Heading into next season with new QB Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams have a crucial training camp coming up if they want to return to NFC Supremacy in 2021. When does it start, where will it be held, and are fans allowed to attend?
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With phase 3 of the 2021 NFL offseason set to wrap up on June 18th, teams are already looking forward to training camp. It is by far the most grueling and pivotal part of a team’s preparations.
Training camps often include busy days for players and coaches, sometimes with 2 practices a day, weight training, team meetings, and film sessions.
Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), no contact is permitted during the first 3 days of camp. Days 4 and 5 will see players at full speed in light equipment called “spiders and shells”, day 6 is a mandatory day off, and finally fully-padded practices start on the 7th day.
Along with the strenuous schedule, full-speed practices mean that both contact and non-contact injuries are very common. Regardless, training camp is mandatory for all players, unlike OTAs which are voluntary. If a player doesn’t show up, they risk getting cut by their team.
When Does Training Camp Start for the Los Angeles Rams?
For the first time in NFL history, there will be a unified start for training camp. 29 franchises, including the Rams, will kick off their training camps on Tuesday, July 27th.
The Cowboys and Steelers, who will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game, are allowed to begin training camp as early as July 21st. The Buccaneers will also be allowed to start training camp 3 days earlier on the 24th, as they play the season opener against Dallas on a Thursday night.
The #Cowboys and #Steelers can report as early as July 21 because of the hall of fame game. The #Bucs can report July 24 because of a Thursday opener. Players from the other 29 teams are required to report July 27, per the CBA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 25, 2021
Where is the Rams Training Camp Being Held?
Normally, NFL teams are permitted to hold training camp at outside facilities to improve accessibility for fans, However last year, due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic, teams were instructed to conduct camp at their own training facilities.
The Los Angeles Rams will hold their 2021 training camp at the University of California Irvine.
Now only 47 days until Rams training camp begins at UC Irvine.
Of course fans are waiting for the realease date of the 2021 Rams alternate uniform. pic.twitter.com/w3QSvQfE9f
— lalaramsgear (@Horns2016) June 11, 2021
Los Angeles Rams Training Camp Roster: Key Position Battles to Watch
As usual, teams will start camp with 90-man rosters. They must cut down to 85 players by August 17th and to 80 by August 24th, before settling on a final 53-man roster by August 31st.
The Rams lost their starting centre in Austin Blythe to Free Agency, so finding their starting centre for 2021 should be high on the Rams’s coaching staff’s minds.
The team still has 2019 starter, Brian Allen, but the favourite to take over the job will be Austin Corbett. Corbett struggled at centre when he was with the Browns but excelled at guard in 2020 with the Rams. It’s reasonable to think he’ll make a smooth transition back to centre, but it’s not a given.
The No.3 wide receiver behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp will also be interesting to follow. The Rams landed DeSean Jackson in free agency, and drafted speedster Tutu Atwell in the second round. So the battle between the two to see who becomes the Rams’ deep threat will be competitive.
The Rams also lost nickel corner Troy Hill to the Browns in free agency, so who takes over his spot will also be interesting. David Long Jr. would seem like the most logical replacement for Hill, but don’t rule out Robert Rochell or Donte Deayon. With how frequently the Rams use nickel packages, they must find a quality replacement for the underrated Hill.
Will Fans Be Allowed to Attend Bengals Training Camp?
The NFL is planning to have fans at all training camps, with fan events scheduled to start on July 31st. The NFL and the NFLPA continue to negotiate parameters for fan interactions.
The Los Angeles Rams expect to have fans in attendance at their training camp this summer. The dates of open practice and the number of fans in attendance haven’t been announced by the Los Angeles Rams just yet.
Also Read: Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp 2021: Start Date, Location, Roster Battles, and Fan Policy
