Rams Activate S Quentin Lake From IR
The Rams are getting one of their top defenders back ahead of a first-round playoff matchup in Carolina on Saturday. The team has activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve.
The Rams went a month and a half without Lake, who dislocated his left elbow in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks and had to undergo surgery. Los Angeles improved to 8-2 that day and looked like a strong contender for the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a 4-3 mark without Lake led to a fifth-place finish in the conference.
A sixth-round pick from UCLA in 2022, Lake became a full-time starter in 2024 and continued in that role this year before landing on IR. Lake picked up 61 tackles, a sack, a personal-best 10 passes defensed and the first interception of his career over 10 games in 2025. He was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps during that span. Lake mostly played in the slot, but he also logged 80-plus snaps in the box and at free safety, and lined up along the edge at times.
Recognizing the versatile Lake’s importance to their defense, the Rams locked him up to a multiyear deal on Jan. 1. Lake had been on track to reach free agency in March before inking a three-year, $42MM deal with $25.7MM in guarantees. Healthy again, he’ll have a chance to make an impact during the postseason.
To make room for Lake’s return, the Rams placed linebacker Shaun Dolac on IR with a knee injury, ending his season. The undrafted rookie from Buffalo appeared in all 17 regular-season games and totaled 25 tackles. Dolac played 258 of his 300 snaps on special teams.
Rams Announce 17 UDFA Signings
Los Angeles didn’t have many draft picks, checking in with only six drafted rookies after trading out of the first round, so they’ve added a large contingent of undrafted players to form a 23-man rookie class. Here are the 17 UDFA signings:
- Wyatt Bowles, G (Utah State)
- Malik Dixon-Williams, S (UConn)
- Shaun Dolac, LB (Buffalo)
- Ben Dooley, G (Boise State)
- Tru Edwards, WR (Louisiana Tech)
- Willie Lampkin, C (North Carolina)
- Jamil Muhammad, OLB (USC)
- Bill Norton, DT (Texas)
- Josh Pearcy, OLB (Rice)
- Brennan Presley, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Mark Redman, TE (Louisville)
- Da’Jon Terry, DT (Oklahoma)
- Anthony Torres, TE (Toledo)
- Nate Valcarcel, S (Northern Illinois)
- Jordan Waters, RB (NC State)
- Trey Wedig, T (Indiana)
- Mario Williams, WR (Tulane)
The biggest of these additions probably come on the offensive line with Lampkin and Wedig. After starting three seasons at Coastal Carolina (two at left guard and one at center), Lampkin transferred to Chapel Hill. In his first season with the Tar Heels, he started eight games at right guard, two at left guard, and one at center before starting 12 games at right guard in 2024 with first-team All-ACC honors. His versatility gives him value at multiple interior positions for the Rams, but their listing him at center likely means they see the most value for him there.
Wedig was another transfer, earning the starting right tackle job at Indiana after spending four years at Wisconsin. He found some starting time with the Badgers in his redshirt sophomore season, starting five games at right tackle, two at right guard, and one at left guard, but he lost first-team duties the following year. He didn’t earn any accolades as a Hoosier, but he attended the East-West Shrine Bowl where he stood out and likely earned himself this NFL opportunity.
On defense, Dolac continues to prove he belongs despite the value that is assigned to him. Dolac walked on as a freshman at Buffalo, playing minimal time. He earned a scholarship as a sophomore starting two games and notching 1.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss. He started all 13 games in 2022, totaling 147 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, before missing eight games with a shoulder injury the following year. He returned for a fifth season (granted due to COVID-19) and started all 13 games once again, showing up all over the field and stat sheet with 168 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, and five interceptions — all career highs. Once again, he’ll come into a new situation itching to prove he belongs in Los Angeles.