In Sean McVay’s latest injury update on Monday, the Rams head coach expressed optimism that guard Jonah Jackson and cornerback Darious Williams and receiver Puka Nacua will both be ready for Week 1. As for Rob Havenstein, however, McVay was less certain that he will be available for Week 1 after suffering an ankle injury in early August, calling it a “possibility” that the Rams will be without their right tackle.
This news is doubly bad because left tackle AJ Jackson is suspended for two games to start the season, but if Havenstein is expected to miss multiple games, it might be in LA’s best interest to place him on the injured list before making final cuts on Tuesday.
Some comments from McVay:
– Stetson Bennett was absent from practice because he is “taking care of a family issue.” He will be back on Wednesday.
– Ronnie Rivers is sick.
– Puka Nacua, Jonah Jackson and Darious Williams all participated in practice. They are expected to be ready for Week 1.— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) 26 August 2024
In the past, teams had to keep players from the 53-man roster before placing them on the injured list, but a new rule allows teams to place up to two players on the injured list before the 53-man roster is cut. This means that if the Rams have two players who need to go on the injured list, they can keep two more players during the final cuts.
It’s a rule change that’s expected to have a significant impact on the decisions made Tuesday, and Havenstein appears to be the Rams player where the rule change could most likely apply to his status.
The rule change is explained here:
Q: What happens to players who are injured?
A: A new rule for this year allows teams to place two players on the injured list on cut day who can return to the team after a minimum of four weeks of rest. In the past, teams had to get players through the cuts to 53 before placing them on the injured list and giving them a chance to return to the team.
This could apply to players who sustained injuries during training camp and are expected to be out for an extended period of time.
Players placed on the injured list before Tuesday’s cut to 53 will be out for the remainder of the season unless they negotiate compensation for their injury with the team.
Of course, if the Rams believe Havenstein is available, an IR is out of the question. But McVay’s positive comments about Jackson and Williams compared to his cautious response to Havenstein’s availability clearly show that there is a difference in the team’s perspective on their respective “week-to-week” diagnoses. It seems as though the Rams don’t know when Havenstein’s “week” will be over.
So if the Rams suspect he might miss more than two games, the likelihood of an IR is high: Havenstein would be eligible to return after the first four games.
For a player on the roster, this rule change could be the difference between him making the Rams or not. If the Rams don’t do it and Havenstein is out for a month anyway, the opportunity has already passed and the player could already be gone.
