OXNARD, Calif. – The Rams conducted their second joint practice with the Cowboys and third of the 2024 preseason overall on Wednesday, a session that featured the return of linebacker Ernest Jones IV (knee) and more reps for Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett at quarterback with Matthew Stafford sitting out the second half of practice for precautionary reasons due to hamstring tightness.
Senior staff writer Stu Jackson watched the Rams' offense on Wednesday, while writing intern Wyatt Miller focused on the Rams' defense.
Here are 10 things that stood out from the session:
1) Rams decide to be smart with Stafford: A team spokesperson said hamstring tightness led to Stafford's participation in practice being shortened, but sitting him was just a precautionary measure. As a result, Garoppolo finished practice running the first-team offense while Bennett ran the second-team offense.
2) Threading the needle: Before watching the second half of practice, Stafford was sharp in the first half. One of his best throws came on a mid-range throw to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who made an impressive grab near the sideline for the catch.
3) Leaning on the run game: It was unclear if this was by design pre-resting Stafford or not, but L.A.'s offense took a run-heavy approach with both its first-team and second-team. Thus, Wednesday offered an extended look at the Rams running backs, especially Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
First, some key context: Both teams once again used "thud" tackling, or tackling with the intent of still keeping players on their feet, so it's difficult to get a full evaluation of the run game.
With that in mind, Williams had a couple of nice touchdown runs inside the 10-yard line in 11-on-11 redzone work. In non-redzone 11-on-11 drills, both Williams and Corum did a good job of pressing and hitting creases to make plays.
4) WR Jordan Whittington picking up where he left off: The rookie made a couple impressive catches over the middle in 11-on-11.
"That's still conversations we're going to have because as valuable as the preseason is in those games when it's real and coaches are off the field, these practices are equally as important to us because we're trying some things," said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, when asked if the coaching staff pulls back a young player's involvement when a young player like Whittington shows he can play at this level. "There's more movement and stuff like that that's more like our offense. All those discussions will always be fluid. It can change (from) day to day. It can change based on who's available (and) who's not available. We'll keep it going from there."
5) WR Tyler Johnson shines in 2-minute drill: In that segment, with Garoppolo leaning the first-team offense, Johnson caught three consecutive passes to help move the Rams offense downfield.
Defense
6) Edge rushers back up the talk again: Rookie Jared Verse and second-year player Byron Young both had explosive days against the Dallas offensive tackles. They got to the quarterback consistently, tallying would-be sacks (quarterbacks were wearing red no-contact jerseys) and forcing Dak Prescott out of the pocket. Verse was extremely vocal when either of them got through the Dallas protection, as he was during their joint practice last week.
7) Aaron Donald gives advice to Braden Fiske: Aaron Donald attended the joint practice sporting a gray tank top instead of pads and a jersey. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula said that Donald gave rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske some advice during practice. It seemed to pay off, as Fiske fought his way into the backfield on several plays.
8) Ernest Jones IV returns to practice: Linebacker Ernest Jones IV made his presence felt in more ways than one in his return to practice. The 2023 captain got into the backfield for a would-be sack on Dak Prescott and then, on the very next play, just missed a leaping interception over the middle.
"You just feel his energy, his leadership, he gets guys running to the ball," Shula said.
9) Tre'Davious White sees lots of targets: Veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White was targeted quite a bit on Wednesday and showed why he was an All-Pro player with the Buffalo Bills. Multiple deep balls came his way, but White was step-for-step with the Dallas wideouts throughout practice.
10) Quentin Lake makes big tackles: Manning the "star" position, Quinten Lake's tackling ability is hugely significant. On Wednesday, Lake leveled Jalen Brooks to jar the ball loose near the end of practice and made a nice one-on-one tackle in front of the pylon during the red zone period.
