The Los Angeles Rams’ biggest remaining question revolves around the immediate availability of starting left tackle Alaric Jackson.
Jackson signed a three-year, $57 million extension this offseason, but is also dealing with blood clots in his leg ahead of the 2025 season. Jackson won’t start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, though, and head coach Sean McVay told reporters he’s “hopeful” Jackson will be ready and praised the backups who will need to step in if the team’s starter has to miss more practice time.
L.A. signed veterans D.J. Humphries and David Quessenberry as potential fill-ins for Jackson, and backup Warren McClendon could also step in.
“We are hopeful that Alaric will be ready to go,” McVay said Wednesday. D.J. obviously, I thought for a guy that got on a couple zooms with [Rams Offensive Line Coach] Ryan Wendell… you could feel that he’s played a lot of football. He’s got great athleticism, he’s got a great demeanor. I thought Warren did a nice job. D.J. got a handful of reps, Warren was able to play right and left [tackle]. He got a bunch of reps, so [I was] just talking to Ryan Wendell about that. So, [Offensive Lineman David] Quessenberry’s another guy that we know can play.
“So, we’re going to continue to identify. That’s going to be a really important spot for us to be able to develop with an optimistic and a hopeful approach that Alaric is going to continue to work and be ready whenever he gets cleared.”
What this sounds like is McVay hasn’t identified who will play for Jackson between the trio of Humphries, Quessenberry and McClendon. Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is also returning from offseason shoulder surgery, which complicates things a bit further as well.
The offensive line will be one of the most important elements of the success or failure of the Rams in 2025. Matthew Stafford is 37 and the team crumbled when he missed multiple games in 2023. Humphries and Quessenberry have lots of experience, but there’s a reason they were available in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay offers thoughts on OT backups with Alaric Jackson still out
Reporting by Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
