6 things to watch for when the Rams' 2026 schedule is released

How many mini-byes after TNF games?

Thursday night games are not a favorite of any player. However, the plus side of them is the mini-byes that come afterwards. We already know the Rams will have some extra rest ahead of their Week 2 game after facing the 49ers in Australia to open the year, but how many other Thursday Night Football games will they be assigned?

That's something to watch, not only for the short week that precedes it, but the extra rest that follows.

When will they face injured stars?

There are a handful of stars who are still recovering from injuries suffered last season, and it'll be worth seeing when Los Angeles faces each of them. The most notable are Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and George Kittle.

The Rams are obviously facing the 49ers in Week 1, a game Kittle could still be ready for. He tore his Achilles in the playoffs, which typically comes with a lengthy recovery, so that'll be monitored all summer.

Mahomes tore his ACL late in the 2025 season and is trying to be ready for the opener. It would benefit the Rams to play the Chiefs earlier rather than later in the year, even if Mahomes is available for the game; there could be some rust and a lack of chemistry with his weapons.

Will they get a second international game?

Kyle Shanahan is not happy about having to travel to Australia for the opener. He even claims to know for a fact that the Rams lobbied to have the 49ers as their Week 1 opponent in Melbourne.

In an attempted act of revenge, Shanahan requested to host the Rams in Mexico City when the Rams play their game there. It's doubtful we'll see an all-international series between the Rams and 49ers this season, but if Shanahan gets his way, that's what it'll be.

When are East Coast trips scheduled?

In recent years, the Rams have not typically stayed on the road for back-to-back East Coast games, but it's something they've done in the past. And they also stayed out east before their London game last season, shortening the trip to England after playing in Baltimore.

The Rams are scheduled to face the Eagles, Commanders and Bucs on the road, which are all long flights. If the NFL puts the Eagles and Commanders games in back-to-back weeks, it's possible the Rams will stay somewhere nearby instead of flying back and forth.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL schedule release: 6 things to watch for on Rams' 2026 schedule