The latest injury report hints at what could be a fatal mistake for Week 9

The 5-2 Los Angeles Rams are emerging from a Week 8 BYE to face the 1-7 New Orleans Saints at home. As such, the team has recovered, and, except for injured cornerbacks Darious Williams (shoulder) and Ahkello Witherspoon (IR - collarbone), is as healthy as it has been all season long. That means that starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, who did not play a single snap in October, is back.

That means that he will reclaim his starting role at right tackle over impressive swing-tackle Warren McClendon Jr. Therein lies the rub. You see, the offensive line has performed spectacularly in Havenstein's absence, thanks in large part to McClendon.

While not solely the fault of the veteran right tackle, starting quarterback Matthew Stafford averaged 2.0 quarterback sacks per game in the first four games, games in which Rob Havenstein started. In October 2025, Stafford had averaged just 1.0 quarterback sacks per game. The offensive line did not allow a single sack in Week 7.

Is the decision to start Rob Havenstein once more a fatal mistake?

Rob Havenstein is the veteran leader of the offensive line

If it were merely a matter of playing the 'hot hand,' then the team would be making a huge mistake by swapping out starting offensive tackles mid-season. That is especially true after the team managed to put together an offensive masterpiece on the road in jolly old England in Week 7. But there are more factors at play here.

Rob Havenstein is the 33-year-old veteran leader of the offensive line. While not the same infectious personality as his predecessor, retired left tackle Andrew Whitworth, he is a leader of the group on and off the field. And as such, his place is suiting up and leading the group into battle at the line of scrimmage.

No, this is not his best season. And that is certainly something to keep on the radar as this is the last year of his current contract. Injuries continue to haunt him, and his lack of durability is becoming impossible to ignore. He's missed three of seven games so far this season.

Despite that, and the fact that McClendon has played superbly, the decision to reinstate him as the starter tis season was made as soon as he was injured. So, where is the problem? The plot twist to this tale is the impact of benching McClendon might have on his future.

When former swing tackle Joe Noteboom took over for an injured Andrew Whitworth in 2020, he played well. But he was benched when Whitworth was healthy enough to resume his starting role. Noteboom was never quite the same player after that.

The same regression happened this season to former starting center Beaux Limmer. After stepping up and into the starting center role as a rookie in 2024, he has struggled after losing his job to center Coleman Sheltion. His regression has been so severe that he has been a healthy scratch.

Will McClendon suffer that same backslide? Let's hope not. Los Angeles needs quality offensive linemen in the immediate future, and McClendon's promising performance so far this season almost guarantees he is part of that future.

Still, he played well. He played hard. But he is getting benched in Week 9 all the same. Let's hope that he takes this all in stride, because he has won over many fans already. As always, thanks for reading.