With the preseason drawing closer, there are bound to be some eye-popping roster cuts for each team. Some of these cuts will be due to injury, salary cap issues, or for the player just not performing up to standard. Here are three possible jarring roster cuts the Rams may make before the start of the 2023 NFL season. There will undoubtedly be notable players cut from rosters, and below are three potential jarring releases the Rams could make before the start of the 2023 NFL season.
Three Potential Roster Cuts the Rams Could Make
1. WR Tutu Atwell
Rams WR Tutu Atwell (15) – Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports
Tutu is coming into year three, and he has more chances than I can count to prove to the Rams coaches he’s the guy and he has yet to do so. Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson missed a combined 15 games last year. During that time many thought that Tutu could step up and take the tops off of defenses. He disappointedly did not do that; he really didn’t come close.
Last season Tutu appeared in 13 games, starting four of them, and didn’t even manage 300 yards. He caught one lone touchdown and had a horrid catch rate of just 51%. There has been some buzz about Tutu during camp this offseason, but every pro player looks good at times in the summer. With guys like Tyler Johnson, Demarcus Robinson, and rookie Puca Nacau joining the offense, I don’t foresee much of a spot for Atwell.
2. RB Cam Akers
Rams RB Cam Akers (3) – Michael Owens/Getty Images
It’s no secret Cam Akers and the Rams don’t have the happiest of relationships. During the 2022 season, he was projected to be a breakout player, and he was the complete opposite of that. To say Cam was a disappointment to start the season would be in contention for understatement of the year. Cam never hit the 100-yard mark until three games left in the season, a time at which the Rams were already well out of playoff contention.
Akers was benched for two games during the regular season and placed on the trade block during that time. While Akers did finish the season on a high note, you cannot erase the mark that the trade talks left on the relationship. Akers is back this season and currently is RB1 on the depth chart, but the Rams also signed Sony Michel and drafted a very talented Zach Evans out of Ole Miss. I would not be shocked in the slightest to not see Akers on the week 1 roster.
3. TE Brycen Hopkins
Rams TE Brycen Hopkins (88) – Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Brycen has seen a slow slide down the Rams’ depth chart over his time in LA. As a rookie in 2020, he was reasonably slotted as the team’s 3rd tight end behind Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. Hopkins appeared in 5 games but did not record a single reception that year. With the departure of Everett after the 2020 season, Hopkins took over TE 2 duties.
Since he is more of a receiving type of tight end, and Tyler Higbee is a better blocker, many thought that Brycen would make a huge leap in year 2. Again, the upward trajectory prediction on him was wrong as he again appeared in just five games and made one single catch in the regular season. Going into the playoffs, teams viewed Brycen as a non-factor, and for the most part, they were right. It wasn’t until the Super Bowl that Brycen made an impact, and he came on in a big way.
Hopkins played the role of the unknown hero, making a career-high four receptions on all four targets for 47 yards. Three of his four catches went for 1st downs and helped propel the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. Following that breakout performance, Brycen was dubbed a breakout player by turf show times. Hopkins started out the season with a three games suspension but was on the field for the remaining 14 games. What did he do with this massive chance he was given? Not much.
Hopkins finished the year with just seven catches for barely over 100 yards. It seems his Super Bowl heroics were not enough to keep him in favor with the Rams coaching staff as they traded for Hunter Long from Miami and drafted Davis Allen in the 5th round out of Clemson. Right now, Hopkins sits at the 4th tight end on the depth chart, and most teams do not carry that many. Expect Hopkins not to be suiting up for the Rams sooner rather than later.
