Rams sign Garrett Nelson to the practice squad and release Jamie Sheriff as Grupe signing becomes official

The Los Angeles Rams signed outside linebacker Garrett Nelson to their practice squad on Wednesday and released outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff from it, the club announced. The Rams also listed cornerback Damarion Williams as a practice squad exception.

The same announcement made the kicker change official: Los Angeles signed Blake Grupe as a free agent and waived Harrison Mevis with no recall. Sean McVay had confirmed that swap on Tuesday.

Who is Garrett Nelson

Nelson, 26, entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and the Rams are his sixth team. He began with the Miami Dolphins and has also spent time with the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, who claimed him off waivers from Seattle. He was last with the Saints in August and has yet to appear in a regular-season game.

Lance Zierlein described Nelson before the 2023 draft as a “burly, try-hard edge defender with good power in his hands and an aggressive demeanor on the field,” while noting that a lack of twitch could make inside linebacker a better fit.

Why the edge room needs bodies

The Rams are still without Myles Garrett, who is recovering from a knee injury, and McVay has said the club will not start Garrett’s return clock before Sunday. Nelson joins rookie Darryl Peterson III as an outside linebacker on the practice squad, which gives Los Angeles an option to elevate for special teams.

Los Angeles is 2-3 after the 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo and hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.