Rams Sign Xavier Smith & 15 Others To Practice Squad

The Los Angeles Rams announced that they have signed 16 players to their initial practice squad for the 2024 season.

The group includes offensive lineman A.J. Arcuri, offensive lineman Justin Dedich, tight end Miller Forristall, defensive back Tanner Ingle, defensive back Shaun Jolly, tight end Nikola Kalinic, defensive back Cam Lampkin, defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa, offensive lineman Mike McAllister, wide receiver Xavier Smith, wide receiver Drake Stoops, defensive back Jason Taylor II, outside linebacker Keir Thomas and wide receiver Sam Wiglusz.

Linebacker Zach VanValkenburg were also added to the Rams’ practice squad as an exception player. Defensive tackle David Olajiga is on the practice squad as an international player.

Running back Zach Evans was also originally signed to the practice squad and then waived.

A player is eligible as an exception if he has two or fewer accrued seasons. A team may not have more than 10 exceptions on their practice squad at any one time.

A practice squad is typically limited to 16 players but teams are permitted to carry 17 if one of them qualifies as an international player. This is among several new rule changes for the 2024 NFL season.

All 16 of the aforementioned players were with the Rams for training camp and the preseason, so they will have some continuity on that end.

Evans is coming off an impressive summer that saw him rush for 135 yards and score two touchdowns, both in the Rams’ 17-15 loss to the Houston Texans last week. Considering he was released, it’s possible he has another gig lined up somewhere.

Smith also was a standout during the preseason, accumulating the 10th-most all-purpose yards in the NFL as a receiver, rusher and returner.

Rams’ roster moves

As the Rams were finalizing their 53-man roster, they made two late additions by signing defensive lineman Neville Gallimore and claiming running back Cody Schrader from the San Francisco 49ers.

Gallimore, 27, is entering his fifth NFL campaign after spending four seasons as a backup defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys. He was waived by the Miami Dolphins after signing with them this offseason.

Gallimore has four sacks, three pass deflections, 11 tackles for loss and 90 combined tackles in 52 games (14 starts) over the last four seasons.

Schrader, 24, was an undrafted free agent in 2024 that signed with the 49ers immediately after the conclusion of this year’s draft. He went through offseason training camp with the team but was waived.

He played two seasons for the University of Missouri, missing his junior campaign with an injury. In 2023 — his sophomore season — he rushed for 1,627 yards with 14 touchdowns, finishing eighth in Heisman voting and finishing first in the SEC in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage.