3 days Ago By Ryan Anderson, LAFB Network
The big news from the release of the final injury report for the Los Angeles Rams game against the Miami Dolphins was that both center Jonah Jackson and left guard Steve Avila would return from the injured reserve and are trending in the right direction to play. But buried by that big news was confirmation that right tackle Rob Havenstein would miss the game due to an ankle injury and right guard Kevin Dotson is questionable to play with a knee and ankle injury. Rams Without Havenstein, Dotson Questionable It is unclear who will replace the two if both miss the game.
The top candidates for Havenstein are Warren McClendon, who filled in last week, and Joe Noteboom, who recently came off IR. Other options include rookie Beaux Limmer, who has acquitted himself nicely as a fill-in at center and undrafted rookie Justin Dedich. Missing offensive linemen have plagued the Rams this season.
Matthew Stafford has been under pressure 71 times this season, the 8th most in the NFL. Stafford completion percentage goes from 74.5 percent when operating in a clean pocket down to 43.
4 percent when under pressure. It has also had its negative effects on the running game as well. Rams lead back, Kyren Williams has not matched his 2023 efficiency.
Last season he finished averaging 95 yards per game, the best in the league, and 5 yards per carry, 4th best. This year he has 75 yards per game, 11th, and 3.7 yards per carry, 41st.
His yards before contact per carry have also dropped from 3 yards per carry to 2.2 yards. The injuries have also forced Williams to pick up more reps as a pass protector.
This year he leads all running backs in pass blocking snaps (84) by a large margin and he is going to blow away his 2023 number. The next most prolific pass blocker is Zach Charbonnet . He has 24 fewer reps and has also played one extra game.
The next closest running back having played just eight games is JK Dobbins — he has 30 fewer pass-blocking snaps. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission..
