It’s only the second week of the 2024 LA Rams Training camp, but the starting five offensive linemen are already down to two healthy players: Ironman center Steve Avila, and veteran right guard Kevin Dotson. So far, no injuries have placed the 2024 regular season in perild, yet. But the frequency of bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes has certainly raised the concerns of Rams fans already. And that is not how this fanbase wanted to start training camp this season.
Two weeks of training camp. Three offensive linemen injured. Sheesh.
I get it. The Rams have had some horrific luck in the past when it came to the health and durability of offensive linemen. In 2019, it was a string of injuries that derailed the team’s plans to return to the Super Bowl. IN 2022, it was even worse, forcing the team to sign veterans off the street to suit up and play for the team as starters.
In 2019, the team went 9-7. In 2022, the team went 5-12. And the belief this year was that if the team invested into the offensive line, and had a stalwart season of top-tier blocking, that this year would be special. As in Super Bowl appearance special.
The offensive line is, for lack of a more eloquent description, the backbone of this team, and the foundation of success. With a strong offensive line, the offense has the option to either pass or run with the football. That balance keeps defenses honest and on their heels. But it also allows the team to control the game clock. More time with the football in the hands of the offense is a very good thing.
And less time defending the football is another positive characteristic of a strong offensive line. If he defense is on the field less than half of the game, they will be fresher and more rested. And that all helps to stack the odds in the Rams’ favor.
But 2024 appears to be starting out with more injuries than many would like. Is this a harbinger of things to come? Or is this simply a one-off anomaly, and something that won’t be a factor as the regular season gets underway?
Banged up bodies starting to stack up already
While the Rams know that there is a lot of work to do with the offensive line in 2024, remember that the team never planned to allow starters to compete in preseason games. So if you were disappointed to learn that left guard Jonah Jackson would not compete in preseason games, you can take comfort in the fact that he was never going to play anyway.
Still, that does not help the fact that this group of five offensive linemen are not yet attuned to one another just yet. Offensive linemen are most susceptible to underperformance if they are unable to synchronize their blocks, communicate effectively, and ensure that they not only know their own roles, but know the roles of their teammates.
The Rams already face three starting offensive linemen with minor injuries. While no injury is severe enough to bench a starter from the start of the regular season, the injuries are keeping starters out of practices. That has the negative effect of hindering that synchronization that is so very important for the team.
The first injury incurred to the team’s offensive line happened to left tackle Alaric Jackson. He tweaked his ankle, but HC Sean McVay expects his return sooner than later:
McVay says Alaric Jackson will be back sooner than later. Doesn’t expect it to be long term. Hopeful about him being able to go for joint practice with Chargers on Sunday but TBD. https://t.co/WqECOvq8Py
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 1, 2024
The more derailing injury is the shoulder injury to left guard Jonah Jackson. Jackson arrives as a free agent from the Detroit Lions, and his participation is perhaps the most vital because while he is playing a familiar position, he must learn the Rams playbook, players, and his blocking assignments. That is something that was hampered earlier in OTAs as he was recovering from injuries suffered in 2023. For now, the Rams have reported that Jackson suffered a bruised scapula, and will be week to week for as many as four weeks:
And then, the injury epidemic continued as starting right tackle Rob Havenstein pulled up hobbled with an apparent foot injury. That makes three starting offensive linemen who have suffered injuries already.
Sean McVay says Jonah Jackson will be week to week with a shoulder injury.
McVay also said Rob Havenstein left today’s practice with a foot injury.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 1, 2024
While nobody wants injuries, there are silver linings to this injury epidemic. So, why don’t we discuss some of those positives to help ease concerns?
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