With the preseason now complete, the Los Angeles Rams are in the process of finalizing their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season.
Tyler Higbee is expected to remain on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL and will miss a minimum of four games.
The nine-year tight end isn’t the only Rams player dealing with an injury as Puka Nacua, Darious Williams, Jonah Jackson and Rob Havenstein are among those who have been limited in recent weeks.
Head coach Sean McVay expects Nacua, Williams and Jackson to suit up for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee), defensive back Darious Williams (hamstring) and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (shoulder) are all expected be ready to go for next week’s Sept. 8 regular season opener against the Lions in Detroit, head coach Sean McVay said Monday.
McVay confirmed all three worked back in during Monday’s practice as expected and added that Jackson was able to work back in a little bit last week as well.
“They’re making great progress,” McVay said. “We expect them to start to ease into full-speed workouts and different things like that, with the expectation that they’ll be ready to go for the Lions.”
Nacua had been sidelined with a knee injury since the Rams’ joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 4. For Williams, he is practicing for the first time since straining his hamstring in the first week of training camp.
As for Havenstein, there is a chance he could miss the Rams’ matchup against the Lions but he will not be placed on injured reserve:
Meanwhille, McVay said there’s a possibility offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle) is back for Week 1 against the Lions, but also a possibility Havenstein misses Week 1. McVay said Havenstein will not be a candidate for Injured Reserve.
Havenstein has been limited since the beginning of August with an ankle injury, so it is good to hear that he won’t miss more than a game, if even that.
Havenstein is entering his 10th season with the Rams and will once again be a key part of the offensive line. If he misses Week 1, the team will be without their two starting tackles as Alaric Jackson is serving a two-game suspension.
Rams’ first round of roster cuts
On Monday, the Rams waived quarterback Dresser Winn, running back SaRodorick Thompson, wide receiver J.J. Laap, offensive linemen Matt Kaskey, Blake Larson, Alec Lindstrom and Grant Miller, defensive back Cameron McCutcheon, and linebackers Olakunle Fatukasi and Ochaun Mathis.
The team also released veteran running back Boston Scott and defensive end Carlos Watkins.
