5 urgent questions the Rams must answer as 2025 OTAs arrive

(2) - Can Rams squeeze 17 games out of RT Rob Havenstein?

LA Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is entering his 11th season. And at 33 years old, the team has to wonder aloud just how many games he can be counted on to suit up. After all, he missed seven games in 2020, but returned to play 15 games in 2021 and all 17 games in 2022. But he missed three games due to injury in 2023 and six games due to injury in 2024.

The team has some returning backup offensive tackles in the running to handle the workload should Havenstein fall to injury in 2025. Those players include Warren McClendon Jr, A.J. Arcuri, and K.T. Leveston. But I cannot rule out the likelihood of undrafted rookie offensive tackle Troy Wedig climbing the ladder to secure a backup OT role.

Havenstein stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 323 pounds, an ideal size to anchor the right edge of the offensive line. His Pro Football Focus blocking grades remain enviable, both in the regular season and in the postseason. So there is no pressure from the team to encourage him to hang up his cleats.

But there is optimism, and then there is harsh reality. Havenstein has struggled to stay healthy in each of the past two seasons, and his ability to suit up and play appears to be regressing. After all, he sat out more than one-third of the games last season. So the Rams will need to ensure that someone gets plenty of work at right tackle to be ready to step up.

Can Havenstein be counted on to play 17 games in 2025? My number for the upcoming season is 14 games. Havenstein had a cleanup procedure to fix nagging shoulder problems from 2024, which should give him a leg up on staying on the football field this season. But if he cannot play, who is the best option for backing him up? Warren McClendon Jr. has been groomed to take over as the team's swing tackle. But I am eager to see what rookie Troy Wedig does in training camp. He was projected to be a Day 3 selection.

And much like Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, he fell out of the draft.