Veteran linebacker Akeem Ayers was among the players cut Saturday as the Rams reduced their roster from 75 to 53 players.
Ayers, 27, started 11 games at strong-side linebacker last season and began training camp on track to start alongside new middle linebacker Alec Ogletree and weak-side linebacker Mark Barron.
Ayers, who played at Verbum Dei High and UCLA, had signed with the Rams after playing the final part of the 2014 season with the New England Patriots.
The Rams waived 18 players, terminated the contracts of Ayers and defensive tackle Cam Thomas and placed offensive linemen Garrett Reynolds and Darrell Williams on injured reserve.