Dean Connors forces late roster decision for Rams
Dean Connors has forced a late roster conversation for the Los Angeles Rams with a heavy workload and consistent receiving production during the preseason. His finale performance and overall tape now factor directly into decisions about how many backs the Rams carry into the regular season.
A report from Heavy – Los Angeles Rams noted Pro Football Focus gave Connors a 77.4 overall grade in the preseason finale, the highest offensive mark for the team that night.
Key Takeaways
- Dean Connors received a 77.4 overall PFF grade in the Rams preseason finale, which was the highest offensive mark for the team that game.
- He carried 18 times for 69 yards in the finale, with 60 rushing yards after contact, forced five missed tackles, and converted eight first downs on the ground.
- Connors posted three receiving touchdowns across the preseason and finished the slate with three receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown in the finale.
- Jarquez Hunter was traded to the Miami Dolphins in the deal that returned Tutu Atwell, removing one competitor from the Rams’ running back room and altering roster math.
Dean Connors preseason performance breakdown
Connors finished the preseason finale with 18 carries for 69 rushing yards and three catches for 24 receiving yards and a touchdown, adding to three receiving scores across the exhibition slate. The PFF 77.4 grade on his final outing emphasized contact balance and short-yardage finishing over pure home-run burst.
Sixty of his 69 rushing yards came after contact and he forced five missed tackles, which signals an ability to finish plays at the point of attack. His receiving usage through the preseason reinforces a two-track role the staff can deploy in passing situations.
How the backfield depth chart shakes out
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum remain the top options in the Rams backfield, with Williams projected as the lead ball-carrier and Corum as a complementary piece. Ronnie Rivers retains special teams value that weighs heavily when the team sets the No. 3 game-day roster spot.
The Hunter trade that brought Tutu Atwell to Los Angeles removed a nearby competitor who had earlier pushed for the No. 3 role, changing the calculation on whether the Rams carry three or four backs on the initial 53. That arithmetic makes Connors’ receiving upside and short-yardage finishing ability more relevant to both 53-man and practice-squad decisions.
Preseason and roster context comparison
| Player | Preseason notes | College or career context | Roster implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Connors | 18 carries for 69 yards and three catches for 24 yards and a TD in the finale; 77.4 PFF grade; three receiving TDs in preseason | Career college totals include 147 receptions for 1,166 yards and nine receiving TDs, plus 2,656 rushing yards and 22 rushing TDs | Viewed as a viable practice-squad candidate while also appearing on some projections as a potential fourth back on the 53-man roster |
| Jarquez Hunter | Rushed for 68 yards in a preseason game while competing for the No. 3 job before being traded | Entered camp as an internal competitor with recent preseason production pushing his case | Traded to Miami, which reduced immediate competition for the Rams’ running back spots |
| Kyren Williams | Entrenched as the lead back through the preseason | Established as the primary ball-carrier entering the year based on prior-season usage | Projected starter and roster lock barring injury |
Roster construction and practice-squad implications
The Rams’ final roster construction will hinge on how the front office balances immediate special teams value against developmental upside at skill positions. Choosing to keep a fourth running back with receiving chops like Connors affects practice-squad strategy and early-season flexibility for promotions.
