3 long-term takeaways from Rams’ joint practice with Saints

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams learned a little bit more about themselves on Thursday after completing a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints. After a good day of work from both sides, here are three takeaways from the practice and what they mean for the team moving forward.

To start 2025, the Rams kept Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon, Justin Dedich, Beaux Limmer, D.J. Humphries, and David Quessenberry. Havenstein retired, and Humphries wasn't re-signed. The team did draft Keagen Trost, and I don't think they need anyone else.

Once Trost gets healthy, there's no reason to keep an additional lineman on the roster unless a special-teams need develops. Trost was great in his debut, Dedich has proven himself, and Limmer has made the improvements to solidify the backup role in the event Dedich can't play. The line did a good job, and if the team can keep a roster spot open, that could address a need somewhere else. Plus, they could keep their reserves on practice squad, calling them up if needed.

They run the risk of losing them to another team, but it's a gamble that's worth it for the overall success of the team.

The offense was solid, even without Puka Nacua. Nacua's absence is one thing, but there wasn't enough on display to say that the team has fixed some of the lingering issues with the unit: third-and-short situations, the development of the rushing attack, and the overt reliance on Matthew Stafford to overcome various weaknesses.

In the same breath, the Rams could be saving their solutions for the regular season. We just haven't seen enough yet to say those situations – situations that have plagued the team in prior years – are afterthoughts. Especially as Nacua is a key piece in solving those issues.

Looking at the offense without Nacua on Thursday, they lacked the pop that Puka can bring to a passing attack. The reason I'm mentioning Nacua is to tie back into the comments on Stafford. Stafford's ability to overcome scenarios where other quarterbacks might falter, especially with the time some of the plays take to develop, is a looming problem. This was a basic offense, but in the event that Stafford and Nacua are not on the field together, these plays might take a bit too long, leading to poor execution and desperate decisions. Plus, how many exotic things are they doing with the rest of the roster? Nacua's skillset is a unique gift, and hasn't been replicated by the league since his breakout season of 2023.

Not many quarterbacks can make the throws Stafford can, particularly with how narrow the pocket gets around him and with defenders in his face. Against a better defense, Davante Adams won't be as open as he was on Thursday, and Nacua's been the difference between success and failure once Stafford enters his gunslinger mode.

Keep in mind that when the Rams lost Nacua for one game last season, they created a brand new offense around a different position group. They might have to do even more this season unless Nacua avoids suspension and is able to play. The Rams can not run their current offense without him. It's as simple as that.

Ty Simpson got work in against the Saints and is expected to play in the preseason game. After seeing his work, the Rams will need to modify the offense for him if he plays in the regular season. That's a good thing. Simpson has a long way to go, but he has good fundamentals, and he's accurate on short-to-medium throws.

He does struggle to push the ball downfield, but makes up for it with consistent, successful targeting of tight ends. Simpson was not at his best, making two throws that went beyond the mark Thursday. Timing will be a struggle for him, especially as his throwing motion doesn't have the quick zip of Stafford.

But that's not a bad thing. The Rams may have to turn to a more traditional, multi-tight-end offense that uses the rushing attack a bit more, but the team has all the pieces to operate that style of football, and it would go against the current trends of the NFL – something Sean McVay knows how to do well.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 3 long-term takeaways from Rams’ joint practice with Saints