Rams scramble to reconfigure the offensive line once more, with Week 1 looming

Rams attack offensive line headache with a shocking and novel approach

The team's plan for the 2024 NFL season was always a bit aggressive in theory. Almost instantly after the 2023 NFL season ended, Rams fans learned of the big reveal from then-rookie left guard Steve Avila in an interview during Super Bowl week. He shared that if asked to play center, he would. At the time, it seemed more informational than soothsaying, as the team seemed poised to extend former center Coleman Shelton.

But then the 2024 NFL Free Agency market arrived, and everything changed. While extending left tackle Alaric Jackson and right guard Kevin Dotson, the team was thrilled to add former Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson. Of course, adding Jackson and earmarking him to take over at left guard meant that the team had to move Steve Avila to the now vacated center role. You see, C Coleman Shelton voided his contract, and the Rams allowed him to test his value elsewhere in free agency.

But even then, we had concerns about converting Avila from a rookie left guard into a second-year NFL center. It's not an easy transition to make, even with the experience at both positions that he has from playing in both positions in college.

Under normal circumstances, this was a challenging plan. But in the upheaval of an ever-changing starting five offensive linemen, this was a tall order to ask of Avila. And so, the team began to experiment in other iterations. We know that Beaux Limmer wowed the coaches, and had some reps with the 1s. Now it seems that the team is experimenting with Jonah Jackson at center and returning Steve Avila to his rookie position at left guard.

So what does the Rams starting five appear to be for Week 1

• LT Joe Noteboom - backup TBD
• LG Steve Avila - backup Logan Bruss
• C Jonah Jackson - backup Beaux Limmer
• RG Kevin Dotson - backup Logan Bruss
• RT Warren McClendon - backup TBD

Keep in mind that starting LT Alaric Jackson is suspended for two games. Complicating the matter even further, the team does not expect Rob Havenstein to be ready to go in Week 1. In case of an emergency, the team can elevate OT AJ Arcuri and or IOL Justin Dedic and IOL Mike McAlister from the practice squad. But the team took a huge gamble by forming the 53-man Rams roster around eight offensive linemen, knowing full well that two would not suit up to start the season.

And now, the team is looking very thin at the offensive tackle position. Worse yet, the team's willingness to risk losing solid IOL Zach Thomas already feels regrettable.