The Los Angeles Rams released linebacker Monty Rice in the first wave of roster cuts, per ProFootballTalk.
Rice played in the Rams' preseason finale against the Chargers, logging one solo tackle. The stat line read: 1 total, 1 solo, zero sacks, zero pass breakups. It wasn't the kind of performance that forces a roster spot, and the Rams made that clear by cutting him.
Los Angeles is trimming toward its 53-man roster. The first wave of cuts is the NFL's oldest August ritual, and every release carries the same basic message: the player didn't fit the plan. That's not necessarily a judgment on talent. It's a judgment on scheme, special teams, and depth. Rice's preseason work, including that quiet night in the finale, didn't change the staff's mind.
The move opens a new path for Rice. He can catch on elsewhere. The Rams, though, have decided their linebacker room is better without him.
This is a numbers move, not a career ending. But it is a signal. The Rams put Rice on the field in their final dress rehearsal and still let him go. That tells you how the coaching staff views the rest of the room. If another team picks him up, it will be because it sees something Los Angeles didn't. If not, the verdict is clear: the Rams believe they have better options behind him.