What should fans know about the latest Rams addition to the roster?

II: Troy Reeder injury may sideline him for the season

But why not just roll the dice on Reeder, hoping for him to heal up and be back in time to return this season? Well, the truth of the matter is that there are mounting reasons why Reeder's appearance on the Rams IR roster could prove to be problematic to a quick return.

The first reason for concern is the injury itself. Hamstring injuries are the bane of NFL professional athletes. That's due to the fact that the injury centers on a significantly used part of the human anatomy. The human thigh is a complex structure of muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and other tissues that are tasked with supporting and ambulating the human frame. So a hamstring injury impacts the very part of the body that is responsible for standing, walking, running, and stopping.

So even when the injured site feels like it's better, it sometimes is just one twist or turn from reinjury. If you doubt me, just examine the injury experience of defensive back Darious Williams so far this season.

The second reason is the timing of the injury. With an injury occurring at this point in the season, there is always a risk of running out of time to bring that player back. Let's face it, Troy Reeder was not having a Pro Bowl season before his injury. So his return has to project as his returning no better than when he left, which was already mired in a bit of a struggle. Does it make sense to impose more Rams roster upheaval just to put things back the way they were? I loved how this defense performed in Week 8. If that level of defense continues, there is no incentive to change things.

The third reason is the fault of the NFL mechanics to IR. The LA Rams have activated the following players from IR this season so far:

• WR Puka Nacua
• DB Darious Williams
• DT Larrell Murchison (he was immediately injured and returned to IR)

NFL teams have just eight restoration slots from IR back to the active roster. The Rams have exhausted three such transactions already, and the team is still looking to bring back IOL Steve Avila, IOL Jonah Jackson, DB John Johnson III, OL Joe Noteboom, OL K.T. Leveston, OL Conor McDermott, TE Tyler Higbee, and now ILB Troy Reeder. That's eight players vying over five remaining slots. At least three of the players on IR right now are out for the 2024 NFL season

While Reeder may return, the team has to plan for any scenario.