Countdown to Camp is a series breaking down the Rams roster by position group heading into training camp. The third installment examines the offensive line.
The Rams brought back a familiar face in veteran center Coleman Shelton and have stability at each of the guard spots with Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson.
While the interior of the offensive line is clear, the health of the starting offensive tackles, Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein, bears monitoring once training camp gets underway.
Head coach Sean McVay said so himself in his minicamp recap show appearance alongside Voice of the Rams J.B. Long on June 18: "There's no doubt" the depth chart at tackle and swing tackle is a question the team has to answer between now and the start of the season.
Havenstein underwent cleanout procedures on both shoulders earlier this offseason, but McVay said he should be fine for training camp. While Jackson's recent health situation "is a concern," McVay said the Rams are going to get it under control. When Jackson first dealt with blood clots in 2022, they were able to do so and he had no issues since.
McVay at the end of minicamp in Hawaii said the team is taking things day-by-day with Jackson, who did not travel with the team to Maui.
"There needs to be a lot of discussion and dialogue with (Jackson) and with the doctors about, most importantly, what's best for him as a human being," McVay said on June 17. "And then you talk about football after that. But what we are grateful for is that we were able to identify this based on his communication and get him on the appropriate medicine to make sure that he's as healthy as possible."
Especially with the departure of Joe Noteboom in free agency this spring, that places increased attention on the swing tackle position, in particular Warren McClendon Jr. – who filled in that role when Noteboom was injured – and also D.J. Humphries, whom the team signed to be proactive about a contingency plan (veteran offensive tackle David Quessenberry was also signed this spring as well).
With Havenstein and Jackson available, Los Angeles' projected starting five would boast at least two years' worth of starting experience at each position in this system.
