McVay: ‘There’s some uncertainty as it relates to exactly what his status will be’
After re-signing Alaric Jackson and bringing back Coleman Shelton, the Los Angeles Rams seemed set on the offensive line. There had been no question about who the five starters would be, but that’s changed in the blink of an eye.
Jackson was diagnosed with blood clots in his leg recently, raising some doubt about when he’ll be able to play this season, if at all. The Rams’ first priority is ensuring he’s healthy before even thinking about what his football future looks like.
Shortly after learning of Jackson’s condition, the Rams signed veteran D.J. Humphries as a contingency plan. They also added David Quessenberry earlier, another veteran with starting experience.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t concern about the state of the position with Jackson’s status uncertain. McVay admitted “there are some question marks” and he doesn’t know what Jackson’s availability will be come September.
“There are some question marks there, no doubt about it,” McVay told J.B. Long of the Rams. “He was a big priority for us to re-sign in free agency and now there’s some uncertainty as it relates to exactly what his status will be. I know he’s got the right mindset and mentality but to be able to get a guy like D.J. Humphries, who we know, we’ve played against. And then to be able to get David Quessenberry, to have Warren McClendon. I look at him as a guy that’s got a chance to really ascend. When he did play last year, I thought he did a really nice job. Rob was out for the spring, but that tackle position is something that we’ll be looking to really see and solidify.”
Jackson missed the final nine games of the 2022 season while dealing with blood clots, so he has suffered from this condition before. There are still almost three months until the start of the season so Jackson has some time to get healthy, but it’ll likely cause him to miss at least some of training camp, if not all of it.
He’s currently back home in Detroit getting treatment and McVay says he’s doing well, but the first priority is ensuring he makes a full recovery before thinking about football.