3 Rams are ready to take center stage as training camp looms on the horizon

(2) - LT DJ Humphries

In 2024, the Rams opened the season without either RT Rob Havenstein or LT Alaric Jackson able to suit up. Havenstein was hampered by a nagging injury, while Jackson was suspended by the NFL for a controlled substance violation. The Rams had to start Joe Noteboom at left tackle, and Warren McClendon Jr. at right tackle.

Adding insult to injury, oft-injured swing tackle Joe Noteboom was injured in Week 1, forcing the team to start third-string OT AJ Arcuri. Left guard Steve Avila was also injured in that game, forcing the team to shift veteran IOL Jonah Jackson from center to left guard and promote rookie Beaux Limmer to take over at center. That was only Week 1, and that set the stage for a kaleidoscope of offensive line iterations throughout the first half of the season.

The Rams did not extend swing tackle Joe Noteboom. While that seemed like the right decision, the Rams are facing more uncertainty over the offensive line already, as starting left tackle Alaric Jackson is suffering from blood clots that derailed his 2022 season. But this time is different. Rather than take a wait-and-see approach, Rams GM Les Snead lept into action and signed veteran LT DJ Humphries to a modest one-year deal that could cost up to $2.36 million.

That is a bargain even if he is simply the backup.

But with Alaric Jackson's future steeped in uncertainty, the Rams have added a veteran left tackle who can start or sit, whatever the team needs from him. Right now, I do not expect Alaric Jackson to be ready to start in Week 1. Even in that dire scenario, the Rams are able to field a solid offensive line to start the 2025 NFL season. And with Humphries on the roster, Alaric Jackson can return when he is ready, and not rushed back because the team is spiraling out of control.

So, why was Humphries available? After coming off a devastating ACL injury in January 2024, Humphries suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 with the Kansas City Chiefs. As a result, he would only play 92 offensive snaps for the Chiefs in 2024 in two games. And the biggest problem facing Humphries on the Chiefs roster is that he signed with the team in late November 2024.

No training camp. No time to learn the offense. No time to build chemistry and communication with his teammates.

Humphries is more than a year removed from his ACL injury, and arrived in plenty of time to participate fully in Rams training camp. Some NFL analysts do not see much upside with Humphries in the Rams offense in 2025.

I disagree.

DJ Humphries, like so many NFL veterans before him, will blossom in the passionate comraderie of this team. Kevin Dotson sprang to life with the Rams. Look for Humphries to follow suit.