Kobie Turner camp scare will have Rams fans fearing the absolute worse

The Los Angeles Rams' defense is not willing to repeat its performance from last season. On almost every front, the brainchild of Rams DC Chris Shula is to do better, far better, than 2024. To accomplish that, the team will need to put in a stronger effort and achieve better production from everyone.

Even from players who were outstanding the previous season. That list includes defensive end Kobie Turner, who is entering his third NFL season.

Turner is a key contributor to the defense. When he was not seen practicing at training camp, whispers were heard among the fans and media. Where was he? Why wasn't he out there with his teammates? And when Rams HC Sean McVay shared the explanation, things took a turn for the worse.

Related: Warning signs around Matthew Stafford's injury are getting harder to ignore

Turner is suffering from back pain, the same ailment that has kept Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford out of practice for more than two weeks. Now, Kobie Turner's back is bothering him, too.

With similar injuries, is the care plan along the same lines? After all, Rams fans have little positivity to draw upon when considering Stafford's back injury.

LA Rams need Kobie Turner to get healthy quickly

Turner is more than just another defensive lineman. His versatility allows him to line up anywhere along the Rams' defensive front. And while some defensive players tend to excel at either pass rushing or run stuffing, 'The Conductor' is blessed with outstanding defense in both categories.

And with too few solid run defenders, he was given plenty of defensive snaps. It was that increased workload that may have limited his statistics. He is one of the most frequently double-teamed defensive linemen in the NFL. Fighting through two offensive linemen to make a play can take its toll on a player. As a result, he snap count and number of tackles went up. But the number of quarterback sacks went down.

Hopefully, the Rams front office has remedied that with the addition of veteran NT Poona Ford, rookie DL Ty Hamilton, and the rapid development of second-year defensive lineman Tyler Davis. With a greater number of defenders who can be effective against the run or the pass, Turner will not need to carry such a heavy workload this season.

But a more rapid rotation is only effective if Turner is healthy and playing. If he is already fighting off back pain, he will have a tough season ahead of him. Still, the Rams are suggesting that they are being more cautious with Turner, and that can be interpreted as erring on the side of treating his injury more carefully than necessary.

The 26-year-old's camp scare will have Rams fans fearing the absolute worst. After all, the outlook for Stafford continues to appear ever gloomier. Is Turner's path to recovery just as mysterious?

As always, thanks for reading.

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