The Los Angeles Rams suffered yet another crucial blow up front during their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers when center Brian Allen was forced to exit the game with a knee injury.
The Rams used to bye week to make some adjustments up front heading into Week 10, which included switching guards Austin Blythe and David Edwards to the other side of the offensive line. Unfortunately, it did little to contain the hounding pressure that the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to bring on the edge.
To make matters worse, Allen was then seen limping to the sidelines during the second quarter before he was ultimately ruled out for the rest of the game. It appears that is where he will stay moving forward.
Allen has been ruled out for the rest of the 2019 NFL season with an MCL injury, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:
Rams starting center Brian Allen will miss the remainder of the season as a result of a MCL injury he sustained against the Steelers, head coach Sean McVay said Monday.
The injury to Allen deals a crushing blow to an offensive line that was already in the midst of making some significant changes. They will now have to figure out another to maximize their depth in order to secure the best interior grouping as possible.
With Allen out, Los Angeles has now lost both of its young linemen that had been brought in to serve as first-time starters this year after guard Joseph Noteboom tore his ALC and MCL earlier in the season. Although they opted to move Blythe inside to fill in as a replacement at center during the 17-12 loss in Pittsburgh, it remains to be seen if that will be their long-term plan.
The injuries continue to pile on for the Rams as they get set to fight an uphill battle for the rest of the season. Allen is not the only offensive lineman to pick up an injury against the Steelers now that it has been revealed that right tackle Rob Havenstein is slated to potentially miss two games while dealing with a meniscus issue.
Los Angeles has dug themselves in quite a hole following their recent loss and the injuries only add further salt to the wound. Regardless, they will not have any time to feel sorry for themselves as they get set to welcome the Chicago Bears and their talented defense in Week 11 on Sunday Night Football.
