Tag: Steve Avila

Rams surprisingly waive former 3rd-round pick after activating Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila

The Rams officially activated Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila from IR, but it came at the cost of Logan Bruss’ roster spot

The Los Angeles Rams are set to welcome Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila back to the starting lineup on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins. The team officially activated both players off injured reserve, making it likely that they will start at center and guard.

That’s excellent news for the Rams, but it does come at the cost of someone’s roster spot. To make room for Avila and Jackson, the Rams surprisingly waived Logan Bruss, a former third-round pick. Bruss started three games at left guard this season before being benched for undrafted rookie Justin Dedich, who has started the last three games and played well in Bruss’ place.

The Rams selected Bruss with the 104th overall pick in the 2022 draft, making him their top pick in that year’s class. He missed his rookie season with a torn ACL that he suffered in the preseason and spent last season on the practice squad before making the team this summer and getting his first chance to start.

It’s likely that the Rams will try to sign Bruss back to the practice squad, but because he’s subject to waivers, another team could potentially claim him before Los Angeles gets the chance to bring him back.

In addition to those three roster moves, the Rams activated Jonah Williams from the practice squad with Neville Gallimore ruled out. He’ll provide depth along the defensive line.

Rams have big decisions to make along offensive line for Week 10

The ongoing shuffling along the offensive line continues for the Rams this week with three positions still to be sorted out

Nothing has been easy up front for the Los Angeles Rams. The offensive line has been a revolving door, with 10 different players starting at least one game this season. That’s mostly been due to injuries suffered along the O-line, but performance has also led to some changes, too.

The shuffling will continue in Week 10 now that Jonah Jackson and possibly Steve Avila will be back on the field, and with Rob Havenstein out due to an ankle injury. It’s possible the Rams will have three different starters than they had last week, but it’s something the team is working through right now.

The first decision that must be made is where to play Jackson. Throughout training camp, the Rams were planning to play him at left guard. Then just before the start of the season, they moved him to center and kept Avila at left guard. The Rams only got to see that combination for a total of 37 snaps before Avila went down, so Sean McVay is trying to figure out where each player fits best.

McVay said Jackson will get reps at left guard and center as the Rams attempt to find his best spot up front.

“We’ll give him an opportunity to be able to get some work at both,” McVay said. “Steve will be able to get some work as well. It’s good to be able to have those guys back out on the practice field. We have had a lot of moving parts on the offensive line so it’s certainly something we’re used to.”

It’s not just about what position Jackson is best at, either. Beaux Limmer has been outstanding at center all year, but he can also play left guard. So if Jackson returns but Avila doesn’t, it might be best to keep Limmer at center and start Jackson at left guard.

If both Jackson and Avila are good to go, it’ll come down to deciding where each player is most comfortable – something that seemingly stymied the coaching staff before the season.

There’s little question that Jackson and Avila give the Rams the best chance to win, but their health and limited reps could impact the final decision along the O-line.

“I think you have to be able to try to trust your gut, make an evaluation on ultimately what we think is going to be best,” McVay said. “Where are these guys at physically? Obviously, these are special players and guys that have played a lot of really good football in this league. It’s part of the evaluation. That’s what’s challenging when you have limited repetitions during the course of the week leading into the game. We’ll evaluate it and then it’s a combination of both performance-based and then how they are feeling medically.”

Then there’s the situation at right tackle. Havenstein won’t play this week but the Rams have two candidates to replace him: Warren McClendon Jr. and Joe Noteboom. Noteboom was inactive last week so it was McClendon who filled in for Havenstein after he went down, but with both players active in Week 10, the Rams have another decision to make.

“There is a good possibility for either or. We’ll work through those things,” McVay said Monday. “I thought Joe made some good progress, but I thought Warren did a nice job stepping in and he played some quality snaps for us yesterday. These are positive things that we can figure out.”

The Rams would rather not need to shuffle the offensive line on a seemingly weekly basis, but the returns of Jackson and Avila are positives for this team, and the hope is that Havenstein won’t be out long.

Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are officially back at practice for the Rams

Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are back at practice and have officially been designated to return from IR

Reinforcements have arrived for the Los Angeles Rams at the midway point in the season.

On Thursday, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson were both officially designated to return from injured reserve. The Rams announced that both players have returned to practice, giving them each a great chance to play on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins.

Sean McVay said earlier this week that the team expects Jackson to be ready to go for this week’s game, and there’s a chance Avila will be available, too. We’ll wait to see each player’s participation level on Thursday as the Rams begin their preparation, which could be an indication of whether they’ll play against Miami.

Avila has been out since injuring his knee in Week 1, landing him on injured reserve and causing him to miss the next seven games. Jackson injured his shoulder in Week 2 and has also been on IR ever since, missing the last six games.

Rookies Beaux Limmer and Justin Dedich have held down the center and left guard spots in recent weeks, but there’s no question Avila and Jackson will step back into starting roles when ready.

It just remains to be seen who will play what position; in Week 1, it was Avila at left guard and Jackson at center after the team had planned for Avila to play center during training camp.

Rams could get two starting linemen back from IR for Week 10 vs. Dolphins

Rob Havenstein will miss Week 10 but the Rams could get both Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson back from IR against the Dolphins

Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson were supposed to fortify the interior of the Rams’ offensive line this season but both of them went down with injuries in the first two weeks and have yet to return. Avila injured his knee in the season opener and Jackson aggravated a shoulder injury in Week 2, sidelining both of them ever since.

The Rams have been patiently awaiting the return of their versatile linemen and this could be the week they come back. Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that both Jackson and Avila could be ready to play against the Dolphins next Monday night, a big Week 10 showdown at SoFi Stadium.

Jackson began the year as the starting center and Avila opened the season at left guard, but they each have the position flexibility to play either spot. It’s unclear how the Rams will deploy their two linemen when they do return, but they should become immediate starters either way.

In their place, Justin Dedich and Logan Bruss held down the fort at left guard, while rookie Beaux Limmer has played well at center. It could be hard to bench Limmer with the way he’s playing, but Avila and Jackson are two premier players who should make the Rams better right away.

At the very least, both Jackson and Avila will return to practice this week, starting their 21-day windows to be activated from IR. So even if they don’t make it back for Monday’s game, they will have to be activated in the next three weeks.

It sounds like they’ll return much sooner than that, though.

Rams will have to wait at least another week to get these key starters back from IR

Sean McVay doesn’t expect Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson or John Johnson III to play this week

Puka Nacua made a surprising return from injured reserve last week after only turning in one practice but no one should expect a similar situation to play out with Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson or John Johnson III this week.

All three of those key starters are currently on injured reserve and eligible to come back at any time, but none of them have even been designated to return from practice. As a result, Sean McVay doesn’t see a scenario where they play this weekend against the Seahawks.

“Not this week. I don’t expect any changes in their status,” McVay said Wednesday.

Avila has been sidelined with a knee injury since Week 1, while Jackson and Johnson both suffered shoulder injuries in Week 2 against the Cardinals. There could be a chance they return next week when the Rams host the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, but for now, they’ll remain on injured reserve.

Sean McVay shares the latest on Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III

Sean McVay isn’t sure if Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson or John Johnson will practice this week but they’re “making good progress”

The Los Angeles Rams really haven’t been at full strength all year, particularly along the offensive line. They were without Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein in Week 1, and then both Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson went down with injuries. They’ve been sidelined since the first two weeks of the season but they could be nearing a return.

The same goes for John Johnson III, who’s been out since injuring his shoulder in Week 2. All three players are on injured reserve and the Rams have yet to designate any of them to return to practice. On Monday, Sean McVay shared the latest on those three injured stars, saying he’s unsure if they’ll practice this week but he isn’t ruling it out.

“I don’t know that we’re at that point yet but then again, when you guys asked me this about Puka [Nacua] last week, I was surprised,” McVay said. “I have not gotten a chance – I just got the medical updates as it relates to those guys that I’ve mentioned really with Kam Curl and with Neville Gallimore, but usually tomorrow is kind of when we have our checkup on those guys that have been rehabbing. They’re making good progress but as far as this week, I don’t know if I anticipate their status changing and you guys will be the first to know on Wednesday if that does.”

It sounds like they probably won’t be designated to return this week, but as McVay said, he also didn’t anticipate Nacua practicing last week until he got back on the field Wednesday and shined on Thursday Night Football one day later.

In the absence of Avila and Jackson, the Rams have Justin Dedich at left guard and Beaux Limmer at center, and both are playing well at the moment. That doesn’t mean they’ll keep those two rookies as the starters when Avila and Jackson return, but they’re holding down the fort.

Kam Curl and Quentin Lake are also playing well at safety, so the Rams will need to devise a plan for Johnson’s return and figure out where he fits. One good possibility is starting him next to Curl and moving Lake back to the slot where he’s excelled.

When will Rams’ injured players come off IR? Sean McVay lays out return timelines

From Joe Noteboom to Jonah Jackson, Sean McVay shared the order in which he expects the Rams’ injured players to return

The Los Angeles Rams currently have nine players on injured reserve, seven of whom could return at some point this season. Among them are Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson, John Johnson, Puka Nacua and Joe Noteboom.

All five have been starters at some point this season and when they return, they’ll all have a chance to be inserted back into the starting lineup.

Because of injured reserve rules, players are required to miss at least four games after being placed on IR. For some players, though, their absences will last longer than just those four games.

Sean McVay hasn’t said exactly when each player will return but on the “Coach McVay Show” Monday, he laid out the order in which they’ll likely be activated.

He said Noteboom is likely to be first, then Avila, Nacua and Johnson, and then Jackson as the last player to come back.

“Joe could be earlier than those guys,” he said of Noteboom, Avila and Nacua. “Joe’s got a big workout that’s scheduled this week. We’ll see what that looks like in terms of his availability for the Raiders and then possibly for the Vikings. Really, then it’s Steve and Puka. J.J.’s in that group. And then Jonah would be after that.”

Here’s when each player is first eligible to be activated from IR.

  • OL Steve Avila (knee): Week 7
  • WR Puka Nacua (knee): Week 7
  • OL Joe Noteboom (ankle): Week 7
  • OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder): Week 8
  • S John Johnson III (shoulder): Week 8

The Rams also have Conor McDermott and KT Leveston on IR, who are both eligible to be activated at any time after missing the first four games of the season. Darious Williams has already been activated, as was Larrell Murchison, but Murchison had to be placed back on IR after breaking his foot in his first practice.

Reinforcements are undoubtedly on the way for the Rams, it’s just a matter of how soon each player will be ready.

Sean McVay shares injury updates on Puka Nacua, Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom

Sean McVay doesn’t expect Puka Nacua or Steve Avila to return to practice this week, meaning they’ll miss a fifth straight game

Puka Nacua has been on injured reserve since suffering a knee injury in Week 1, missing each of the last four games. He’s technically eligible to return from IR this weekend when the Rams face the Raiders, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to get back on the field.

The same goes for Steve Avila, who also injured his knee in the opener against the Lions. Sean McVay told reporters Monday that he doesn’t expect Nacua or Avila to practice this week as the Rams prepare to face the Raiders. That’s a clear indication that neither of them will play this weekend against Las Vegas.

McVay said both players are “still a little bit of ways away.”

“Exactly what that timeline is… Reggie (Scott) and his group are working tirelessly to get those guys back,” McVay said. “And so we’ll be really excited when that window of opportunity opens up for those guys to start to practice, and then to figure out what does it look like for them to be implemented back into potentially competing and doing their thing for us.”

As for Joe Noteboom, McVay said Monday’s workout will determine whether the Rams open his practice window this week. Once he’s designated to return, the Rams will have 21 days to activate him.

Noteboom sprained his ankle in Week 1 while filling in for Alaric Jackson at left tackle. He also has the ability to play guard, so it’s possible that once he returns, he could replace Logan Bruss at left guard.

As badly as the Rams want their injured players to return, they won’t rush anyone back before they’re ready.

Steve Avila’s return timeline still TBD but ‘he’s making good progress’

Sean McVay shared an update on Steve Avila, who’s missed the last four games with a knee injury

Steve Avila was poised for a breakout year in 2024 after playing every snap as a rookie last season but the Rams’ young lineman suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and has been out ever since. He’s one of the many players on injured reserve and while he’s technically eligible to return in Week 7, there’s no indication he’ll be back for that game against the Raiders.

He underwent surgery to repair his MCL and the estimated timeline was six weeks, but Sean McVay still doesn’t know when Avila will be back on the field. He did say it’ll probably be at least another couple of weeks until Avila is available again, though.

“He’s doing well. I saw Steve in the team meeting today,” McVay said Monday. “I’m not exactly sure what his timeline for return is, but he’s making good progress. He looks good and I know he’s done a great job with Reggie and his group so far.”

Avila opened the year as the Rams’ starting left guard, with Jonah Jackson taking over at center. Avila will presumably stay at left guard when he does return, keeping Beaux Limmer at center until Jonah Jackson comes back, but there’s also a possibility he plays center if the Rams feel better about Logan Bruss at left guard.

With no firm timeline right now, the Rams have to proceed with the combination of Bruss and Limmer on the interior.

Everything to know about Rams’ IR situation: Who’s on it, how many can return and when?

The Rams currently have 11 players on IR but not all of them will be able to return this season. Here’s what you need to know about LA’s tough situation.

It’s only Week 3 but the Los Angeles Rams’ roster has been decimated by injuries already. It makes their 0-2 start even worse, knowing players such as Steve Avila, Puka Nacua, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III won’t be back for awhile.

Cooper Kupp is also injured, but unlike the four players above, he has not been placed on injured reserve – yet, at least. Sean McVay said it’s still possible Kupp will go on IR with an ankle injury, but the team is undecided as of now.

Part of the reason they didn’t place Kupp on IR is that they’re limited in the number of players who can be designated to return from IR. If they keep putting players on IR, not everyone will be able to return, so the Rams have to be selective – even if it means an injured player taking up a roster spot.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Rams’ dubious IR situation, including the players currently on the list and when they can return.

Who’s currently on IR?

  1. OL Steve Avila (knee)
  2. OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder)
  3. S John Johnson III (shoulder)
  4. CB Derion Kendrick (knee)
  5. OL Conor McDermott (undisclosed)
  6. WR Puka Nacua (knee)
  7. OL Joe Noteboom (ankle)
  8. CB Tre Tomlinson (undisclosed)
  9. CB Darious Williams (hamstring)
  10. OL KT Leveston (ankle)
  11. DT Larrell Murchison (arm)

How many games do they have to miss?

Players who are placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games. Not four weeks, but four games. After the fourth game, teams are able to designate a player to return from IR, at which point they can begin practicing.

Once a player is designated to return, the team has a 21-day window to activate him to the 53-man roster. If he’s not activated in that timeframe, he will remain on IR for the rest of the season.

How many players can be designated to return?

Teams are allowed to designate eight players to return from IR, or 10 if the team reaches the playoffs. So for the Rams, they already have 11 players on IR, two of whom have already been ruled out for the year (Derion Kendrick and Tre Tomlinson).

That leaves nine other players who are eligible to return. Leveston and Murchison were designated to return before the season started, and it’s expected that the other seven players could all be back at some point this year.

When is each player first eligible to return?

  1. OL Steve Avila (knee): Week 7
  2. OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder): Week 8
  3. S John Johnson III (shoulder): Week 8
  4. CB Derion Kendrick (knee): Out for year
  5. OL Conor McDermott (undisclosed): Week 5
  6. WR Puka Nacua (knee): Week 7
  7. OL Joe Noteboom (ankle): Week 7
  8. CB Tre Tomlinson (undisclosed): Out for year
  9. CB Darious Williams (hamstring): Week 5
  10. OL KT Leveston (ankle): Week 5
  11. DT Larrell Murchison (arm): Week 5