One of the biggest questions heading into Los Angeles Rams training camp was the health status and availability of starting left tackle Alaric Jackson.
It was announced about a month ago that the 27-year-old was dealing with blood clots and the complications thereof. The Rams signed veteran tackle DJ Humphries shortly before the announcement of Jackson’s ailments.
McVay Addresses Alaric Jackson’s Condition Ahead of Los Angeles Rams Training Camp
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When head coach Sean McVay approached the podium on the first day of training camp, he addressed the situation, unprompted, before even addressing Matthew Stafford’s back soreness.
“With A.J. Jackson, that’s obviously been a unique situation. What I think’s been great is that we’ve been able to learn is we do have a plan in place that we’re confident in, that most importantly, he feels good about, that hopefully leads to him being on the field for us. But we are going to take it a day at a time.”Â
McVay didn’t clarify if a hard and fast timeline, but did say that Jackson would not be added to an official preseason injury designation and his level of participation in the offseason.
“He’s not going to be on a PUP or NFI list. What he’ll be able to do in the meantime is some individual drills with Reggie and his group, some of that we’ll do with coaches, some of the jog throughs, the actual physical stuff he will not partake in right now. And we’ll just take it a day at a time with something of this nature.”
Jackson delt with a similar issue in the recent past. He was diagnosed with blood clots and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on November 16, 2022. Shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season, Jackson signed a 3-year $57 million deal.
For all the murkiness that comes along with a condition like this, McVay remains ‘hopeful.’ That Jackson will be able to rejoin the team this season.
“I do feel good about the plan we have in place that hopefully leads to him being able to go out there and compete with his teammates. I know he is really feeling good. He’s handled this like a total stud. And I think the perspective that this stuff gives you, where it’s always about the human being first and foremost, but he’s got a lot of people that love him that are with him on this journey, and we’re excited to be able to just take it a day at a time with him.”
The word ‘hopefully’ is doing a lot of work for McVay’s responses, but certainly doesn’t clear the air in terms of Jackson’s status for the Rams Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans and leaves the door wide open for Humphries starting the season protecting Matthew Stafford’s blindside.
Humphries tore his ACL on December 31st of 2023. He was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs after being released by the Arizona Cardinals. The 31-year-old played in just two games for a total of 92 snaps. The Chiefs opted to start rookie Kingsley Suamataia and later converted guard Joe Thuney to left tackle.
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