Rams OL takes a beating in rankings, but there’s reason for hope against Cardinals

The Los Angeles Rams were classified as the “NFL’s healthiest team” in 2023, but they’re now best known for being the unhealthiest team through one week of the 2024 season. Most of those issues seem situated on the offensive line and as such their offensive line rankings have tumbled in short order. Luckily, if there’s a team an OL wants to face when they’re short-handed, it’s the Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams will play without A.J. Jackson (suspension), Steve Avila (ankle), and potentially both Rob Havenstein (ankle) and Kevin Dotson (ankle). That’s four out of five starters, but backup left tackle Joe Noteboom also went on IR this week.

Let’s say that the Rams play with A.J. Arcuri at left tackle, Jonah Jackson at left guard, Beaux Limmer at center, Dotson at right guard, and Warren McClendon at right tackle. It’s not the offensive line we expect for the Rams, but it might be good enough against Arizona.

In his OL rankings, Brandon Thorn of the Trench Warfare newsletter dropped the Rams from 11th overall all the way down to 22nd due to their recent injuries. The newsletter Establish the Run highlighted these rankings and matchups and wouldn’t you know it: The Arizona Cardinals had the 32nd ranked defensive line.

So while it could be as bad as facing a defensive line as good as say, Week 3’s opponent the 49ers, currently ranked third on DL, the Rams need only face the Cardinals this week.

Arizona had two sacks in Week 1, one by a cornerback and the other by nose tackle Roy Lopez. Edge rusher Zaven Collins is playing a new position after moving off of linebacker, whereas Dennis Gardeck played 40 snaps in Week 1 but didn’t record a tackle or anything else. Defensive end L.J. Collier is a former first round bust by the Seahawks, while everyone else in that group is basically an unknown or a journeyman like Julian Okwara and Jesse Luketa. The Cardinals don’t bring much to pass rusher in terms of proven players.

It is never good to be injured, let alone on the offensive line tasked with protecting Matthew Stafford, but at least the Rams have another week to prepare for the 49ers (when A.J. Jackson should be back and Havenstein, Dotson might also return) with a warmup against the Cardinals.