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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Los Angeles Rams had some fine-tuning to do ahead of their Week 16 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks on “Thursday Night Football,” resulting in Nick Hampton joining the game-day roster.
LA and Seattle enter this contest with control of the NFC West on the line.
Fittingly, then, the Seahawks also tweaked their group ahead of the primetime matchup that kicks off the week’s slate of games.
Rams Elevate Nick Hampton
GettyNick Hampton #31 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams announced with a post on X on December 18 that they “Activated, from Practice Squad OLB Nick Hampton,”
Hampton is a former Rams draft pick, taken in the fifth round of the 2023 draft with the No. 161 overall pick. He has spent his entire career in LA. Hampton has 17 total tackles and 2 pass deflections in 36 games, all off the bench, during his tenure.
He has been on a bit of a rollercoaster in recent weeks, as the Rams tweaked their roster.
The Rams waived Hampton, along with tight end Nick Vannett, ahead of their Week 15 matchup against the Detroit Lions. They re-signed Hampton to the practice squad the following day.
“Had to make a tough move on a guy that, really, it was a pure numbers thing with Nick Hampton earlier in the week,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said during his media availability on December 12. “We’re always creatively trying to be able to figure out, all right, how do we get our 48 up?”
Despite his limited production, Hampton offers tantalizing potential as a pass rusher.
“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. Hampton isn’t anything special as a run defender, but his pass-rush tape really stands out,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in pre-draft in 2023.
“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.”
Zierlein projected that Hampton would develop into a regular special teams and reserve pass rusher “at worst.”
Hampton will play the third phase and rotate in behind Byron Young and Jared Verse at EDGE.
Seahawks Call Up Ex-Rams RB, 2 Others for ‘TNF’
David Berding/GettyCam Akers #27 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during warmups before a game against the Detroit Lions.
The Rams’ roster move with Hampton was not the only one made just hours before they kicked off their Week 16 contest. The Seahawks also shuffled their group.
Seattle added a trio of players for the primetime tilt.
“The Seahawks activated receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Rams,” Seahawks.com’s John Boyle wrote on December 18. “Additionally, the Seahawks elevated running back Cam Akers and tackle Amari Kight from the practice squad.”
Akers was a second-round draft pick of the Rams. LA selected him with the 52nd overall pick in the 2020 draft. Akers was a member of their 2021 Super Bowl team. Akers is 0-1 against the Rams, who traded him to the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, in his career.
Notably, the Seahawks are without starting left tackle Charles Cross, which bodes well for Verse, Young, and, perhaps, even Hampton.
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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