LA Rams DT Greg Gaines now thrust into the spotlight

The LA Rams are facing the possibility of losing nose tackle Sebastian Joseph Day for the season as he has been placed on Injured Reserve. That action was taken in advance of the surgery to repair his injured Pectoral muscle. Complicating the issue is the fact that this injury has occurred in the same year as his rookie contract expires.

SJD has been playing well this year, his best season ever. But then again, so is the guy who plays behind him, Greg Gaines.

The Rams have made it a point to develop talent, a rotational player who can assume a starting role when the rookie contract of the starter ahead of him expires. But the latest showings from Greg Gaines are a bit ahead of schedule. That makes the rotation appear to have a bit of a log jam. After all, you want to place your best players on the field.

Rams roster dilemma

Right now, the gap between Sebastian Joseph Day and Greg Gaines had been narrowing. With SJD’s injury, Gaines could overtake his teammate and lay claim for the starting role on the LA Rams defensive line.

I’d had the good fortune to follow Gaines NCAA career with the Washington Huskies. He was the ideal teammate, content to gobble blockers and allow other players to make the highlight videos. His play aided that of Elijah Qualls, and of Vita Vea. He was drafted by the Rams with the 134th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and has filled a rotational role supporting the defensive line ever since.

Even in a rotational role, he has continued to improve. In just eight games, he has already bested his career-high single-season tackles total with 20, and his one quarterback sack will likely improve now that he will be the starter on the defensive line. Expect rookie Bobby Brown III to see a huge spike in playing time now, as the team will need to include him in the rotation to keep the starters fresh.

It’s time for Greg Gaines to do something he has not done so far, step into the spotlight. It’s time.