LOS ANGELES – The eighth and final open practice of 2024 Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union took place Saturday, featuring a trio of turnovers caused by the defense.
Here are 10 things that stood out from the session:
1) Still no Alaric Jackson or Rob Havenstein: Head coach Sean McVay said after practice that the offensive linemen are both "week-to-week"; for Jackson, this was a downgrade from day-to-day. McVay also clarified that Havenstein has an ankle injury, but the injury is not season-ending.
Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (shoulder) remained sidelined; McVay this week said Jackson is week-to-week.
2) First takeaway: The first of three turnovers caused by the defense came courtesy of defensive end Desjuan Johnson, who intercepted a Jimmy Garoppolo screen pass intended for running back Boston Scott, momentarily juggling the ball before gathering it and returning the pick for a touchdown.
3) Second takeaway: The second of three turnovers was caused by defensive back Quentin Lake, who punched the ball loose from wide receiver Cooper Kupp's grasp after Kupp caught a pass from Matthew Stafford.
4) Third takeaway: The third of three turnovers was created by defensive back Kam Kinchens, who intercepted a Stafford pass that went a little too high above wide receiver Puka Nacua.
5) Stafford and Cooper Kupp in sync in team drills: Aside from the interception, Stafford had a strong connection and was in rhythm with Kupp throughout move the ball work in team drills.
6) Calm under pressure: At one point, Stafford fired a pass over the middle to Kupp while standing tall in the face of a six-man rush created by a blitz the Rams defense called. Kupp's catch was equally impressive.
7) Another good day from Demarcus Robinson: The wide receiver was sharp early in practice, connecting on his first three targets of 11-on-11 action. One of Robinson's best grabs came later in team drills, when he snagged the ball out of the air and held on tight to it to prevent the tightly-covering defensive back from knocking it loose.
8) Denied by the landshark: Defensive back Cobie Durant had a strong pass breakup on a Stafford pass intended for Kupp early in team drills.
9) Hochuli's crew returns: NFL referee Shawn Hochuli and his officiating crew were once again on hand to officiate practice.
10) From LMU back to CLU: McVay post-practice said the Rams will return to their facility on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks next week and are now targeting moving into their Woodland Hills site after their preseason finale against the Texans in Houston.
Team president Kevin Demoff told reporters the Rams are "five or six days" behind schedule on the Woodland Hills facility, but he attributed the delay more to receiving certain permits than field readiness.