Rams @ Texans
Final Score: Texans 17, Rams 15
Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
This was a game of roster bubble players hoping to show something that would nab them a valuable roster spot–and maybe a shot at an NFL career. It was also a tedious watch, though a handful of rushing scores managed to keep things interesting. The Texans ran with the more seasoned veterans for a couple of drives to give their starters extra reps, but the Rams were rolling out the backups and roster hopefuls all game long.
Two Up
- Cam Akers – The standout player on the field, Akers looked sharp and quick off the line on a couple of eye-catching big runs in the first half.
- Zach Evans – The second-year, late-round pick ran in two scores and looked lively every time he touched the football. This game did his case a world of good.
Two Down
- Tim Boyle – It will likely be Case Keenum as the backup in Houston despite Boyle throwing for two scores against the third-stringers
- Boston Scott – The veteran is unlikely to make the Rams’ roster after Evans showed out with a similar amount of touches.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Dresser Winn: 9/16, 72 Yards | 3 Carries, 20 Yards
Winn, who last started a game of football in college in 2022, looked like a guy who won a PR competition to be the quarterback for this game. He was mainly focused on handing the ball off but on the rare occasion he attempted a pass downfield it sailed over the heads of his receivers. He did complete a couple of easy slants to the slot. Move along, there is nothing to see here.
Running Back
Zach Evans: 14 Carries, 45 Yards, 2 TDs
Evans was stuffed early near the goal line on third down after the Rams benefitted from a muffed punt but they decided to kick a field goal instead of seeing what they could do on fourth down. He did run in two scores later in the game from a couple of yards out. The former Ole Miss back was a sixth-round pick last year and was barely involved with just nine touches across 2023. The Rams are thin at running back behind the injury-prone Kyren Williams. Rookie Blake Corum will handle the backup role and Evans hopes he stays as the third back.
Boston Scott: 11 Carries, 34 Yards | 1 Target
After achieving a small cult status in Philadelphia over the past few years, Scott is looking to catch on with the Rams. After being outperformed in this game, his hopes are thin on merit.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Xavier Smith: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards | 3 Carries, 16 Yards
An undrafted rookie last year, Smith looks sharp and slick as a slot receiver. He shows good burst and worked his way into space out of the slot on several routes in this game. He’s caught 13 balls across the preseason mainly from the slot. He has nice hands and knows the playbook better than some of the other rookies in this game.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
Case Keenum: 4/8, 32 Yards
The veteran got a quarter or so to give some of the skill position players on the fringes some work, and he just about managed to make them look good. He should have been picked off on a terrible throw down the middle on the Texans’ first drive of the game but the ball bounced out of the hands of the Rams defensive back. Keenum did find both John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson with nice passes for big gains before departing.
Tim Boyle: 19/28, 142 Yards, 2 TD
This was a methodical if not boring piece of professionalism from Boyle, who dinked and dunked his way through a series of tedious drives to eventually find the end zone twice, and on both occasions it was his receivers doing most of the work.
Running Back
Cam Akers: 7 Carries, 53 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 19 Yards
This was a one-man show in a cabaret of bad performances for Akers, who looked sharp and showed his quality on some nice runs – the highlight being a beautiful cut to the reverse side of the field on an outside zone run that he took for a big gain. There was then a jinking, pacy run for 23 yards that set up the Texans’ first score. He looked well recovered from the Achilles issues that have plagued him the past two seasons. With the Texans happy with their options at running back, he could be in the shop window for a trade. Dallas, anyone?!
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Xavier Hutchinson: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards
Playing deep into the final preseason game of the year with the backups to the backups is never a good sign, but Hutchinson showed everything he needed to in this game – pace, power, and a great catch radius with the sure hands to match. Hutchinson also seems to have a nice grasp of the playbook after perfectly executing a faked vertical route for an 18-yard gain on the Texans’ first scoring drive.
Jonny Johnson III: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 28 Yards, TD
After two years on the practice squad, Johnson was clearly trying to make an impression and win a roster spot in earnest. Catching both his balls, he showed clever route running and toughness to beat three Rams defensive backs to catch and run the ball in from about five yards out.
John Metchie III: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards
Linking up nicely with Boyle on a couple of nicely run routes, Metchie looked the part of an NFL receiver but whether he gets to stay in Houston to nurture that talent is highly in question after Hutchinson looked more of a threat on similar playbook routes. He did burn his man in the first quarter and should have had an easy TD over the middle but Keenum missed him badly.