When Rams offensive lineman Beaux Limmer was told he'd have to switch positions mid-game, he had no reaction whatsoever. He was ready.
Despite starting the game on the bench, a first-quarter ankle injury to left guard Steve Avila thrust Limmer into the lineup in last Sunday's season opener against the Texans. Then the other starting guard, Kevin Dotson, sustained an ankle injury of his own in the fourth quarter, and Limmer had to flip to the right side.
Those positions require a complete mechanical reversal, so switching sides mid-game is very difficult. Not to mention, Limmer spent most of last season as the team's starting center, so he'd never played a single regular season snap at guard in the Rams' offense prior to Sunday's victory.
"Your stagger's switched, so sometimes you can get so used to one side, say, playing left guard, you're right leg's up and you're left leg's back and that's how it is the whole game, then flipping over to right guard you have to flip that," Limmer said. "So it can be hard to switch it in your mind after the snap to keep it like that."
Against Houston, Limmer played 29 snaps on the left side versus 15 on the right. He finished the game with the highest Pro Football Focus run blocking grade on the team (89.9), despite the high-difficulty task he was set. The ability to play all three interior offensive line spots makes Limmer a valuable depth piece on the Rams' roster.
Limmer's experience at center last season forced him to communicate protection calls, and he had to learn every player's role on the offensive line to do so. The second-year player out of Arkansas gained a "big picture ownership" of what the offense line's job is on any given play from that responsibility, said head coach Sean McVay, which has helped him adjust to the guard positions when called upon.
That starting experience at center was "invaluable," Limmer said, because he can now anticipate the center's call before he makes it. In practice, Limmer takes reps at both guard positions, half on one side and half on the other, so he's ready to play anywhere on the interior.
"I have respect for him for doing that," said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. "He's only getting better and better at that guard position."
Rams offensive lineman Coleman Shelton spent the first six years of his career in L.A. before leaving for Chicago in 2024. He returned this offseason, signed to be the team's starting center. But Shelton has experience as a versatile depth piece in the Rams' offense.
He flipped between center, left guard and right guard during the 2019, 2021 and 2022 seasons, sometimes in the middle of games, so he knows just how difficult that was for Limmer.
"You kind of get in a rhythm of playing a position and you think you're there and the next second your whole world is flipped from the left side to the right side," Shelton said. "It's kind of (like) everything turns upside down a little bit, but he's able to do it smoothly and I was impressed by how he was able to do that and I was pumped for him because he played well."
McVay said Limmer did "a really good job" filling in on both sides, especially in the run game. His pass protection wasn't perfect, but is continuing to improve at every interior position.
"That versatility, I think if you're not one of those starting five, the more value that you can bring relative to playing all those other spots, and especially if you're a backup center that can also be a flex guard on either side, man, that's a real benefit for us," McVay said.
Even when he's not in the game, Limmer takes mental reps on every snap.
"(Quarterback) Stetson (Bennett) has his ear piece in, and he's got all the plays ready, so when they call it, I'm trying to figure out, look at the screen, see what the defense is doing, try to make the calls in my head," Limmer said. "So I'd say the biggest piece is trying to stay mentally locked in."
Avila is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Titans. McVay declined to say who would start in his place if he can't play, but Limmer is ready to fill in wherever he's needed.
