Which witch put the hex on the LA Rams offensive line this year?

Who may not return next season

To reinforce the Rams roster, the front office signed a number of free agents on one-year contracts.  While the Rams do so to ensure not getting ‘stuck’ with an ill-fitting player, that will create a significant number of players testing the 2023 NFL Free Agent market. Here are the current projected offensive linemen with expiring contracts:

Matt Skura, Interior Offensive Lineman
The LA Rams front office signed veteran interior offensive lineman Matt Skura to the practice squad on September 21, 2022. Three weeks later, on October 11, 2022, the team signed him to the active roster. While he has yet to see action on the Rams’ offense, he has played a handful of snaps for special teams. The Rams have him on a one-year contract, so he is simply depth for this season.

David Edwards, Offensive Lineman, IR, may start LG Week 11
Veteran offensive lineman David Edwards is in the last year of his rookie contract, and started four games for the LA Rams this season. This season has not been his best year for the Rams, as he committed one penalty and allowed three quarterback sacks in four appearances. He suffered a concussion in Week 3, came off the NFL concussion protocol in time for Week 5, and suffered a second concussion in consecutive weeks. The LA Rams expect his return, but he has been out for four weeks.

Oday Aboushi, Interior Offensive Lineman
The LA Rams front office added Oday Aboushi to the practice squad on September 14, 2022. Less than one week later, the Rams signed him to the active roster, on September 20, 2022.  He has played in seven games on special teams but played a significant role on the offensive line in Weeks 6 and 8. In 114 offensive snaps, Aboushi has not surrendered a quarterback sack but has committed one penalty. Despite holding up well in adverse circumstances, the Rams have been reluctant to play him, instead opting to start offensive tackle Bobby Evans in a guard role instead.

Chandler Brewer, Offensive Lineman, IR
Chandler Brewer has been one of the LA Rams’ offensive linemen who has been with the team since signing on after the 2019 NFL Draft. In 2019, the Rams’ offensive line was decimated by injuries as well, leading to some fill-in action for Brewer. This season, Chandler Brewer finally got to start in two games. In 118 offensive snaps, he committed no penalties and allowed no quarterback sacks.

But his playing has been cut short, thanks to a high ankle sprain. While Brewer may return before the end of the season, I would not expect that to occur, particularly with the Rams facing just eight games remaining in the season.

Bobby Evans, Offensive Lineman
The LA Rams love to take offensive tackles and line them up practically everywhere on the offensive line. Some flourish in that role, but Bobby Evans clearly does not. Evans has seen action in five games on the Rams’ offensive line, with four starts. In those 272 offensive snaps, he has committed two penalties and allowed at least five quarterback sacks. He can perform as an offensive tackle, but the Rams continue to slide him into a guard role, where he looks lost. He should be exclusively an offensive tackle, but with the whirlwind of injuries, the Rams will likely line him up inside throughout the rest of this season.

Ty Nsekhe, Offensive Lineman
The LA Rams signed a solid free-agent offensive lineman when the team picked up offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe. While he had light duty in two games for the Rams, he started one game at left tackle. In 69 offensive snaps, he has committed three penalties and allowed no quarterback sacks. He will most likely be called upon to start now that the season is over for Alaric Jackson, and he should perform well enough for the team in that role.