The Los Angeles Rams are bracing themselves for some potential turnover to their roster with so many free agents set to test the market this offseason.
As a result, they may need to rely heavily on few unproven, young players currently on the depth chart. Among the notable names that could be poised for an elevated role in the 2020 NFL season is linebacker Micah Kiser.
Kiser missed the entire 2019 NFL season with a pectoral injury that ultimately required surgery. Fortunately, it appears he has made tremendous strides in his recovery.
According to Sarina Morales of the team’s official website, Kiser says he is healthy and acknowledged that injuries are part of the game:
“Yeah, I’m real healthy. The injury rate in football, it’s 100%. You’re going to get hurt. So I’m glad I just got it out of the way early in my career.”
Kiser added that spending a season watching his teammates from the sidelines has allowed him to study the game from a different perspective:
“Right now, I feel like I kind of know what it takes just watching and being around a lot of great pros. Being able to be around a Cory Littleton and just seeing his movements on the field and how he plays. Being able to be around an Eric Weddle for a year and just seeing his mental approach to the game. Right now, stuff is slowing down. You can pick little specific things to focus on instead of having such a wide view of the game, you can focus in on more of the little intricacies and little details. So that’s where I’m at right now.”
It is encouraging to see that Kiser managed to find a silver lining that came with such a severe injury. He will have an opportunity to put it all together once offseason activities begin and the dust from free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft is settled.
The Rams may very well have some major voids to fill in their linebacker corps with Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. set to test the market. Regardless of whether or not Littleton leaves, Kiser is poised to take on an integral role on the inside in this new-look defense under coordinator Brandon Staley.
The former fourth-round pick has largely established himself as a contributor on special teams since the 2018 campaign. His newfound experience and health could serve as the foundation for a breakout year next season.
