice (26) was added just for preseason games.

Safety (5)

Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Nick Andersen (8)

I’m going to stay with Andersen (8) making the 53. He appears to be from the Rams toughness/effort/IQ mold and played generally well. Nate Valcarcel (42) doesn’t justify a opening roster bid, but is a good prospect for the PS. Alex Cook (49) could challenge for the PS, but doesn’t have as much growth potential. Coaches love Tanner Ingle (29) for his hustle and work ethic, but he still struggles to take good angles.

Cornerback (4)

Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes, Josh Wallace

The Rams got Cam Lampkin (36) plenty of work both outside and in the slot, but I’m not sure his preseason play was enough to crack the billet. AZ Hamilton (44) had some flashes and will get development work on the practice squad. Didn’t see enough consistency from Alex Johnson (17) over three games, but he could sneak onto the PS. Nyzier Fourqurean (39) is in the same boat. Steven Gilmore (10) mopped up.

Practice squad (17)

RB Dean Conners

WR Brennan Presley

WR CJ Daniels

TE Mark Redman

TE Dan Villari

OL Austin Blaske

OL Bill Murray

OL AJ Arcuri

DL Tim Keenan

DL Bill Norton

E Darryl Peterson

LB Nikhai Hill-Green

LB Elias Neal

S Nate Valcarcel

CB Cam Lampkin

CB AZ Hamilton

P Jack Bouwmeester (Exchange)

The AD effect and final roster thoughts

If the Rams do come to terms and activate Aaron Donald by Monday, I would guess that edge Wesley Bailey becomes the odd man out. Bailey does strike me as the likely most sought after of the Rams final cuts and could therefore be snapped up, but 9 of 10 Rams fans would prefer Donald back in horns over a youngster who still needs a lot of development work.

The opening roster may be in line for a couple of tweaks before the opener with the 49ers, depending on a few outcomes. Fans are still in the dark about about possible suspensions to Alaric Jackson and Puka Nacua, while the severity of Keagan Trust’s hamstring also needs adjudication. And of course, the Rams Pro Personnel Department will be scouring the waiver wire and practice squads, when set, for any possible poach candidates the braintrust favors.

Tell the forum about your opening roster thoughts! 

The New England Patriots officially traded wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans this week, receiving safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028th seventh-round draft pick in return.

Boutte’s departure comes after a long offseason full of speculation over his future.

The 24-year old requested a trade this past spring as he enters a contract year and was set to see both his playing time and production dip after the Patriots upgraded their wide receiver depth chart with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. Mike Vrabel even revealed Boutte would have been inactive during the season, barring injuries.

As New England’s wide receiver room remained deep even beyond Brown and Doubs, the decision was made to move off of Boutte, who never eclipsed the 600-yard mark, to add depth elsewhere on the roster and open up more opportunities for players like Kyle Williams.

But for a Patriots team that remains Super Bowl hopeful — where they currently are tied with the fifth-highest odds on FanDuel Sportsbook to hoist the Lombardi Trophy this season — many believed the team should have kept the pass catcher, who has strong chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye.

That is why in the results of the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, 30% of participants voted the trade as a neutral C.

Much of comment section agreed, largely do to what was viewed as a minimal return:

SlotMachinePlayer

The grade for this draft depends on two things:

1. Brown staying healthy, since Boutte was the guy most likely to fill that role if he’s hurt.
2. Reed turning into a useful depth player; something Boutte was.

The draft pick was meh. Could have likely gotten a higher comp pick if Boutte went elsewhere at the end of the year. Looking like a D right now, since safety wasn’t a position of need, and Reed didn’t play much.

PatriotPapa

C. Should have gotten a much higher draft pick beyond the 1-for-1 player trade. Patriots had Houston needing to make the trade having just lost Jayden Higgins with torn ACL. Getting much needed help in run defense was a solid move, but a higher draft pick IN 2027 should have been demanded.

For Pats Sake

F-
Patriots got fleeced.
Should have been for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2027 3rd or 4th Round Pick.
Instead we got a freaking 2028 7th and a player that has not been as productive as Boutte.

Sportsbozo52

I think they got what they wanted. A viable player and a 28 draft choice. Boutte will do well in Texas. May he continue to grow! I am a fan of his and will remain a fan of his, just not when he plays the Patriots. I don’t know much about Jaylin Reed, let’s hope he sticks with the Patriots and can be a contributor for the upcoming season.

new_phal3123

I think C+ in the sense that it’s just right down the middle. It’s the reality of the market for that type of WR. I think Boutte is a valuable player but in his role with 1 year left, there’s just not a huge market. The plus comes from getting an immediate contributor rather than just a future day 3 pick.

Todger

Thirty two teams could be looking for a replacement WR, due to a season ending injury, within one week of the season start

All in all, this week’s survey results look as follows:

Some were in favor of the trade, as 5% of voters graded the move as an A with 24% giving the deal a B. That may have to do with the potential of Jaylen Reed taking on a larger defensive role in New England and becoming the third safety the team was looking for to pair with Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson.

Most fans were on the opposite end of the spectrum, however, as 16% of voters grading the trade as a F with another 25% awarding it a D.

Following the move, the Houston Texans are now tied with the Patriots in Super Bowl odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. According to executive vice president of player personal Eliot Wolf, the Patriots were not worried about sending Boutte to a fellow AFC contender.

“No, there was no concern about that, and I don’t think there was any concern for them to send us a safety that we think can play,” Wolf said.

The Seattle Seahawks are just hours away from their preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. Once Friday night is over, they’ll have until Sunday afternoon to cut their 90-man roster down to an initial 53 players for the regular season.

To get you up to speed on the state of Seattle’s roster, this is a final unofficial depth chart check for August. In fact, it’s so unofficial that the flip card for the Chiefs game is already obsolete. Chris Paul Jr was waived with an injury designation, so he’s off the linebacker depth chart, while offensive tackle Kellen Diesch has joined the team as a waiver wire claim. We’ll still roll with it because it’s 97.8% accurate in terms of players who are on the team.

Seattle Seahawks offense

Irv Charles being that high up the unofficial depth chart seems a bit odd. He’s never had an NFL target in four seasons and was brought in for special teams, but he’s put up a whopping zero preseason snaps. I’d consider Foster to be higher up the ladder despite how this reads.

With Mason Richman on IR, it’ll be interesting to see if Bryce Cabeldue really is the go-to at left guard for the Chiefs game over Beau Stephens, who had been with the third-team in preseason alongside Cabeldue. When Richman went down, Cabeldue took Mason’s left guard snaps.

Zach Charbonnet is obviously at the back-end of the depth chart for injury reasons and will go on regular season PUP by the end of this weekend.

The aforementioned Diesch is listed as a tackle and would be at the back-end, much like the recently signed Derrick Graham.

Seattle Seahawks defense

We obviously have to cross out Paul, although it doesn’t change much regarding Smith and Echols’ respective statuses. If nothing else, absent Julian Neal, almost all of the defensive depth chart is pretty much how it’s actually played out in preseason.

Incidentally, similar to Charbonnet, Emmanwori’s injury has him deceivingly at the back of the chart even though he’s not even on PUP anymore. He also cannot go back on PUP, and unless his ankle surgery recovery had some sort of setback I can’t envision him starting the regular season on IR.

Seattle Seahawks special teams

Cody White has been the main kick returner in preseason alongside Emmanuel Henderson. He’s also had punt return duties but I imagine in the regular season it will just be Shaheed and Horton (whenever Tory is back from his mysterious injury).

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cardinals fans and fans across the country.

The Arizona Cardinals have tried to fix their defense over the last couple of seasons and yet for fans, it is incredibly worrisome.

That is why when we asked what position group are fans most worried about, the overwhelming amount picked a defensive position, with the edge position being the one most are concerned about.

Fans are concerned about the entire front seven of the defense and it makes sense. They were bad last year and they didn’t do much to change things. Yes, Roy Lopez is back, and they added Andrew Billings, Jack Gibbens and Andrew Wingard, but that did not change things for fans.

And of course they did nothing at the edge position, so that makes sense that it is the biggest concern.

It is also interesting that the offensive line, despite heavy investment is still the second biggest concern out of all position groups.

The thing is, I think every team can say this about the offensive line.

Of course when you are seeing the yo-yoing of Jeremiyah Love’s rushing total week-to-week from our friends over at FanDuel Sportsbook, it makes sense that there are concerns. Love’s total plummeted last week to 725.5 yards on the season, and moved back up to 775.5 yards this week. Does the line concern you that much combined with the ankle issue?

Ty Simpson again stole headlines in the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-18 win over the Chargers on Thursday night, yet fellow rookie CJ Daniels has earned a chance in the spotlight. Following a second straight promising game, Daniels has seemingly done enough to earn a roster spot, as he’s been one of the Rams’ most consistent wideouts this preseason.

We’ll get into that more shortly, but let’s dive into the good, the bad and the ugly against the Chargers in the preseason finale on Thursday night.

The Good

Ty Simpson has secured the backup position … maybe

Did Simpson secure the backup position? There’s a chance, but Sean McVay is going to take his sweet ass time making a decision.

The quarterback battle in Los Angeles shouldn’t be a battle at all given what we’ve seen this preseason. Simpson has simply outplayed Stetson Bennett and should be rewarded with the backup role. Why should the Rams put up with mediocrity behind Matthew Stafford? They haven’t put up with average with the rest of the roster.

There’s more on that in a bit. The rookie has truly been sensational this preseason. He didn’t make a single mistake in his three appearances, which is crucial to note. Additionally, he demonstrated high efficiency and poise like someone who has played in this offense for years.

Simpson’s performance in the Chargers game proves he was the team’s option all along, because through three preseason appearances, he already looked more NFL-ready than Bennett has after FOUR SEASONS.

For crying out loud McVay, this shouldn’t be a difficult choice to make. Ride the hot hand and see where it takes you.

Defense did just enough

This was perhaps the defense’s worst showing of the preseason, yet they did what they could to finish on a high note.

Yes, Justin Herbert tore them up early on, and the Chargers’ running game racked up over 200 yards. Outside of Herbert, they remained strong against the pass.

DJ Uiagalelei and Trey Lance were held to a combined 11-of-20 for 141 yards and no touchdowns. Lance had zero completions, so a terrible showing is pretty on brand for him. Both QBs were also sacked four times. The Chargers were also held to a combined 3-of-10 on third- and fourth-down, and 0-for-1 in the red zone.

This preseason, the Rams finished by giving up 30 points in three games, which is really good. They also only allowed two touchdowns in that span, both coming against the Chargers.

It wasn’t the prettiest effort, yet the unit didn’t break and did enough to keep LA in a position to win every game. I can’t say it enough, but if this is how the backups play, imagine how much fun the defense will be once the regular season kicks off.

Best preseason showing in the McVay era

Who says preseason efforts don’t matter? Well, I mean, they don’t, yet an undefeated showing is nothing to sneeze at, as many of the team’s backups got valuable reps.

It goes without saying that this was the best preseason showing in the McVay era, and it’s not remotely close.

The Rams went 2-2 in each of their first three preseason slates with McVay at the helm. They’ve finished close to unbeaten in each of the last two seasons following an 0-3 finish in 2023, which hilariously included a 41-0 loss to the Broncos in Denver.

For a team that regularly doesn’t play its starters during the exhibition series — with McVay usually even handing off his play calling duties — it was refreshing to see effort. Part of what helped was Simpson’s play, which has undoubtedly made this preseason more enjoyable to watch than others.

During the 2021 campaign when LA most recently won the Super Bowl, they also finished 0-3. In all likelihood, that doesn’t mean a darn thing heading into the 2026 season. Either way, it’s still interesting.

The Bad

The CJ Daniels waiting game

Daniels should make the roster. There I said it.

After a quiet start to preseason, Daniels ended the exhibition matches with back-to-back quality games against the Saints and Chargers. In those two games, he had 13 catches for 110 yards on 19 targets. While he didn’t reach the end zone, it shouldn’t matter, as he’s been one of the team’s most consistent receivers the past two weeks.

The only issue is, his efforts might be in vain, which would be deeply unfortunate.

LA trading back for Tutu Atwell before the game certainly complicates things. It shouldn’t, though, because when has this team ever used Atwell correctly, or at all?

Daniels deserves a roster spot due to him being a quality young option who can rack up decent production and be a reliable target. If Atwell’s return is going to cut into another receiver’s reps, why should that be allowed?

Since we know enough about Bennett to know he’s not the guy, shouldn’t the front office have already known Atwell is in a similar spot? We’ve been waiting for Tutu to break out for how many years now? Give his reps to someone more deserving, like Daniels, to see if they can take off and make the most of the opportunities Atwell never could.

The waiting game is maddening while cutdowns happen, and keep your fingers crossed for Daniels. LA might regret it if they let him go to another team and it pans out.

Coaching staff’s management of QBs in a pointless battle

If there’s one gripe I’ve had about preseason — besides the common complaint that it’s pointless — it’s that the Rams completely mismanaged the quarterback situation.

A week ago, we were wondering where Simpson was. This week, we were asking the same about Bennett. Not that I was clamouring to see him attempt to cosplay as an NFL QB, but still.

With Bennett not playing Thursday, does that mean he unofficially locked up the backup job? Were the Rams preserving his health in case they intend to trade him before the season? Has McVay seen enough from him, which again, could be a good or a bad thing? What does it all mean?!

In last week’s Good, Bad and Ugly, I complained that Simpson didn’t play enough against the Saints. Every rep he receives is valuable, and it made zero sense not to have him on the field for longer. We’re already well aware that Bennett isn’t in the team’s long-term (and possibly) short-term future.

The coaching staff playing Simpson longer this week doesn’t make up for his lack of reps against New Orleans. It stole more opportunities to get valuable NFL experience that could significantly benefit him down the road should he earn the backup role.

Regardless of whatever happens, my head still hurts, and I’m off to pop a couple aspirin.

The Ugly

None for the second straight week. The Rams’ backups looked great and ended preseason on a high note. Now, we’re on to the regular season. Bring it on!

The San Francisco 49ers’ preseason is officially over. The team will make roster decisions. The coaching staff should know by now who will make the team. Realistically, we’re talking about 3-5 spots up for grabs.

Kyle Shanahan said he likes when players make it easy on him. Jacob Cowing did that with an 80+ yard punt return in the second preseason game. De’Zhaun Stribling’s roster spot was never in doubt, but he made an impact in both games.

Defensively, Jack Jones had the ball production the 49ers so desperately covet at cornerback. He gave Raheem Morris confidence during the preseason.

Now that the preseason is over, who surprised you?

Who was the biggest surprise of the preseason for the 49ers?

It’s always fun to read what people-watching practice is saying and then see for yourself how the players perform. In a practice setting, it’s easy to get caught up in one flashy play and ignore what happens on a down-to-down basis. That brings me to my answer. I have two: one pleasant surprise, and one…not so much.

Jordan Watkins is the kind of player who has preseason production in the box score, but once you go under the hood and focus on him, I’m not sure he’s an NFL player. Not for the 49ers, at least.

Football is a violent game. Unfortunately for Watkins, there were too many exposures during the preseason of him either shying away from contact or failing to produce through contact.

If we use the final preseason game as an example, Watkins turtled up on his first kickoff return when he was about to get tackled. He had an opportunity to block a safety, but he waited and was driven back instead of being the aggressor. Then you get into tracking the ball in the air, and you’re left wondering whether Watkins is worth investing in, or if you should listen to the signs he’s telling you and move on.

Kurtis Rourke only played in one game. He’s closer to Mac Jones than Adrian Martinez. It’s too bad that Rourke was banged up, because it would have been fun to see him grow over three weeks with extended reps. The good news is that we saw him drop back 16 times, and that was more than enough to see a quality backup.

Half of Rourke’s completions went for first downs. He was selectively aggressive—which is another reason multiple games would have been fun, to see if Rourke would’ve opened it up even more. Rourke completed all four of his passes beyond 10 yards. The 32-yarder to Stribling on third down was a thing of beauty, and the type of aggressive decision Kyle Shanahan wants at the position.

Rourke handled pressure well, and even avoided a sack. I thought he looked the part and wouldn’t dare think about losing him to waivers.

Who surprised you the most this season?

The Baltimore Ravens are just one game away from real football. Tonight at 6 p.m. ET, they will take on the Washington Commanders in their preseason finale with 53-man roster cuts due just 48 hours later. Here are the team’s biggest remaining questions heading into today’s game:

Will a starting center emerge?

A season-ending injury to Danny Pinter turned the Ravens’ starting center competition into a two-man race between Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic. The former has been praised for his athleticism, while the latter brings experience and leadership that could be valuable in a new offensive scheme.

The battle is neck-and-neck. The division of reps tonight will be a key marker, as Pocic’s ramp-up from last season’s Achilles tear has limited his time with his potential fellow starters. If Gwyn still gets all of the first-team snaps, he likely has the job sewn up. But the Ravens could mix Pocic in with the first team, indicating the competition is still undecided, or even start him outright, suggesting he has surged ahead.

Can an undrafted rookie make the 53-man roster?

The Ravens historically retain at least one undrafted rookie on their 53-man roster. Last year, they kept three. But with two of those players returning and plenty of depth across the squad, there may not be room this time around. Outside linebacker Ethan Burke, offensive tackle Diego Pounds, and quarterback Joe Fagnano have all made strong cases, but will the Ravens move on from Adisa Isaac, Carson Vinson, or another player to accommodate them?

All three of those players have already stood out in the preseason, so it might take an undeniable performance tonight vs. the Commanders to secure a roster spot.

How will the Ravens pick from their defensive line depth?

The Ravens have two moral locks at defensive tackle: Travis Jones and Calais Campbell. Broderick Washington could be a trade candidate but is otherwise guaranteed a place. Nnamdi Madubuike is somewhat of an X-factor, as his gradual ramp-up from last year’s neck injury could land him on injured reserve to start the regular season.

Then there’s the depth. 2025 sixth-round pick Aeneas Peebles has flashed in the preseason and likely earned his place. One of John Jenkins and C.J. Okoye will take a roster spot as the backup nose tackle. The other will still have a case, as does seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny. And then there’s David Olajiga, Aaron Graves, and Dion Wilson, who have all popped at different times this summer.

Baltimore typically carries five defensive linemen, but depending on Madubuike’s status, there might be a case for six. That could lead the team to carry 26 defenders rather than their usual 25-25-3 offense-defense-special teams split, something Jesse Minter hinted was a possibility this week.

The end of preseason has always been the unofficial beginning of fall in my eyes. As I stare out my window, I can see a hint of color becoming more prevalent in the trees, the sun is setting earlier with each passing day, and the pumpkin coffee I have sitting next to me tastes like I’ll be turning on Halloween 6 later on in the day.

The preseason is now complete for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they will now have until Sunday night at 6:00 EST to trim their roster down to 53 players. And while the journey will end for many, it appears one player on the bubble has a spot secured. Plus, a pair of rookie receivers show exactly why they were drafted, and several defenders will make it very difficult to let them go.

It’s the morning after game day. Let’s dive in.

The Steelers should not keep four quarterbacks

After the Steelers’ 28-27 loss to the Bills to close out the preseason, head coach Mike McCarthy was asked if all four quarterbacks did enough to secure a roster spot.

“Very accurate evaluation on your part,” McCarthy said via Brooke Pryor. “We’ve got two vets to win with, and two guys we’re excited about their future.”

Of course, nothing is official at the time of writing, but it certainly appears as if the Steelers will keep all four quarterbacks on their roster, which makes next to no sense. It would be one thing if Will Howard blew them away in exhibition play – he didn’t. He finished the preseason 26-of-40 with two touchdowns to three interceptions. For what it’s worth, both touchdowns he threw were a screen pass that Germie Bernard took 13 yards after making the first tackler miss, and practically a handoff to Lake McRee who dove over several players to get into the end zone.

That’s not to see there weren’t good throws. The pass to Robert Tonyan on the goal line in Week 1 against the Packers was his best throw of the preseason, and he made a 16-yard completion to Ben Skowronek over the middle in Week 2. However, if he really popped, the Steelers wouldn’t feel the need to keep Mason Rudolph.

Howard was comfortably the fourth-best quarterback for the Steelers throughout the summer. The logical decision would be to cut him and then sign him to the practice squad when no one claims him. Everyone in the Will Howard camp is so certain he would get claimed by another team, but that’s highly unlikely to happen. About 25-35 players total get claimed during roster cutdown. Last year, there were 29 players claimed. The year before that – 27, per Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. The high since 2015 is 44 players. The low is 17, which came back in 2020. Howard didn’t do anything in exhibition play to warrant a team putting in a claim for him. He would quickly have a home back on the Steelers’ practice squad should that be the route they would go.

Instead, they will likely keep Howard, assuming he doesn’t go on IR with an injury he suffered against the Bills. Even if he does go on IR, though, eventually they’d have to take him off, which would lead to the team eventually carrying four quarterbacks. Who’s the player that will lose their helmet because of it? Robert Spears-Jennings? Doneiko Slaughter? Both of whom have had tremendous summers. If Howard gets a spot over someone who can contribute elsewhere, it’s roster building malpractice.

Germie Bernard is WR3

I’ve seen enough from Bernard – he absolutely should be the starting slot receiver. The Alabama product has shown more this preseason than Roman Wilson has going on three seasons. It’s great that Wilson looked good in camp. It means nothing, though, when he does nothing come game time.

Bernard showcased exactly why the Steelers traded up to get him, making Max Hairston miss on a screen pass and taking it the rest of the way to the end zone. He finished his preseason with five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. And as impressive as his first (unofficial) touchdown was, it may not have been his best play of the preseason. In Week 1 against the Packers, he caught a ball on the right sideline made several defenders miss, and picked up 25 yards.

The best thing the Steelers could do at receiver right now is give Bernard the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, see if they can get a late-round pick swap in exchange for Roman Wilson, and sign a veteran to be the No. 4 wide receiver Brandin Cooks would be the name I’d prefer. He’s still a quality deep threat, and he had a nice pair of seasons under McCarthy from 2023-24, catching 80 passes and 11 touchdowns in that two-year span.

Kaden Wetjen puts exclamation point on preseason

The rookie out of Iowa began the preseason with a 74-yard catch and a touchdown, and he ended it by showing exactly why the Steelers took him in the fourth round.

The two-time Jet Award winner struggled to get anything going in the return game in the first half. In the third quarter, though, he sprung away from the Bills’ punt coverage and returned a kick 45 yards for a touchdown. Should he be able to house at least one kick during the regular season, many will forget about the Steelers reaching in the fourth for a return specialist. While he rode the highs and lows of his first NFL training camp, the highs are very high for one of the best return men in college football history.

Several defenders make their case for roster spots

There will be at least one defender worthy of a roster spot who doesn’t get one – which, again, makes the likelihood of Will Howard having a spot even more irrational.

Devan Boykin had a strong preseason and led the team with nine tackles on Thursday. D’Shawn Jamison has been a practice squad mainstay for Pittsburgh over the last two years and appeared in three games in 2025. He’ll likely be placed on the practice squad again despite a nice preseason. Slaughter and Spears-Jennings are another pair of guys who are on that roster bubble, and one or both could be placed on the practice squad.

Having a lot of quality players is a good problem to have, and Pittsburgh may have one of the deeper set of reserves in the NFL once Week 1 rolls around.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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• Mike McCarthy open to keeping four quarterbacks

The connection between a quarterback and wide receiver is one of the more storied partnerships in all of sports, and for good reason. So many details go into the artistry that occurs between the two positions on gameday. And if you are looking for proof, just ask one of the best duos in NFL—Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“When you watch Goff and St. Brown on the field, you can see they’re finishing each other’s sentences — if every sentence was punctuated with a first down,” wrote Henry McKenna of Fox Sports in his recent feature on the pair. “It’s not normal. They can make changes mid-play without even having to look at each other. It goes beyond coaching.”

If you have been watching the Lions for the last several years, then chances are you know exactly what McKenna is talking about.

“I think we’ve been playing for so long together that he understands my body language when I’m running routes,” St. Brown told McKenna. “That he can anticipate throws before I’m even out of the break. He kind of knows, ‘Oh, that’s how it looks when he’s about to break down.’ So he already knows. He can anticipate the throw.”

The article dives into what makes the relationship between the two pros so special, including frequent visits to St. Brown’s favorite sushi restaurant near their Los Angeles area offseason homes. You can read the entire article from McKenna right here.

And now onto the rest of the best Lions content from this week.

• If you didn’t already see, Chris Long and The Greenlight Podcast were in Allen Park recently, and they got some excellent interviews in with St. Brown, Goff, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

• After a long, strange journey, the NFL’s Pro Bowl is finally gone.

• Kory Woods of MLive was on the ground to cover the annual, “Jamo Day,” which is an event put on by Lions receiver Jameson Williams and his foundation that helps get families ready to go back to school.

• In case you missed it, Tina Nguyen of WXYZ Detroit interviewed Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.

• If you are someone like me who is always thinking of what shoes to rock on Lions’ gamedays, you may be interested to know that two Lions’ themed shoes are dropping ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

Last but not least, we have two posts from The Feed. The first is from Critical Perspective where the author dives into some possible roster gymnastics we may see from the Lions after their final preseason game against the Colts on Saturday. And the second is by tomi02118 that examines the Lions’ decisions around the backup quarterback position behind starter Jared Goff.

Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman provided Sportsnet’s Mark Spector with an update on the injuries to Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen.

It was revealed on Thursday that four players would miss training camp. Savoie and Andersen were among them, with Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula the others. For Savoie and Andersen, it was expected that October might be a return month, although no exact timeline was provided. 

Bowman indicated that Savoie is expected to return much sooner than Andersen, with the Oilers taking a cautious approach with their 36-year-old goaltender and refusing to rush him back before he’s ready.

There is no exact timeline for Savoie yet, but Bowman offered some encouraging news, making it clear the injury is not expected to keep the young forward out for an extended period.

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“It’s not like he’s going to miss half a season or anything like that. It’s going to be much less than that.”

Bowman acknowledged that Savoie will miss some time but said the Oilers aren't overly concerned.

Overall, it sounds like there is considerably more optimism surrounding Savoie’s injury than initially feared, which should come as encouraging news for the Oilers.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Most Commanders you’ll see featured during the 2026 campaign won’t play Friday night’s preseason finale against Baltimore.  

Head coach Dan Quinn made the crystal clear this week, saying frontline players would get heavy reps in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Ravens to cap their training camp.  

That means the cast you see Friday at M&T Bank Stadium will feature those battling for spots near the bottom of the 53-man depth chart and the practice squad.  

That doesn’t mean this upcoming game is without merit, though you must look a little harder to find it. Most of the hay’s in the barn evaluation-wise, but finishing with a flourish may help some roster hopefuls secure a spot.  

Notice how you don’t see quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis or defensive back Tyler Owens listed. I think those guys are already in.  

There are a few players worth highlighting here that could improve their stock and standing by punctuating the preseason with a strong performance.  

DL Ricky Barber 

A first-year pro after spending most of last season on the practice squad, Ricky Barber has shown well during training camp. That’s also true of his preseason performances. While the Commanders vastly upgraded their defensive front, Johnny Newton’s torn pectoral muscle has created an opening for a young player like Barber.  

He leads the team with 10 tackles and a sack over the first two preseason games, and was solid when elevated from the practice squad in 2025, especially on this play.  

Barber surely has a practice-squad spot locked up, unless someone snags him off waivers, where he could provide insurance at the position. Barber could earn a spot should the Commanders keep six defensive linemen, though Byron Cowart’s angling for the same gig. A strong finish could help Barber in this instance, to highlight a strong body of preseason work.  

DB Darius Rush 

Credit where credit’s due: This one’s inspired by John Portis’ excellent roster case for Darius Rush, a supreme athlete and special teams maven who clearly cares about the kicking game. A team needs players like that, to champion the often thankless work done on the coverage and return units.  

Showing a little something on defensive coverage in the preseason, even if it’s the tools to develop into a solid player in that area, will strengthen his case to be kept around in Washington. He might not make the 53-man roster, but he could well help this season as a practice squad elevation and continue to earn reps with hard work.  

LB Ale Kaho 

Ale Kaho has had a strong preseason, showing off the athleticism and special-teams prowess worthy of a reserve linebacker spot. 

 It seems like the Commanders like Kaho and have him under strong consideration should they keep a fifth linebacker as I think they will.  

Fellow UCLA product Kain Medrano’s direct competition for that spot and he’s an Adam Peters draft pick with somewhat similar traits. It’s tough to say who has the upper hand at this point – probably Medrano – and this is the type of competition that could go to the bitter end even with most decisions already made. A final evaluation could further prove his worth, though it’s nearly impossible he won’t earn a practice squad spot at minimum.  

WR Jaden Bradley 

The undrafted rookie out of UNLV has been talked about a ton over the course of this Commanders preseason, with mostly positive sentiments from players, coaches and observers alike.  

I mean, what’s not to love about a hard worker who makes plays like this? 

His play would put him in line for a roster spot on this team, but that’s hard to imagine in an impacted position group. There are times, however, when teams take a flier on a young player with upside who plays special teams over a veteran with a defined ceiling.  

Could more wow plays against the Ravens sway general manager Adam Peters to keep Bradley on the 53-man roster. Could Washington get him through waivers and onto the practice squad? Probably, but it’s a risk. Maybe he’s on the initial 53-man and gets moved a week or so later.  

There’s so much worthy competition for the sixth receiver spot, but Bradley has a case he can keep on making Friday night.  

OT D.J. Humphries 

This player doesn’t fit the theme we’ve created for this post. Humphries is an established veteran, albeit towards the end of a standout career. He made it clear to on-site reporters following Wednesday’s joint practice that he’s not a savior at the left tackle spot. He’s here to provide depth behind Brandon Coleman.  

This game will offer a sneak peek of what Humphries can do at this stage, with but a small amount of scheme knowledge under his belt. Keep an eye on his game reps – there might not be many – for an indication of where he’s at after spending most of camp away from an NFL team.