Are Rams set to make ‘Jonah Jackson mistake’ at right tackle?

The Los Angeles Rams are set to make a change at right tackle for the first time since Week 4 when starter Rob Havenstein returns to the lineup. Havenstein has been out since Week 5 with an ankle injury and is set to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. While Havenstein has been out, Warren McClendon has played well in his place and hasn’t given reason to make a change.

It was just last year that the Rams were in a similar spot. Last year, it was an experienced player in Jonah Jackson that missed six games in the early part of the season. In his place, Beaux Limmer had performed well at center, but when Jackson returned healthy, the Rams inserted him back in the lineup without question. Jackson performed poorly in a loss against the Miami Dolphins only for the Rams to insert Limmer back in the lineup the following week.

Havenstein is certainly a better player and more reliable than Jackson was. At the same time, the Rams have been able to play the same starting five on the offensive line over the past three weeks and that has included McClendon at right tackle. During that time period, Matthew Stafford has gone from being pressured at a 38.6 percent rate to a 31.5 percent rate. McClendon has been solid at right tackle, allowing just one pressure in each of the last two games. Is it really worth disrupting the chemistry and cohesion on the offensive line for the sake of experience?

Over much of the past decade, there have been few right tackles who have provided as much of a stable presence at right tackle as Havenstein. During the 2022 season, the only offensive lineman not to get injured was Havenstein. He has been the steady, veteran presence that the Rams have needed. At the same time, over the last two years, he’s struggled to stay healthy. Havenstein only missed his first game in Week 5, but he’s been on the injury report since Week 2 with an ankle injury.

It’s certainly possible that Havenstein re-injures his ankle and the Rams have to go back to McClendon in a few weeks anyway, needing to rebuild the chemistry that the offensive line currently has. Some of Havenstein’s struggles this season can be attributed to his injury. At the same time, he wasn’t that strong in Week 1 either. His level may simply be dropping at age 33.

From Weeks 1-4, Havenstein allowed 16 pressures which led the Rams via Pro Football Focus. It was also tied for the third-most pressures allowed among all offensive linemen. This was really a continuation from the end of last season. 13 of Havenstein’s 23 pressures came after he returned in Week 13. In four games this season, he’s allowed four or more pressures twice. That’s something McClendon has only done once and it came in his first start.

Havenstein brings a level of comfort and is predictable. The Rams know...