The offensive line was looking like a strength for the Rams coming into the 2024 season after the signing of Jonah Jackson and the extension given to Kevin Dotson, but that group has undergone some serious shuffling since the start of camp.
Alaric Jackson is out for two games due to a suspension, Rob Havenstein is in danger of missing the opener with an ankle injury and it sounds like the Rams are flipping Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila at center and left guard.
At tackle, it’s expected that Joe Noteboom will start on the left side and Warren McClendon Jr. will start at right tackle if Havenstein is out, and they’re two players Sean McVay has the utmost confidence in.
“I’m tremendously confident in Warren McClendon and Joe Noteboom and the growth and maturation that we’ve seen from them in the meantime of Rob’s absence,” McVay said Thursday. “Rob, he’s a veteran. I think he understands what he needs to feel like and he’s able to do a lot to stay in shape. Now, to simulate football game-like movements and all the different things that occur, I think there’s a conversation that would be had. I do trust him, but it’s because of his experience and his maturity, I wouldn’t rule it out is basically the best way that I would look at it.”
Noteboom has started 31 games in his career, all across the offensive line with the exception of center. He has plenty of experience as an NFL lineman. McClendon, on the other hand, isn’t as seasoned.
He’s just a second-year player and while he was active for six games last season, he didn’t start any of them and played just 32 total offensive snaps. The Rams have been impressed by his play this summer but going up against Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport in a raucous environment in Detroit is a different animal.