Rams linemen Bill Murray and Austin Blaske emerge as roster-bubble names ahead of final cuts

The Los Angeles Rams face a familiar preseason test this weekend: cut the roster down to 53 players by Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. In that kind of deadline environment, the spotlight often falls on star positions, but Yahoo Sports reports that two offensive linemen, Bill Murray and Austin Blaske, have been standout performers in the first two preseason games, making them names worth tracking as the team works through its final evaluations.

Murray and Blaske are being framed by the report as “unheralded” linemen, meaning they have not been the most prominent figures in the mainstream conversation. Even so, the Rams’ late-summer roster decisions come down to who can handle the physical and mental demands of the line at NFL speed, both for starting reps and for the frequent substitutions that define modern games.

What matters most for a cut-down list is not simply whether a player looked solid once, but whether he separated himself in a way that coaches can justify when the numbers get tight. According to Yahoo Sports, the Rams have seen enough from Murray and Blaske across the preseason’s early window that they have earned attention as potential roster locks or at least strong contenders, especially given how crowded offensive line groups typically become.

The two players are offensive linemen, and for teams, those roles can be less about traditional highlight moments and more about repeatable execution: staying on blocks, winning leverage, handling twists and stunts, and communicating under pressure. The Rams’ decision to keep an eye on Murray and Blaske suggests they have shown coaching staff traits they believe will translate when the team’s depth chart compresses to 53.

Still, the roster math is unforgiving. Even a strong preseason run does not guarantee a place if a team values other skill sets more highly, or if a different lineman offers more positional versatility, special-teams value, or scheme fit. The Yahoo report is specifically about early performance and attention, not an official indication that either player will make the final roster without question.

For fans, the next step is straightforward: monitor how Los Angeles uses the remaining practice and the final preseason work to decide between comparable options on the interior and along the edges. If Murray and Blaske continue to get reps in late-game situations or see increased trust on key sequences, that will be the clearest sign that their early preseason momentum is carrying real weight into the 53-man cut.

After the roster deadline, the Rams’ published 53-man list will reveal whether the preseason attention becomes permanence. If they do make it, the follow-up story will be how they are utilized: whether they land as rotational depth, spell starters, or become part of the team’s plan for in-game flexibility along the offensive line.