LA Rams News: McVay disappoints with no ETA for NT A’Shawn Robinson

The upside

Of course, there is a silver lining to this. Isn’t there always? First of all, Robinson will remain active in team meetings. Since he is an NFL veteran, this is the most important part of training camp to ensure he is ready for the NFL season.  Secondly, this is a precautionary action.  While that still says very little, it does suggest that Robinson’s return to the team will not involve lengthy rehabilitation.

Thirdly, it reinforces the team’s decision to re-sign Michael Brockers.  The worst that can happen? The Rams will trot their 2019 defensive line, which was ranked third-best in the NFL. That’s awfully fortuitous, as the team will have the opportunity to simply pick up where they left off in 2019.  And that will negate the lack of training camp time to orient to one another. The Rams DL knows one another very well.

Opportunity for new players

This may open the door for the Rams to commit to keeping defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, who stands 6-foot-4 and now weighs a burley 310 pounds.  Keep in mind that Hoecht is that faster-than-many-running-backs defensive lineman who was a story from the moment the LA Rams signed him after the 2020 NFL Draft. He dodged a bullet after being assigned to the COVID-19 reserve list by being returned to the Active roster list immediately.

The Rams are deep at the defensive line and will now have a chance to get looks at other players. Hopefully, Robinson won’t miss many games, if any.  The use of Active/NFI suggests that the team is optimistic that he will be able to return in a short amount of time. In the meantime, the team can audition younger players who desperately need the opportunity to make the roster.