The Rams are now at the season’s halfway point and still haven’t fielded the offensive line that head coach Sean McVay envisioned before the season began. However, they’re getting closer to that goal.
Interior linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila, who’ve been sidelined since the season opener with shoulder and knee injuries, respectively, are expected to return to action on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins, McVay confirmed on Saturday.
“This is the beginning of building the foundation we hoped for in training camp,” McVay said.
Both Jackson and Avila had been placed on injured reserve after their injuries but have returned to practice this week. In addition, Joe Noteboom, who can play either guard or tackle, is also set to play for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in Week 1. Noteboom practiced last week but was inactive for the Rams’ 26-20 overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
McVay didn’t reveal where Jackson and Avila would line up or if they would start, nor did he specify whether Noteboom or Warren McClendon Jr. would fill in at right tackle for the injured Rob Havenstein.
While McVay acknowledged the challenge of building chemistry mid-season, he remains optimistic about the potential of his veteran linemen.
“They’ve both played a lot of football,” McVay said. “Now it’s about how quickly we can get up to speed and comfortable with one another. We’ll evaluate that as we go.”
It’s still uncertain when the projected starting offensive line — left tackle Alaric Jackson, Avila at left guard, center Jonah Jackson, right guard Kevin Dotson, and right tackle Havenstein — will finally take the field together.
Alaric Jackson missed the first two games due to a suspension, and when he returned, the line was in flux due to injuries sustained in the season opener. Havenstein, who missed the opener with an ankle injury, had played the following seven games before suffering another ankle injury against Seattle.
