Joe

Noteboom

The Ravens hosted both Noteboom and George Fant for free agent visits last month, ultimately deciding on the former. The soon-to-be 30-year-old tackle started 35 games in seven seasons with the Rams and is likely to serve as a depth offensive line piece behind Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten to start the season.

Backup tackle Joe Noteboom has been dealing with an ankle issue of his own but was removed from the injury report on Friday. He is expected to start at right tackle in place of Havenstein.

Havenstein still has Thursday and Friday to test out his injured ankle but it would have been nice to see him participate in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Former starter/backup T Joe Noteboom (ankle) did resume practicing in a limited capacity though, which bodes positively for his Week 12 availability.

This opens his 21-day window to return to the field. Sean McVay noted in a media availability that Noteboom would have a chance to play this week. His practice time is worth monitoring. Warren McClendon would get the start in place of Rob Havenstein if Noteboom isn’t able to play.

McVay said Nacua, Steve Avila, and Joe Noteboom all have “unique” injuries that could keep them out longer than the minimum of four games on injured reserve. It’s an ominous update for fantasy managers who took Nacua at the end of the first round. He suffered a sprained right PCL in the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Lions after injuring the same knee during training camp. The Rams will pepper Cooper Kupp with targets until Nacua returns, putting him in the top half of the WR1 ranks going forward. Demarcus Robinson, now the team’s No. 2 receiver, is now a viable WR4.

The team also placed left guard Steve Avila on injured reserve. Noteboom was carted to the locker room in the second quarter of the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Lions. Sean McVay later told reporters he was dealing with a high-ankle injury. Avila suffered an MCL sprain. The earlier either player can return is Week 7. Right tackle Rob Havenstein right tackle is day-to-day with a less severe ankle injury. The string of offensive line injuries is somewhere between concerning and disastrous for a less-than-mobile Matthew Stafford. To no one’s surprise, the Rams should rely heavily upon Cooper Kupp to carry the offense in the coming weeks.

No word on when the injury occurred or what the ailment is, but the veteran tackle was carted to the locker room for further examination in the second quarter of the team’s Week 1 game against the Lions. Expect further update to follow.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jackson violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy and is suspended without pay. “He will be eligible for reinstatement on September 16 following the Rams’ Week 2 game against” the Cardinals. The Rams’ offensive line was already weaker on the left and Jackson’s absence pushes oft-injured former starter Joe Noteboom back into the starting lineup.

To put it more bluntly, the Rams need Noteboom to take a pay cut if he wants to stay on the roster. Noteboom has struggled with injuries in recent years and was eventually benched for Alaric Jackson in 2023. Though cutting Noteboom will incur a $15 million dead cap hit for the Rams, it would save $5 million against the cap. Noteboom is a versatile lineman but will likely be deployed as a backup in 2024. Snead and the Rams want to keep him around, though only at a notable discount from his current cost.

The Rams are relatively healthy heading into Week 6. With Cooper Kupp now back in the fold, the Rams look to move 3-3 on the season against a 1-4 Cardinals team.