Rams Share Update On 3 Injured Offensive Linemen

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Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Wednesday that three starters — guards Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, along with right tackle Rob Havenstein — appeared on the team’s first Week 2 injury report. Avila and Dotson both suffered ankle injuries against Houston, while Havenstein is dealing with soreness in the same area.

“Kevin Dotson had a lateral ankle sprain. He’ll be week-to-week,” McVay told reporters. “Steve also had an ankle sprain. He came back in the game after Kevin had gone out. Steve got it early in the game, he went out. Beaux Limmer ended up coming in. Kevin Dotson got his ankle. Steve did an amazing job of coming in to be able to finish the game. Those guys both got their ankles.”

Avila was injured early but returned in the fourth quarter once Dotson exited for good. That shuffle pushed rookie Beaux Limmer into action at right guard, where he held up well against a strong Texans front. McVay praised the young lineman’s adaptability, noting his ability to step into multiple spots.

“You give Beaux a ton of credit,” McVay said. “He came in last year and ended up basically playing the whole year as a center and gets thrust into action in game one against Detroit and does a really good job. As a young guy he’s physical, he’s sturdy in the run game… For him to play as many snaps as he did, both playing left and the right guard, he did a really good job. I’m proud of Beaux.”

The bigger surprise came with Havenstein, who was given a rest day but also sat out entirely with ankle soreness. If he’s unavailable, Warren McClendon is the likely candidate to step in at right tackle.

Tight End Depth Also Tested

The injury list wasn’t limited to the offensive line. Tight end Colby Parkinson, who left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, did not practice. Davis Allen, who caught a touchdown in the opener, was limited with a knee issue.

Behind Tyler Higbee, rookie Terrance Ferguson could see expanded opportunities if Parkinson and Allen remain sidelined.

McVay: Day-to-Day Outlook Ahead Of Titans

Despite the rash of injuries, McVay stopped short of ruling out Avila or Dotson for Week 2.

“When I say week-to-week, it’s really day-to-day,” he said. “There’s a possibility they could practice, there’s a possibility they might not. I know I’ll have more information and a little bit more clarity as we have a little bit of time for them to get their rehab, see how they respond post-24 hours and 48 hours. Then leading into Wednesday, I’ll have a lot better idea of what their projected workload looks like and what their status will be.”

A Tricky Week Ahead

The Rams’ offensive line was a source of stability in 2024, and McVay has consistently emphasized continuity as the backbone of the offense. With as many as three starters in question this week, Los Angeles may need to lean on depth pieces like Limmer, McClendon, and Justin Dedich to hold the line.

For quarterback Matthew Stafford and the rest of the offense, the challenge now is clear: prepare for the Titans while waiting to see who’s healthy enough to join them in the trenches.