Rams under-the-radar defensive back gifted new life after Quentin Lake injury

It's safe to conclude that Los Angeles Rams special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn's future is tumultuous right now. That is particularly true after NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky declared the team's special team unit as the worst in the NFL. Now, Blackburn is fighting an uphill battle to restore even a sliver of respect to a group that nobody fears and few respect.

To that goal, expect the team to pursue trial-and-error roster moves with the sole purpose of bettering a pathetic coverage group. That will translate into linebackers, wide receivers, and defensive backs soldiering into the roster with the hopes of finding some effective combination of players who can do the job.

What's at stake? Multiple jobs is a conservative estimate. And it's not an over-exaggeration to put Blackburn's job on the table. It's a fix that won't happen quickly, particularly in the face of trialing new players each week. For Week 12, the team is elevating both inside linebacker Elias Neal and wide receiver Brennan Presley.

As a bonus, the team is signing practice squad safety Tanner Ingle to the active roster.

What can fans expect of the latest flurry of Rams roster moves?

The team has responded to the flurry of injuries by conducting some roster window dressing. But what will it all mean on game day? Well, that depends on your expectations. What does that mean? If you are hoping for a starter to emerge at this stage of the season, you may be disappointed.

But if you see the latest moves for what they are, a flurry of attempts to get special teams on track, you are likely onto something. The elevation of Brennan Presley adds a capable special teamer to the return unit. Presley was an accomplished kickoff returner in the preseason.

But Tanner Ingle has a chance to earn a spot on the team. Described by head coach Sean McVay as "The Human Missile," Ingle played well enough to be projected as a safety who would make the 53-man roster as the preseason wound down. With both safeties Kam Curl and Quentin Lake on the final year of their current contracts, Ingle has a real chance of enticing the team to give him a shot going forward.

Even a solid special team performance on coverage could be enough.

With defensive backs Quentin Lake and Ahkello Witherspoon both on injured reserve, the secondary is ripe for new playmakers to step up and into the spotlight. Defensive back Tanner Ingle showed plenty of promise in the preseason. Now, he has the opportunity to realise that potential.

As always, thanks for reading.