Despite all the changes to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, the goal for training camp remains the same — which is to make it through as healthy as possible in time for the 2017 NFL season.
The challenge for new head coach Sean McVay gets much more difficult when he has to account for injuries that are bound to happen throughout camp. Los Angeles has had to deal with quite a few of them to potential starters — most notably linebacker Mark Barron.
As a result, McVay says Barron, along with other key players, may sit out the entire preseason as they try to get healthy for Week 1, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
“We’re going to be smart with Barron, just for a variety of reasons,” McVay said of the sixth-year linebacker. “We know what Mark can do, we know what he’s capable of, and it’s about getting Mark to Sept. 10 as healthy as possible. I think when Mark’s right, he’s a special player.”
McVay’s praise for Barron is encouraging considering how well he adjusts to the new 3-4 defensive scheme remains to be seen. The former top-10 pick was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 as a safety before converting to linebacker following his trade to the Rams.
As an undersized inside linebacker, Barron will need to remain as healthy as possible this upcoming season. Other potential starters that may miss out on preseason action due to injury include wide receiver Tavon Austin, linebacker Robert Quinn, and cornerback Kayvon Webster.
