Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Getty
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears.
The Los Angeles Rams are comfortable with two key players who were on the roster last season, Pro Bowl running back Kyren Williams and, apparently, top backup Blake Corum, the No. 83 overall pick of the 2024 draft.
So much rookie fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter is inactive for the Rams’ regular-season opener against the Houston Texans in a decision that raised some eyebrows before the game.
Here is the full list of Rams inactives, including emergency third quarterback Stetson Bennett.
The news is good for Corum, who dealt with an arm injury late last season.
Still, the Rams’ decision on Hunter stands out, given the fanfare around his selection this past spring and some encouraging moments in the preseason.
Jarquez Hunter Made Rams’ RB Room Better
Jarquez Hunter, Los Angeles Rams
GettyJarquez Hunter #35 of the Los Angeles Rams gains yardage against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Rams selected Hunter with the No. 117 overall selection in April’s draft, and he has been lauded as a key to what is expected to be an improved running attack in 2025. It would not have been surprising to see Hunter operate behind Williams and Corum for the Rams in the opener.
Hunter is RB3 on the Rams’ unofficial depth chart.
“With Kyren Williams extended and three drafted tailbacks on the roster, this is as deep a running back group as the Rams have had under Sean McVay,” TheRams.com’s J.B. Long wrote in August. “Blake Corum is back from a late-season arm injury and poised for his second season. Rookie Jarquez Hunter delivers some added punch, high-end speed, and a four-year old horse for good measure.”
But the Rams offered context clues that a move at RB could take place before facing the Texans in Week 1, and before it was clear that Hunter would be a healthy scratch.
Rams Choose Familiar Face Over Rookie Draft Pick
Cody Schrader, Los Angeles Rams
GettyCody Schrader #32 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after his run against the Dallas Cowboys.
Instead of Hunter against the Texans, the Rams opted to roll with former San Francisco 49ers RB Cody Schrader, a holdover from last season’s team who played in one game during the regular season.
Schrader had one carry for 3 yards and one reception for 6 yards in the Rams’ season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, in which McVay rested his starters. The Rams lost 30-25.
However, Schrader, who was eighth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2023, has flashed before.
The Rams called Schrader up on Saturday, tipping their hand about an upcoming move at the position. Still, it is surprising that that move came at Hunter’s expense.
He tallied 110 yards on 33 carries, which is 3.3 yards per attempt. Perhaps the Rams want to see greater efficiency from him before entrusting him on gamedays. For now, Hunter’s loss is Schrader’s gain as the Rams open the regular season against the Texans.
Rams Get Key Injury News About Texans Before Opener
Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
Encouragingly for the Rams, they will get a short-handed Texans team that is missing star running back Joe Mixon and would-be WR2 Tank Dell. They also announced before the game that starting right guard Ed Ingram would miss the game with an abdominal injury.
That means a shuffling of the offensive line in front of quarterback C.J. Stroud, which is great news for Jared Verse, and even more for Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner of the Rams.
Stroud absorbed 52 sacks in 2024, the second-most in the league.
The Texans will also be relying on a highly touted rookie in second-round pick Aireontae Ersery. He was the starting left tackle entering the week, but the Texans are moving him to right tackle as they adjust to Ingram’s absence against the Rams.