Why fans needn't worry about early injuries to OL in Rams Training Camp

Banged up bodies starting to stack up already

While the Rams know that there is a lot of work to do with the offensive line in 2024, remember that the team never planned to allow starters to compete in preseason games. So if you were disappointed to learn that left guard Jonah Jackson would not compete in preseason games, you can take comfort in the fact that he was never going to play anyway.

Still, that does not help the fact that this group of five offensive linemen are not yet attuned to one another just yet. Offensive linemen are most susceptible to underperformance if they are unable to synchronize their blocks, communicate effectively, and ensure that they not only know their own roles, but know the roles of their teammates.

The Rams already face three starting offensive linemen with minor injuries. While no injury is severe enough to bench a starter from the start of the regular season, the injuries are keeping starters out of practices. That has the negative effect of hindering that synchronization that is so very important for the team.

The first injury incurred to the team's offensive line happened to left tackle Alaric Jackson. He tweaked his ankle, but HC Sean McVay expects his return sooner than later:

The more derailing injury is the shoulder injury to left guard Jonah Jackson. Jackson arrives as a free agent from the Detroit Lions, and his participation is perhaps the most vital because while he is playing a familiar position, he must learn the Rams playbook, players, and his blocking assignments. That is something that was hampered earlier in OTAs as he was recovering from injuries suffered in 2023. For now, the Rams have reported that Jackson suffered a bruised scapula, and will be week to week for as many as four weeks:

And then, the injury epidemic continued as starting right tackle Rob Havenstein pulled up hobbled with an apparent foot injury. That makes three starting offensive linemen who have suffered injuries already.

While nobody wants injuries, there are silver linings to this injury epidemic. So, why don't we discuss some of those positives to help ease concerns?