Terminating Ayers’ contract clears up all $3.3 million of his cap charge, which may give at least some level of explanation as to why they chose to part ways with him.
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“We’ve got a ways to go and we’re young at the position”, Fisher said of the linebackers, “but we like where the future is right now with that group”. “He’s healing up. We feel like he had a chance to contribute and make plays”. We enjoyed having him. “But, we’re kind of hopeful that this is not the end between us and Akeem – I’ll just say that”.
Cameron Lynch, who filled in for injured linebacker Mark Barron during part of the preseason, also got dropped Sunday, so it’s possible that the Rams could end up with Nicholas Grigsby, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Pitt, starting next to Barron and Alec Ogletree during the September 12 season opener at San Francisco. Los Angeles has only three safeties and five linebackers on its current roster along with Mark Barron, who plays a hybrid linebacker/safety role sometimes referred to as “weak safety”.
Fisher and General Manager Les Snead leaned heavily toward offense in their final cuts, as they retained seven receivers and four tight ends. “And they also showed that they can be productive on special teams in practice”. I’m pleased with their progress.
Veteran receiver Brian Quick, who struggled with dropped passes and consistency, made the team, perhaps in part because fellow receivers Spruce and rookie Pharoh Cooper (shoulder) are recovering from injuries that could keep them sidelined for the start of the season. Spruce, the Pac-12 Conference’s all-time receptions leader, signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent and performed well in summer workouts.
“Nelson did a lot of things well, in addition to the preseason game that he played in”, Fisher said.
The Rams will begin game preparations for their season opener with a walkthrough on Labor Day, but their moving process will continue for the next few days.
“We have numbers that are unusual, that we have not had at a number of positions – receivers, offensive line, the secondary”, Fisher said. “I can’t comment on the 53 right now, I can’t stand up in front of them tomorrow and say, ‘Hey, this is the group we’re going to war with, ‘ because there’s change – and you see it across the league, nobody is settled right now”. “There’s a newness to it. Guys are excited about the fields. It flows well. People worked really hard”.
Running back Tre Mason has not been in contact with the team since the end of last season, but remains on the team’s reserve/did not report list.
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The Rams spent the off-season in Oxnard, training camp at UC Irvine.
