The Rams are headed into a bad stretch without one of their most important blockers, and the timing could hardly be worse.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson is facing a two-game suspension after reports that he punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb on the field after Monday’s game. Head coach Sean McVay said Jackson plans to appeal, but Los Angeles is preparing as if the ban will stand.
If it does, the Rams will turn to veteran David Quessenberry, starting with this week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. That’s not the ideal fix for an offensive line that has been one of the team’s steadier units so far. The memory of last season’s collapse without Jackson is still fresh, especially that Week 17 loss to the Falcons.
Quessenberry earned the backup job with a solid camp and preseason, beating out rookie Keagen Trost, who is now on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The ninth-year veteran brings experience - 30 career starts - but most of that came with the Titans in 2021, when he was a regular starter. He last started for the Vikings in 2023, and in his lone Rams season last year he played just 18 offensive snaps.
It’s not a disaster on its face, but it isn’t comforting either. The Rams are already operating without Trost and Justin Dedich in the offensive line rotation, and this team has plenty of other issues to sort through. Replacing Pro Football Focus’ ninth-ranked tackle was never part of the plan.
McVay said Quessenberry would likely be the starter against Arizona and then again in Week against the Raiders if Jackson misses the full suspension. The Cardinals are coming off a 45-21 loss to Detroit, but they still have Josh Sweat, a pass rusher who can make life miserable for a backup tackle. That’s where the Rams could feel the absence most sharply.
The second game would bring an even tougher test. Las Vegas has dropped games to the Chiefs and Patriots, but under quarterback Kirk Cousins it has generally been competent, and Maxx Crosby is still one of the league’s most dangerous edge defenders. Facing Crosby without Jackson is not the kind of matchup any offense wants.
For now, the Rams don’t have many options. Even if Trost returns from injured reserve, he won’t jump Quessenberry. Big Bill Murray is the only other tackle on the 53-man roster.
In Other News...
Oregon Suddenly Has A Nebraska Problem At The Worst Time
Nebraska is nearing the midpoint of its season and sitting on the edge of bowl eligibility, which means every remaining game matters a little more than the last. The schedule does not exactly offer much breathing room either, with Ohio State and Iowa both waiting on deck and both ranked, so the Cornhuskers are trying to keep their postseason path alive while the calendar starts to get less forgiving.
For Oregon, the quarterback picture has suddenly become part of that larger equation. An injury to starter Dante Moore has clouded the Ducks outlook, and the situation has reopened attention on Dylan Raiola, Nebraskas former starter who is now in Eugene after being replaced during a game because of poor performance. It is the sort of late-season twist that can ripple beyond one roster, because what happens at quarterback for Oregon could end up mattering in the Big Ten race Nebraska is still trying to fight through. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Put Itself In A Key Battle For Elite CB
Months of recruitment efforts paid off for Nebraska when 2028 four-star defensive back Jordan Hicks finally made it to campus in Lincoln. The Mission Viejo, California, prospect came away with a strong impression of the coaching staff, and especially secondary coach Addison Williams, while also taking a closer look at how the Huskers want to play on defense and how they develop players once they arrive.
Hicks is still early in his process, but Nebraska clearly gave him something to think about. He said he plans to keep watching the Huskers season as he weighs his college options, which makes this one worth tracking for a program trying to stay in the mix for elite defensive back talent far from home. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Heads To Autzen With Oregon Facing A Massive Game-Time Question
Nebraskas first Big Ten trip to Autzen Stadium comes with plenty of atmosphere and a little extra uncertainty for the Ducks. The matchup marks the teams first meeting as conference foes, and Oregon has already turned the night game into an event by asking fans to show up in green for the FOX broadcast at 8 p.m. PT.
What makes the opener even more interesting is the quarterback situation on Oregons side, where Dante Moores concussion has left the Ducks without clarity at the games most important position. Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas are in the mix for the starting role, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game Nebraska will be watching closely as it walks into one of the loudest venues in the league. [Read more 🡒]