Rob Havenstein looked like a Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle last season after signing a lucrative extension with the Rams. He surprisingly regressed in a big way this year, struggling mightily in pass protection in the first half of the season.
He’s been absent for just about the entire second half of the year after injuring his knee in Week 10 against the Steelers, but he appears to be nearing a return. Last week, he was a full participant in practice all three days, yet he was still listed as doubtful.
To open this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, Havenstein wasn’t even listed on the injury report. Still, he’s not certain to play against the 49ers, according to Sean McVay.
“I don’t know yet. It was good to get him back out on the field,” McVay said Wednesday. “Again, I know I’m kind of answering the same questions, but until we really physically go, it’s hard for me to truly give you guys a real answer to some of these questions, and I’ll have a much better feel based on how today’s practice – where we will get some good physical work in – goes for those players.”
McVay said Havenstein is “making good progress,” but the fact that he won’t commit to him playing is shocking. It likely has more to do with his performance than his health.
Bobby Evans has slid in at right tackle and played extremely well, which has elevated the play of the offensive line and Jared Goff. Havenstein wasn’t performing at a very high level before his injury, which could make the Rams reluctant to insert him back into the lineup.
What complicates things is the fact that Havenstein is making $8.1 million per year and is only in the second year of his contract, which runs through 2022. Giving up on a player making that much money this soon wouldn’t be a great look for the Rams, but they also need to put their best players on the field.
Right now, it looks like Evans is that player and the Rams seem to be milking Havenstein’s injury to avoid any sort of controversy. If he’s off the injury report and still doesn’t play Saturday, consider him a healthy scratch.