The Los Angeles Rams officially designated outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to return from the injured reserve list.
Okoronkwo injured his elbow in the Rams’ Week 5 win against the Washington Football Team and immediately underwent surgery. He was projected to be out 4-6 weeks and appears on track to return to the field in the near future.
According to Sarina Morales of TheRams.com, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is anxious to get Okoronkwo back into the rotation:
Brandon Staley is "really excited" on Obo's return. "He brings us a lot of power on the edge. Good complement to Leonard [Floyd]."
No exact timeframe for return "He's been working extremely hard…we want to make sure that he's ready to play at his full capacity or close to it." https://t.co/OtMFaoaCma
— Sarina (@sarina) November 25, 2020
The Rams defense has turned itself into one of the NFL’s best units during the 2020 season, and Okoronkwo figures to slot back into his pass-rush role. After spending his first two seasons riding the pine, the 25-year-old played his best NFL football yet under Staley showing some explosiveness off the line of scrimmage that had been missing along the edge.
Leonard Floyd looks rejuvenated playing in L.A., and having Okoronkwo opposite him should bolster what has been a relatively modest defensive line. Aaron Donald remains the most elite interior lineman in the league, but getting more heat off the edge should allow him to run rampant in opposing backfields.
Although Okoronkwo is designated to return and can practice, it remains to be seen when he will be elevated to the 53-man roster. The team has 21 days to move him up, and they should not be in any rush given how well the defense has looked in recent weeks.
While the former fifth-round pick will likely have to wait a bit longer, the Rams should be thrilled knowing they will soon be getting back another impact player for the stretch run of the season.
