The Los Angeles Rams have officially hit summer break before training camp after Sean McVay ended the offseason workout program early by canceling mandatory minicamp. Many players will still be in and around Los Angeles working out and training, but this is the time for them to recharge before camp starts in July.
As for the coaches and front office, there are still some questions to be answered – some more concerning than others. Here are the five biggest questions for Los Angeles coming out of OTAs as we await training camp.
Will Alaric Jackson be suspended by the NFL?
The Rams didn’t expect to head into summer break with this question hanging over them, but it’s the reality they now face. Jackson was arrested on a felony domestic battery charge following an altercation with his pregnant ex-girlfriend, who has since been granted a restraining order against the Rams left tackle.
The NFL could suspend Jackson for this violation of the personal conduct policy, which would be his second time being suspended since 2024 – and it could even be a six-game ban. That would be a big blow to the Rams’ offensive line, potentially thrusting David Quessenberry or Keagen Trost into a starting role.
If the Rams get the feeling that Jackson could be suspended, they could sign a veteran before training camp as a contingency plan.
Will the Rams extend any of their homegrown players?
ESPN reported after the Rams acquired Myles Garrett that the team may not extend any of its 2023 draftees this offseason, a group that includes Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner, among others. Typically, the Rams do these deals during training camp or just before Week 1, so it’s unlikely any contracts will get done before then, but it’s something worth monitoring.
Extending Nacua sooner rather than later could help the Rams save money if he has another outstanding season in 2026, but at the same time, they may want to see him handle himself better off the field before committing more than $100 million to him.
Who will win the WR3 job?
Staying at the wide receiver position, the Rams still have to figure out who will emerge behind Nacua and Davante Adams. That will organically happen in training camp when position battles really heat up, but the top candidates are Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, CJ Daniels and Xavier Smith.
This position may not be as important as it was in years past because of how heavily the Rams are leaning into 13 personnel and their tight ends, but Sean McVay still uses 11 personnel plenty, so Los Angeles needs a quality WR3 that it can trust as a pass catcher and blocker.
Who will back up Matthew Stafford?
Will it be Stetson Bennett or will Ty Simpson grab hold of the QB2 spot? If it’s Simpson, the Rams could try to trade Bennett or outright waive him if they feel they can better utilize his roster spot on another position. But it can also be risky to make a rookie with 15 career starts in college your No. 2 quarterback who’s just one injury away from starting.
Bennett played well last preseason and should continue taking positive steps, especially after McVay said he’s seen “tremendous growth” from Bennett in OTAs. The safest route would be to keep both Bennett and Simpson, allowing both quarterbacks to keep developing in McVay’s system.
Will Aaron Donald come out of retirement?
Another question the Rams probably didn’t have on their offseason bingo card, but it’s certainly one of the biggest. Donald is contemplating a return to the Rams after two years out of football, with the trade for Garrett piquing his interest. He’s thinking about coming out of retirement to chase another Super Bowl, but nothing is decided yet.
If Donald does return, it’s possible that he even waits until the middle of the season and comes back just for the stretch run. He’s indicated before that he wouldn’t want to skip camp and the grind of the season with his teammates, so perhaps that’s not his ideal scenario, but he’s confirmed that he’s at least flirting with the possibility of a return.
The Rams would welcome him back with open arms, even if that means a reduced role for players such as Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams’ 5 biggest questions coming out of OTAs
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
