The Rams signed D.J. Humphries on June 13 after Alaric Jackson's season was jeopardized by a health issue. Can the vet protect Matthew Stafford in 2025?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
What should have been a quiet June Friday turned into a pivotal day for the Los Angeles Rams, marked by a significant roster move born out of necessity. The team signed veteran Pro Bowl offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, but the celebration was muted by the troubling news that the signing was a direct response to a serious health recurrence for starting tackle Alaric Jackson, whose status for the 2025 season is now uncertain.
The ink is barely dry on Alaric Jackson's three-year, $57 million extension, and now his season is in jeopardy due to a deeply concerning recurrence of blood clots.
The core of today's news is the precarious health of Alaric Jackson. Just months after securing a massive contract extension to be a cornerstone of the offensive line, Jackson is once again dealing with blood clots, the same issue that sidelined him in 2022. While he is also listed as questionable for Week 1 with a tailbone injury, the blood clot issue is far more serious and carries an indefinite timeline. This puts the Rams in a difficult position, forcing them to find immediate protection for Matthew Stafford. The team's response was swift, bringing in former Pro Bowler D.J. Humphries on a one-year deal. Humphries is a proven talent but is also working his way back from an ACL tear suffered at the end of the 2023 season. It's a high-stakes gamble to shore up a critical position.
The ripple effects of Jackson's potential absence are massive. Protecting a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford is priority number one, and the front office is clearly not taking any chances. The Humphries signing provides a veteran presence with starting experience, crucial for a line that needs to gel quickly. As the team released its opponent breakdown for a Week 13 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, the importance of a stout offensive front was thrown into sharp relief. Facing tough defensive fronts throughout the season requires stability, and the Rams are now in a race against time to build that cohesion with a new piece.
Amid the serious on-field concerns, the team's newest members provided a much-needed dose of positivity in the community. On Friday, the Rams' 2025 rookie class, accompanied by team mascot Rampage, visited pediatric and cancer patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The players spent time with patients and their families, posing for photos and distributing giveaways. Maureen Chin of Cedars-Sinai praised the visit, noting the significant positive impact it had on the patients. It was a heartwarming reminder of the team's commitment to the Los Angeles community, offering a bright spot on an otherwise worrisome day.
As the Rams navigate this unexpected offensive line crisis, all eyes will be on Alaric Jackson's health updates. The signing of D.J. Humphries is a savvy, necessary move, but the team's success in 2025 may now hinge on how well this emergency patch holds. The coming weeks will be crucial for monitoring Jackson's recovery and seeing how quickly Humphries can integrate into the system ahead of a challenging season.
