After playing every offensive snap last season, Steve Avila will miss significant time in Year 2. He suffered a sprained MCL in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games.
Sean McVay provided an update on Avila Friday, telling reporters that the second-year lineman underwent surgery on his knee to repair the MCL. It was an expected procedure, one the Rams believe “accelerates the healing.”
Surgery is obviously never ideal for any player but it sounds like this was the plan all along for the Rams and Avila after he went down in the opener on Sunday.
Rams guard Steve Avila (MCL sprain) underwent a successful procedure yesterday, Sean McVay said: “He’s in good spirits, smiling like normal. It wasn’t anything different than what we had expected. It was just kind of this accelerates the healing, the approach that we took.”
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) September 13, 2024
As for Avila’s timetable for return, it remains unclear. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said Friday that Avila is “looking at being back on the field in November, ready for the stretch run.
“In November” is a pretty vague timeline, but if accurate, it means Avila will miss at least the next six games. Their first game in November is on the 3rd, a road contest against the Seahawks.
#Rams standout G Steve Avila underwent surgery to repair his MCL, per coach Sean McVay. He’s looking at being back on the field in November, ready for the stretch run. McVay said the plan was to accelerate his recovery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2024
While Avila is out, Beaux Limmer will start at center with Jonah Jackson at left guard. Limmer filled in at center against the Lions after Avila got hurt and played well, impressing McVay in the process.
