Final LA Rams injury report for Week 1 gives fans reason for hope

We know all too well that the LA Rams are struggling to get healthy. So far, the team has placed seven players on IR, plus have two players suspended for the first two games of the 2024 NFL season. That's a lot of contributors to do without to open the season. But the Rams will press on, making no excuses. They must face the Detroit Lions in Ford Field on Sunday Night Football with whatever group of healthy players this team can muster.

Despite injuries, suspensions, and playing a night game on the road, don't rule out this team just yet. The Rams are notorious for being well-prepared for a season opener. In fact, Rams Head Coach Sean McVay has made winning season openers somewhat of a tradition:

This game will push that preparation to the limits.

The Rams team at full strength are good matchup for the Detroit Lions. But riddled by injuries and suspensions, this one could go either way. We've seen plenty of positives in preseason from depth players and those players who didn't make the Rams roster. But what of the starters, particularly the rookies like OLB Jared Verse, DT Braden Fiske, and RB Blake Corum. Will they live up to the hype? Better yet, will they make positive contributions in their NFL debut?

Okay, so what does the final injury report reveal?

Rams Injuries

• RT Rob Havenstein - ankle injury - Questionable

The Rams hope that starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is a go for Week 1, but only if his level of play can reasonably be expected to outperform his understudy, Warren McClendon. As it is, no decision has been made on Havenstein as to whether or not he will play.

Rams fans will be eager for that information

Lions Injuries

• S Loren Strickland - Thumb - Out
• S Ifeatu Melifonwu - Ankle - Doubtful
• DE D.J. Reader - Quad - Quetionable

Ironically, the Detroit Lions are weakest at safety, arguably the LA Rams' deepest position. While starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph (yes, THAT Kerby Joseph whose low-hit playoff tackle injured TE Tyler Higbee's ACL) are both 100 percent healthy, the Lions' depth at the position is light, with Loren Strickland ruled out, and backup Ifeatu Melifornwu doubtful to suit up.

While questionable, perhaps the greatest loss would be DJ Reader, the newly signed defensive lineman who played four seasons apiece for the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals. He is questionable for Week 1, but I expect that he will play.

The pressure will be on the Rams defense to stop the run, force the Lions to pass, and then unload their young and hungry pass rushers to torment QB Jared Goff. On offense, the Rams will need to stay ahead of the sticks, keep all third downs manageable to ensure the Lions' pass rush cannot just tee off on Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The LA Rams are road underdogs. But they were road underdogs in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season as well. Despite plenty of skepticism surrounding the Rams' defense, they will surprise some folks in this game.

Any given Sunday rules apply.

As always, thanks for reading.