After last year’s surprise run to the playoffs, there are fewer question marks surrounding the Rams this fall. By the end of the first couple of weeks of training camp, the only competitions left were for spots at the back end of the team’s roster.
But the Rams still have a couple of questions left to answer to determine what this season looks like. Here are three of the most pressing:
Can the starting offensive line stay on the field?
Three injuries befell the Rams’ starting offensive line before the team had even reached its first joint practice against the Chargers in August, and a couple of backups dealt with their own wounds throughout the last month, too.
The Rams are in better shape entering Week 1, even with left tackle Alaric Jackson serving a two-game suspension. Jonah Jackson (shoulder) is back practicing in full, albeit at center instead of his planned position of left guard. Right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) has started to ramp up his workload, though his status for Sunday night’s season opener in Detroit remains unclear.
The Rams feel good about their reserves; Joe Noteboom has been a trusted utility man, and Warren McClendon had an encouraging preseason with his additional snaps in place of the injured tackles. But with K.T. Leveston and Conor McDermott on injured reserve and backup guard Zach Thomas claimed off waivers by New England, the Rams don’t have much wiggle room left to withstand another injury.
Is the young defensive front ready to replace Aaron Donald?
Since Donald retired in March, the Rams maintained that no one person could replace the future Hall of Famer. They would instead take the “Moneyball” approach, filling his shoes in the aggregate.
The Rams already had tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young coming off strong rookie campaigns, then used their first two picks in April’s draft (along with a future second rounder) to add the Florida State tandem of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to the mix.
Verse and Fiske have very much looked the part during training camp and in joint practices, making plays against the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. But Sunday will be their first full game, and against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, too. The Lions game will give us an idea of where the rookies are in their development, and how Turner and Young operate without Donald attracting so much attention from blockers.
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How about an encore?
Receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams were the breakthrough stars no one saw coming a year ago. Both former fifth-round picks, neither entered 2023 with significant expectations. But Nacua lifted the Rams’ passing game with a record-breaking season, and Williams’ return from injured reserve jump started the Rams’ offense and a run to the playoffs.
So, can they build off that success in 2024? Nacua spent his first offseason as a full-time professional working with fellow receiver Cooper Kupp to get his body into better shape, and to cut down on his league-leading number of drops from a year ago. Williams, meanwhile, leaned down his workout regimen in an attempt to stay healthy this year.
If both are able to run back last year’s success, Nacua and Williams will further raise the ceiling of the Rams’ offense.