The Los Angeles Rams are inching closer to training camp and the 2024 season as they wrap up OTAs next week and begin mandatory minicamp.
Unlike last year, the Rams are in a much better position to compete as they’ve established new identities on both end of the field and have a good group of young talent to build around. The 2023 NFL Draft class featuring Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Kobie Turner and Byron Young is poised to take on bigger roles while the incoming rookie class headline by Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are slated to be impact starters on day one.
Although all the attention is on the young talent on the roster, Los Angeles will be leaning on their veteran players to help them get through the regular season and hopefully the postseason. With Aaron Donald retired, Ernest Jones becomes the de facto leader on the defense given his age and experience in the system.
Jones has been off to the side at Rams OTAs and McVay explained he’s been dealing with a knee ailment that isn’t expected to linger into training camp.
“Yeah, he’s had a little issue with his knee, but we expect him…He’s making good progress,” McVay said. “With the offseason winding down, the goal is to be ready to go and feel good for training camp.”
Like Jones, right tackle Rob Havenstein has also been hampered by his knees but McVay emphasized that it’s nothing to worry about. “Same thing with Rob. He’s had a little knee soreness as well. Nothing to be concerned about. These are guys that have played a lot of football, so we err on the side of caution.”
McVay typically likes to give his veterans as much rest as possible during the offseason, so it sounds like both Jones and Havenstein will ramp back up once training camp starts. Assuming there are no setbacks, the Rams should have their full starting group on both sides of the field available.
Byron Young praises Jared Verse’s approach to Rams’ OTAs period
Jared Verse was taken No. 19 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft class and represents the Rams’ first first-round pick since head coach Sean McVay took over in 2017. Verse was a highly-touted pass rusher who fell down the board after a historic run on offensive players.
So far, Verse has been impressing his teammates during OTAs and Young gave him high praise for how he’s approached his first professional offseason.
