Final Rams injury report for Week 10 places OL concerns back at center stage

Rams IR and Injuries

The LA Rams have struggled early this season, in large part due to their own set of injuries. But this team also faced a new defensive coordinator, the retirement of their All-Pro defensive tackle, trading away their best tackler and team captain, and a jumble of players who had yet to form a cohesive unit.

It was a painfully slow trial-and-error path for the team, both on offense and defense. As players fell to injuries, a lack of familiarity often meant relying on the wrong player to fill in. Discovering those errors in judgement took time, often accompanied by a loss.

As the team progresses through the rest of the season, identifying players for their optimal roles should be a less trial-and-error process.

Rams IR Physically Unable to Perform (IR/PUP)

• TE Tyler Higbee

Rams IR Designated to Return (IR)

Rams Reserve Injured (IR)

• C/G Steve Avila
• C/G Jonah Jackson
• DB John Johnson III
• DB Derion Kendrick
• OT Conor McDermott
• DB Tre Tomlinson
• DT Larrell Murchison
• ILB Troy Reeder

Rams Injuries

Here are the players listed in the Rams final injury report:

• DT Neville Gallimore - Shoulder - Out
• RT Rob Havenstein - Ankle - Out
• OL Kevin Dotson - Ankle/Knee - Questionable
• ILB Christian Rozeboom - Neck - Questionable
• S Kam Curl - Knee - Questionable

The team projects both Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson to suit up and be active for Week 10. Is that wise? The Rams have declared RT Rob Havenstein out for Week 10. That means that swing-tackle Joe Noteboom starts in his place. So if the team starts Avila at left guard and Jonah Jackson at center, the team will be swapping out three starting offensive linemen this week.

That's a pretty huge change from their Week 9 configuration.