Is Rob Havenstein playing today? Full injury update for Rams Week 2 OL
By Bret Stuter
It's only Week 2, and already the biggest news topic of the week is the status of the LA Rams starting offensive linemen. Well, that is what fans want to hear about, because it has become quite the hot topic of late. Perhaps the Rams football team has some culpability in that elevated level of interest.
When the Rams reported injuries in training camp over LT Alaric Jackson (ankle), RT Rob Havenstein (ankle/foot) and LF Jonah Jackson (shoulder), the severity of those injuries was not considered to be too serious. In fact, Jonah Jackson's shoulder injury was considered the most serious of the bunch.
But it was Jonah Jackson who suited up first. While we do not not the status of LT Alaric Jackson in terms of readiness to compete, we know that he must sit out in Week 2 as the second game of his two-game suspension. That leaves the team with the determination of veteran RT Rob Havenstein. Will he or won't he start in Week 2?
Well, the team let it be known earlier in the week that veteran starting right tackle Rob Havenstein would be suiting up for his debut of the 2024 NFL season. So with Havenstein back on the football field, how does the rest of the Rams offensive line shake out?
This is the most likely starting offensive line configuration for the team in Week 2:
- LT Warren McClendon - (1st start LT) - backup OT Geron Christian
- LG Jonah Jackson - backup OG Logan Bruss
- C Beaux Limmer (1st start C) - backup IOL Dylan McMahon
- RG Kevin Dotson - backup rookie IOL Justin Dedich
- RT Rob Havenstein - backup OT Geron Christian
While the team likely has not had a great deal of time to synch everyone up for this game, the Rams are getting veterans back in pads and into the offensive line of scrimmage. The Rams have reunited Kevin Dotson and Rob Havenstein on the right side of the offensive line, which could proved to be advantageous over the course of this game.
Limmer and Jackson had some time to work through their Week 1 collaboration. And Warren McClendon did get some extensive work at left tackle in the weeks leading up to the regular season. While I would not expect a dominating performance in Week 2, the offensive line is stronger this week. That in turn should open up far more of the team's offensive playbook.
Rob Havenstein is back. And for many reasons, that is a huge boost to an offensive line that is struggling to establish itself and its identity in the 2024 NFL season.
As always, thanks for reading.