Rams begin window dressing with several roster moves, with more to follow

Yes, the LA Rams roster is getting healthier every week. And as such, that means the intricate work of resorting the team's roster is vital to sustain all of the positive momentum achiefed after the team's Week 6 BYE. Three successive victories is admirable. Still, having fallen to a 1-4 record after the BYE, the team has little margin for error. Even now, the best this team can accomplish is a record of 13-4. The worst this team will end the season at is 4-13. So you can reasonably expect the team to end somewhere between those two extremes.

But as the team gets healthier, you have even more reasons to feel optimistic about the team.

In a series of roster moves announced by the team this week, the Rams are shifting the rosters of both the active 53-man roster and the practice squad to accommodate the return of healthy starters and key contributors. The team announced some key changes to the roster this week:

As noted, the team has restored OL Joe Noteboom to the active roster, terminated temp punter Ryan Sanborn from the practice squad, and released DE Jonah Williams from the active roster. So let's break down those moves in reverse order to explain what they mean:

(4) - DE Jonah Williams released

The first move was to vacate a slot on the Rams active roster, the most-recently added DE Jonah Williams was the most likely player to be released to clear that slot. But the move does not mean the end of Williams time with the team. He is an ideal candidate for the team's practice squad for several reasons:
* He knows the team and defense thoroughly
* He is versatile in how he is used on the defensive front
* He can contribute on special teams and on defense

I like Jonah Williams in this defense. He adds both run defense and pass rush wrapped up in one bundle. While he may not be a true starting level compare to his young peers, he remains a solid rotational piece.

(3) - P Ryan Sanborn released from practice squad

The next logical roster move for the team was to vacate a slot (or two) on the team's practice squad. That was a painless action, as the team held punter competition to determine the best option to cover for starting punter Ethan Evans. The team opted to go with punter Ty Zentner, making his competition, Ryan Sanborn, expendable.

By releasing Sanborn, the team created a landing spot for DE Jonah Williams. After Williams cleared waivers, the team re-signed him to the practice squad.

The move was both predictable and sensible.

(2) - OL Joe Noteboom returns to active roster

With news of Rams RT Rob Havenstein suffering an ankle injury in Week 9, the team had to make restoring swing tackle Joe Noteboom a priority. Noteboom may not be high on everyone's list, but he is highly respected as a swing tackle up and down the Rams' coaching staff. If Havenstein must sit out Week 10, or even if he is less than 100 percent, the team needs a viable Plan B. Noteboom is the best option.

(1) - IOLs Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson designated to return

Perhaps the moment all Rams fans have anticipated has finally arrived. The team is on the path to bringing back two starting offensive linemen. In fact, both Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are due to return now. And their timing just happens to coincide with perhaps the most winnable games remaining on the schedule: The Miami Dolphins (2-6) and the New England Patriots (2-7).

If the Rams can defeat both AFC East opponents, they will have extended their winning streak to five games, and improved their record to 6-4. From that point, the team merely has to sustain a better than .500 record to close out the season.

The team still has other players who remain on injured reserve. Players like DB John Johnson and TE Tyler Higbee. But as more starters return to the team, the challenge goes ever greater. Of the fantastic defensive backs or tight ends on the team, who sits? Or worse yet, who loses a roster spot to make room for incoming starters?

The Rams coaching staff and front office did not act at the trade deadline for that reason. This team may have a surplus of talent on the roster already.

As always, thanks for reading.

More Rams news and analysis