Los Angeles Rams' biggest bust for 2025 has already become painfully obvious

Sometimes, circumstances are beyond a player's or the team's control. And that is what unfortunately faces the Los Angeles Rams now, with the disappointing circumstances that surround just-extended starting left tackle Alaric Jackson. Jackson has been an NFL story that has warranted respect and praise. After all, starting as a left tackle in the NFL is not an easy task. But when that role is filled by a hard-working player who has never heard his name called out in an NFL Draft, that is something special to behold.

Now, don't get me wrong. When it comes to the purest form of 'bust,' we are often talking about a player whose NFL career just went up in smoke. That is NOT what I am talking about here. What I am referring to in this article lies in the Rams effort to extend starting left tackle Alaric Jackson on a multi-year deal that would secure a competent starting left tackle for the foreseeable future.

Right now, those plans that would have had Jackson suited up to start at left tackle for the 2025 NFL season are up in smoke. Snafued. Squashed. 86ed. Finito.

Even as the Rams pivoted to address the roster shortcomings by adding veteran starting left tackle DJ Humphries, the Rams' predicament is less than optimal. Much of what the Rams discovered to be wrong with their 2024 early-season struggles was not simply having the wrong players starting for the team. It was about having players together who simply hadn't worked out all their bugs. Now the team risks similar challenges as it queues for a new season.

Despite added depth, the Rams need a healthy Alaric Jackson

Don't believe the articles that pit David Quessenberry against DJ Humphries in training camp competing for the right to start in Alaric Jackson's place if he is not healthy enough to suit in in Week 1. The Rams signed Quessenberry as a seasoned veteran to handle the right tackle absence of Rob Havenstein, who had medical procedures performed in the offseason to clean up both shoulders.

The Rams were caught with their pants down in 2024. When Alaric Jackson was suspended for two games, while Rob Havenstein was injured for Week 1. The unexpected absence of both tackles in the season opener forced the team to dig deep into the depth chart and start both swing tackles Joe Noteboom and Warren McClendon Jr. The Rams lost Noteboom to injury, forcing the team to send their final offensive tackle onto the football field.

The team never seemed to recover from that horrifying debut until the Week 6 BYE.

Fast forward to 2025, and the Rams have more uncertainty this season. The team is comfortable that veteran RT Rob Havenstin will be ready to go this year. But the team has no such assurances where Alaric Jackson is concerned. The team lost Jackson for the second half of the 2022 NFL season, so there is an outside chance that the team will welcome him back before the 2025 season starts.

But the team could face a season that has no Jackson available early in the season. And that is a problem. The Rams need Jackson suited up and playing this season. For every game the Rams must play without him, that is one more game without the continuity needed for an effective offensive line. The Rams extended Jackson to avoid problems like this.

Yet, here we are, the Rams face a season that may or may not include Alaric Jackson as the starting left tackle. And that busts all the team's offseason plans to build a healthy, durable, and deep offensive line.

Until the Rams get Alaric Jackson back on the football field and starting, his extension has proven to be a bust. But before you get incensed, that status is merely temporary. As always, thanks for reading.

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