Sean McVay has always taken a cautious approach to the preseason. He's been at the forefront of the movement that has caused many teams to hold out their starters and top players in August, keeping them healthy for the start of the season.
That will continue for the Rams this month, with their most important players getting the preseason off. Not only does it keep them healthy, but it also allows backups and role players to see more reps in these exhibition games.
McVay didn't lay out exactly which players will and won't play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, but given his history, we can infer which guys will be held out of action. Below is a list of players who definitely won't see the field, those who probably won't play and some who might get a little bit of run.
Definitely won't play
- QB Matthew Stafford
- RB Kyren Williams
- RB Blake Corum
- WR Davante Adams
- WR Puka Nacua
- WR Jordan Whittington
- WR Konata Mumpfield
- TE Tyler Higbee
- TE Colby Parkinson
- TE Terrance Ferguson
- TE Davis Allen (injury)
- LT Alaric Jackson
- LG Steve Avila
- C Coleman Shelton
- RG Kevin Dotson
- RT Warren McClendon Jr.
- OL Justin Dedich (injury)
- DT Kobie Turner
- DE Braden Fiske
- NT Poona Ford
- DL Tyler Davis
- OLB Myles Garrett
- OLB Byron Young
- OLB Josaiah Stewart
- LB Nate Landman
- LB Omar Speights
- CB Trent McDuffie
- CB Jaylen Watson
- CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
- DB Quentin Lake
- S Kamren Curl
- S Kam Kinchens
- S Jaylen McCollough
None of these players will be on the field Saturday or at all this preseason. They're all either starters or have gathered enough NFL experience to sit until the regular season begins. And yes, that includes guys like Speights, Forbes and McCollough.
Dedich is still on the NFI list, so he definitely won't play, but he likely wouldn't see the field even if he were healthy. The same goes for Allen, who's dealing with his own injury.
McVay also specifically said Whittington and Mumpfield won't play in the preseason, all but assuring they'll be important players on offense.
Probably won't play
- RB Ronnie Rivers
- LT David Quessenberry
- OL Beaux Limmer
- LB Grant Stuard
None of these players are starters, but they've all played a lot of football. Rivers should be the RB3, Quessenberry is viewed as the swing tackle, Limmer provides value at center and guard, and Stuard is the top special teamer. It's hard to imagine the Rams playing any of these guys Saturday or at all this preseason.
Might not play
- C Dylan McMahon
- LB Shaun Dolac
- DB Josh Wallace
- OLB Desjuan Johnson
There's a chance McVay will keep these players on the sidelines, knowing they'll likely be on the 53-man roster. He complimented McMahon after Thursday's practice, and Dolac played well enough last summer to sit out some preseason action, too. Wallace is also a valuable defensive back and Johnson might be the No. 4 edge rusher.
Who will play?
Everyone else. The Rams will give their rookies a lot of playing time, especially knowing most of them won't have significant roles this year.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Who's playing and who isn't for Rams against Chiefs on Saturday?