In their second preseason game, the Los Angeles Rams fell just short against the Houston Texans as they lost 24-20.
After a slow, defensive-focused first half both teams came out firing in the second half. The Rams took a fourth-quarter lead, but the Texans responded with a touchdown late in the game to seal the win.
While the loss was disappointing, the biggest news was that rookie guard Logan Bruss was forced out of the game with an apparent knee injury. Tests later revealed he had torn both his ACL and MCL, which head coach Sean McVay was obviously disappointed to hear, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“Number one, it’s a real shame for a kid that’s worked really hard and puts a lot into this game,” McVay said during a video conference Saturday afternoon. “I think that’s the one thing that – the first thing, sometimes we have an inclination (that) is, okay, well how does this affect the football team. But how does it affect the person? You want to keep being more empathetic and more understanding, and this is a guy that loves football. We obviously draft him with the confidence that he could be a guy that could potentially contribute for us this year.
Unfortunately, now, as a result of what’s occurred, that won’t be the case, but put your arm around him, you help him attack the rehab the right way, and I trust that he’s going to do everything in his power to come back better next year than he was this year.”
Bruss had been competing for the starting right guard spot with Coleman Shelton, but that opportunity will have to wait until next year. Bruss was Los Angeles’ first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and he figured to have a role, but this setback is a serious blow for the rookie.
Fortunately, the Rams have some depth along the offensive line with Shelton, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., AJ Jackson and Bobby Evans. The starting spot is all but guaranteed for Shelton, though the other linemen will need to step up when called upon.
