The Los Angeles Rams will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday as they look to get back to .500 and remain relevant in the NFC playoff picture. They may be doing so without starting right tackle Rob Havenstein.
Havenstein was not at practice on Thursday, per The Athletic, immediately putting his Week 8 status in doubt. At the time of writing, an injury report has not yet been released.
If the veteran right tackle cannot go, it’s likely lineman Joe Noteboom will take his place. Noteboom’s only regular season action at right tackle came in Week 14 of 2021, where Pro Football Focus gave him an adequate 69.8 grade for the day. This season, he’s played both left tackle and right guard while battling a groin injury.
Rams head coach Sean McVay recently spoke about Noteboom, who hasn’t played since Week 4.
“I look at Joe as still a starter,” McVay said. “Joe is working himself back to being healthy. When he is at full health, exactly how that affects what we’ll do with that five-man rotation is to be determined. But I’ve been pleased with those guys.”
Now, having not suffered a setback, he’s the leading candidate to return to the starting lineup. The play of guard Kevin Dotson and tackle Alaric Jackson had made that decision difficult prior to Havenstein’s (presumed) injury.
“I thought Joe Noteboom did a really good job when he played,” McVay said. “I thought Joe did a good job against Indianapolis starting at left tackle.”
A Havenstein absence could be detrimental to Los Angeles’ playoff chances. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked 18 times in seven games (eighth-most in football) and isn’t getting any younger.
Dallas’ defense won’t make life easy for them on Sunday. Superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons is an absolute game-wrecker. On the other side, defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is adding another strong year to his resume, even if he only has two sacks on the season.
The Cowboys continuously get home with four, allowing the back end of the defense to retain numbers advantages and better cover opposing receivers. That may not matter against targets as skilled as receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but Stafford needs enough time to hit them.
Havenstein’s veteran presence and strong communication skills shouldn’t be understated either, and disrupting the little continuity Los Angeles has been able to achieve could very well rear its head.
Ultimately, if Noteboom does get the chance to step up, it’ll be on him to play his way back into the lineup in a more permanent manner.
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