Rams McVay expects Noteboom may be back for Week 8, and not a moment too soon

LA Rams offensive lineman Joe Noteboom may be injury-prone, but that's not something he can necessarily do something about. Noteboom, once hoped to be the successor at left tackle after Andrew Whitworth retired. But that frequency of injuries is too much, and he was unable to suit up consistently. But he can block.

Cohesion and consistency is vital for an NFL offensive line. Noteboom is simply not proven to withstand the physical demands of the left offensive tackle position over a 17-game season. But he can sub in for injured teammates. In fact, it is that ability to step up for Whitworth in 2020 that made his reputation skyrocket in 2020.

The LA Rams need a stabilizing factor at left guard right now. The team's experiment with Logan Bruss failed miserably. And his replacement, undrafted IOL Justin Dedich, who had a very respectable debut, faces a far greater task in Week 8. And the problem right now is, with Bruss not exactly panning out, the team is drawing thin at the offensive line once more.

But that is not the case if Joe Noteboom can suit up and be ready to play in Week 8:

The Rams would get a boost if Noteboom is ready to come back. The team is comfortable plugging him in at any non-center offensive line position to replace an injured teammate. While the injuries to offensive linemen seem to have abated for the moment, the risk remains, particularly in a short week of preparation.

So yes, Joe Noteboom's potential return would be perfectly timed for the needs of the current roster composition.

The Rams are going to have an uphill battle in Week 8. The Vikings, having lost to the Detroit Lions in Week 7, will want to get back on winning track instantly, and the LA Rams are next up. Beyon that, the Rams have yet to defeat a single NFC North team yet. The team is 0-3, and that is one of the primary reasons for their struggles so far.

Will Noteboom suit up? I think so. After all, the team has 10 days after the game to recover and prepare for their next game. Noteboom, even if dinged up, will have a mini-BYE of sorts to rest up for the next opponent.

As always, thanks for reading.

More Rams news and analysis