Early injuries paves way for 5 Rams to make a statement at training camp

IV: Returning veteran could seize the day to secure playing time

Rams second-year veteran Tre Tomlinson was an underestimated rookie selection in 2023. But the defensive back struggled as so many rookies do to convert potential into on-field production. and the result was a sub-par season for the young cornerback. He never seemed to feel at home in the secondary, despite the positive draft profiles and optimism that seemed to go nowhere for the young competitor. That could change in 2024.

The window of opportunity is wide open, and Tomlinson is one of the few veterans who has the talent to step up.

Best of all, he is ideally positioned as a returning veteran to step up right now for the team and in the eyes of coaches.

Why he could move into a major role in secondary

While standing 5-foot-9, and weighing 177 pounds, Tre Tomlinson has the chance to learn a great deal from veteran Darious Williams, an elite NFL cornerback who continues to excel despite giving away a height advantage to nearly every wide receiver he face. And while Tomlinson was a rookie, who put up a very promising performance in 2023 preseason games. In three games and in a rotational role, he allowed just two completions on seven targets.

He even recorded six tackles.

Tomlinson has a year's worth of NFL experience, both positive and negative, fueling his offseaon workouts and preparation for a new season. Few rookies become complacent after getting a taste of how competitive the NFL level of play becomes. Tomlinson will show up far more prepared in 2024.

Why he may miss the mark of major role in secondary

There is training camp competition. Then there is preseason competition. Then there is NFL gameday competition. Finally, ther is NFL postseason competition. As of right now, Tomlinson has to prove up to the challenge of NFL gameday competition, something he was unable to do in 2023. But even if he scales that wall, the team needs him to be at the NFL postseason competition level.

Can he get there this season?

It's definitely a stretch goal from what we saw in 2023. He allowed five of six targets to find their mark, one for a touchdowns. He was only on the football field for 45 defensive snaps, which is a very light workload during a season in which the secondary did get dinged up quite frequently

Conclusion

The opportunity is there for Tre Tomlinson to step up. With Derion Kendrick out for the season, and Darious Williams unable to compete for the time being in training camp, Tre Tomlinson will get plenty of reps and looks. While nobody wants to see injuries, when they happen, doors to larger roles swing open. Tre Tomlinson simply has to prove that he is able not only to walk through the door, but prove he deserves to be entrusted with a larger role in doing so.