The Los Angeles Rams encountered setbacks during their Thursday practice session as offensive linemen Rob Havenstein and Logan Bruss were absent due to injuries, further contributing to the team’s concerns about their offensive line.
Havenstein, positioned as the starting right tackle, encountered an early injury during the collaborative practice session with the Las Vegas Raiders. He managed to walk off the field independently, though he did not return to practice. Head coach Sean McVay promptly addressed the situation, expressing optimism about Havenstein’s condition.
McVay stated after practice, “I believe he’s alright. I had a conversation with him just before coming here. It appears to be a minor neck issue, possibly a stinger, based on the initial assessment.”
Havenstein plays a pivotal role in the offensive line’s performance. In the 2022 season, he participated in all 17 games and received the highest rating among Rams linemen from Pro Football Focus. His score of 73.2 was only surpassed by Cooper Kupp and Cam Akers in the team’s offensive ranks.
Fortunately, Havenstein’s status seems positive for the upcoming Week 1 game.
In the event of Havenstein’s absence, Logan Bruss could have potentially filled in as his replacement. However, the second-year lineman encountered a hand injury during Thursday’s practice. According to reports from Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Bruss had some fingers on his hand positioned incorrectly due to the injury.
Bruss returned to the practice field shortly after with his hands re-taped. The absence of official comments from the team likely implies that he is set to participate in the preseason matchup against the Raiders on Saturday.
There have been indications that Bruss faced challenges in last week’s defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers. Nevertheless, given the prevailing uncertainty in the offensive line, maintaining good health and gaining additional practical experience will be of paramount importance. These factors will provide the Rams with a wider range of choices and strategies amidst the ongoing challenges in the trenches.
