The season opener at Detroit is less than a week away.
After more than six weeks of training camp and preseason workouts, the Rams on Monday practiced before an audience that included owner Stan Kroenke and began the countdown and final run-up to playing the Lions on “Sunday Night Football.”
“This is a different sense of urgency, in a good way,” coach Sean McVay said. “You want it to be uplifting and elevating, but it’s real now.”
On Monday, offensive tackle Rob Havenstein took a step toward possibly playing in the opener by going through individual drills for the first time since suffering an ankle injury during training camp.
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Havenstein’s status for Sunday night’s game is still to be determined. But his participation was a positive for a Rams team returning to Ford Field, where last season ended in a 24-23 NFL wild-card defeat by the Lions.
“We’re going to use every day,” McVay said, “and that’s the truth, especially as it relates to him.”
If Havenstein is sidelined, second-year pro Warren McClendon Jr. would probably start at right tackle with veteran Joe Noteboom at left tackle in place of Alaric Jackson, who is suspended for the first two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Jonah Jackson, sidelined most of training camp because of a shoulder injury, could start at center, with Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson at left and right guard, respectively.
“The positive thing is that we’ve gotten a lot of work with a lot of different guys,” McVay said of the line. “The guys that are starting to work their way back… these are experienced players.”
Havenstein, a 10th-year pro and the longest-tenured Rams player, is among veterans on one of the NFL’s youngest rosters. The Rams have 15 rookies.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, a 16th-year pro, is the most experienced player.
Safety John Johnson III is preparing for his eighth season…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-good-news-rob-havenstein-230803293.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-09-02 23:08:03
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