Alaric Jackson’s appeal trimmed his suspension from two games to one, but that small victory still leaves the Los Angeles Rams with a problem they can’t ignore: their starting left tackle is out, and the depth behind him is already stretched.
That is why Keagen Trost’s return to practice on Thursday matters. The rookie tackle has spent the entire season on injured reserve after a hamstring injury in the Rams’ preseason opener, and his first step back onto the field comes at a moment when the team’s offensive line room needs bodies as much as it needs answers.
Jackson’s absence still puts pressure on the Rams’ depth chart. David Quessenberry is the next man up behind him, which gives Los Angeles an experienced option, but it also underscores how quickly the margin for error disappears when a starter is unavailable and two backups have already been dealing with injuries.
Trost’s return is the clearest counterweight to that squeeze. He was sidelined from the start of the year, and the Rams have not gotten much from their 2026 draft class, so any chance to get a young lineman back into practice carries added weight. Head coach Sean McVay has said he is optimistic Trost will be available in some capacity, though the rookie has still spent the whole season on injured reserve and will need to show he can handle the work in practice before the Rams can count on him.
The timing matters because the Rams head into Week 6 needing a win over the Cardinals if their playoff hopes are to be taken seriously. Jackson will be back after serving his one-game suspension, but the immediate question is whether Trost’s return can help the Rams survive the stretch in between without the offensive line becoming even thinner.