The Los Angeles Rams announced that they have claimed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jamir Jones off waivers.
The Rams have been dealt some key losses to their linebacker corps to start the 2021 NFL season. Head coach Sean McVay recently revealed that Justin Hollins will be joining Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on injured reserve due to a torn pectoral injury that will require surgery.
While McVay is optimistic that Okoronkwo will soon be making a healthy return, L.A. has decided to seek out other options to help shore up some depth.
Jones enjoyed a stellar performance during the preseason with 4.0 sacks and six quarterback hits to help him secure a spot on the Steelers 53-man roster. However, his production failed to translate into the regular season thus far after recording just three tackles and one quarterback hit in 36 snaps.
Pittsburgh sustained perhaps the biggest hit from this move since they had released rookie linebacker Quincy Roche in favor of Jones and he was subsequently claimed by the New York Giants. They also opted to keep linebacker Derrek Tuszka on the active roster and were hoping to bring Jones back to the practice squad following his release, but he was successfully claimed by L.A.
Despite the linebacker corps being pegged as a weak link on this talented Rams defense, they have managed to step to the challenge through the first three weeks of the 2021 NFL season. This group is set to face another difficult test when they welcome the Arizona Cardinals and their high-octane offense to SoFi Stadium in Week 4.
The due diligence from L.A. helped them secure a quality option with starter experience in Jones. Even if he is still getting acquainted with the defensive scheme, the depth should provide some stability until Okoronkwo and Hollins make their return.
