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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on against the Tennessee Titans.
The Los Angeles Rams adjusted their roster, making a quick about-face on young veteran outside linebacker Nick Hampton, as the head coach Sean McVay and his staff prepare the team to face the Detroit Lions at home in Week 15.
Hampton, a recent draft pick of the Rams, is still freshly removed from his most recent stint with the club.
His return is a testament to a strong draft class under general manager Les Snead.
Rams Re-Sign OLB Nick Hampton
GettyNick Hampton #31 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams announced in a post on X on December 10 that they used a practice squad exception to add Hampton.
Hampton, 25, was the No. 161 overall pick of the 2023 draft by the Rams, and he has logged 36 games for them over the past two-plus seasons, including 12 in 2025. However, the Rams cut him on Tuesday.
There was no corresponding move adding anyone to the roster.
The Rams also cut tight end Nick Muse from the practice squad, creating space to bring Hampton back into the fold.
Hampton has 10 total tackles this season, and he has been a staple on the Rams’ kickoff and punt teams over the past two years. The Rams can now use up to three standard elevations to have Hampton available for game days.
The former Appalachian State standout has 17 total stops and 2 pass deflections in his career.
The Rams effectively replaced Hampton with draft classmate and fellow OLB Desjuan Johnson in their pass rusher rotation behind Byron Young and Jared Verse.
Nick Hampton Not Living Up to Pre-Draft Billing
GettyJonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball as Nick Hampton #6 of the Los Angeles Rams defends.
LA is tied for the sixth-most sacks on the season, and the 12th-highest pressure rate entering Week 15, per Pro Football Reference. Hampton has yet to record a sack in his career, while Johnson racked up pressures during the Rams’ Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Hampton’s lack of pass-rushing production stands out in comparison to his pre-draft profile.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted that Hampton was not “anything special” against the run, but believed his “pass-rush tap really stands out” during the 2023 draft cycle.
“Undersized 3-4 outside linebacker who might require a game plan from his drafting team due to the strengths and weaknesses of his frame and his game,” Zeirlein wrote in 2023. “He’s an explosive, linear pass rusher featuring subtle techniques near the top of the rush that help him access the pocket. Hampton will be a strong tester but finding a clean positional fit could be a challenge. At worst, he could find snaps as a full-time special-teamer and backup linebacker with pass-rush talent.”
The Rams, who also get tremendous pass rush from defensive linemen Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner, are in a position to fine-tune their group, knowing how talented they are at the top. Still, Hampton’s lack of impact on opposing QBs is disappointing.
Rams’ Pass Rush Key in Week 15
GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams are facing a tremendous test against the Lions and Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and LA’s former franchise QB.
LA boasts the NFL’s third-ranked scoring defense, and they are 13th overall on the season on that side of the ball. Goff’s Lions have the league’s highest-scoring offense, which ranks third overall through 14 weeks.
However, Goff is also vulnerable to pressure, just like most QBs.
He has the eighth-worst completion percentage when pressured, per Pro Football Focus, putting him in the middle of the pack of 16 qualifiers.
Verse, Young, and the rest of the Rams’ defense–which may still include Hamton on game day– must affect Goff to disrupt the Lions’ passing attack, taking some of the pressure off Matthew Stafford and their own offense.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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