The Rams have mostly relied on two edge rushers this season: Byron Young and Michael Hoecht. They don’t have much depth at that position, giving Zach VanValkenburg and Nick Hampton very few opportunities in the first four weeks.
Help could be on the way, though. The Rams plan to have rookie Ochaun Mathis return to practice this week in hopes that he can be activated from injured reserve when first eligible. Sean McVay said on the “Coach McVay Show” Monday that he’s excited about Mathis’ imminent return, which could be as soon as this Sunday against the Eagles.
Buy Rams Tickets“We’re excited to be able to get Ochaun back out on the grass,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that, he’s got the length, he’s got the athleticism, he’s got some nuances with his ability to rush and put pressure on the quarterback. He was a guy that had really taken great steps throughout the offseason program and then had the unfortunate setback in training camp where he was able to just get going and that happened in the five-day acclimation period. But he’s attacked his rehab the right way, he looks the part. I thought he had some tangible evidence of saying it’s not just looking the part, but also being able to deliver on that – with a small body of work, but something we’re excited to be able to start that window, see exactly when that’d be that he’d be ready to return to action. Certainly wouldn’t rule out Philly this week, but again, let’s get these guys out on the field, both he and Cooper, and see what that means as it relates to this coming Sunday.”
Mathis injured his knee in the beginning of training camp and has been sidelined ever since. He made the 53-man roster and was placed on IR shortly after, which allowed him to return after just four games rather than missing the entire season like he would have if the Rams put him on IR before setting the roster.
While he was only a sixth-round pick, Mathis is 6-foot-5 and has the size the Rams are looking for in an edge rusher. McVay likes his athleticism, too, which is what has helped Young get on the field so quickly.
Don’t expect Mathis to become a starter right away but with Hoecht struggling a little bit and the Rams having very little depth at the position, he could contribute sooner rather than later.
