Rams waive tight end Kendall Blanton and lose rookie lineman Logan Bruss to injury

The Rams had no selection about dropping one participant anticipated to play a key function this season, and Saturday they made a considerably shocking choice to half methods with one other.

Shortly after the Rams introduced that tight finish Kendall Blanton was amongst 5 gamers placed on waivers, coach Sean McVay mentioned rookie offensive lineman Logan Bruss could be sidelined till 2023 due to a knee damage suffered throughout a preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Friday evening.

Bruss suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his proper knee.

The Rams, aiming to fortify an offensive line in transition, utilized a third-round decide — their highest within the draft — to pick out Bruss, who joined fellow former Wisconsin linemen Rob Havenstein and David Edwards with the Rams.

“We clearly drafted him with confidence that he could possibly be a man that might probably contribute for us this yr,” McVay mentioned.

Following the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI, proper guard Austin Corbett signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers and left sort out Andrew Whitworth retired.

Bruss was thought to be the eventual successor to Corbett as a part of a line that included left sort out Joe Noteboom, left guard Edwards, middle Brian Allen and proper sort out Havenstein.

Coleman Shelton took first-team reps at proper guard throughout coaching camp and appeared on observe to start out the season at that spot. However Rams coaches projected Bruss as a possible midseason substitute, permitting the versatile Shelton to be out there in any respect three inside line positions.

Now offensive line coach Kevin Carberry should develop extra depth for a line charged with defending veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford because the Rams try to repeat as Tremendous Bowl champions, a feat that has not been completed because the 2004 season.

McVay mentioned he has been impressed with “unbelievable strides” made by linemen A.J. Jackson and Tremayne Anchrum. And fourth-year professional Bobby Evans has beginning expertise at guard and sort out.

Bruss just isn’t the one member of the rookie class who may have surgical procedure.

Exterior linebacker Daniel Hardy suffered an ankle damage in opposition to the Texans and can bear a process that can most likely land him on injured reserve to start out the season, McVay mentioned.

The Rams signed Blanton as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He spent two seasons on the apply squad, after which was elevated to the roster throughout the 2021 season after Johnny Mundt suffered a season-ending knee damage.

Blanton performed a key function, particularly within the playoffs.

He caught two passes — together with one for a landing — in a divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Beginning instead of injured Tyler Higbee within the Tremendous Bowl, Blanton caught 5 passes earlier than he suffered a shoulder damage.

Higbee seems to be again at full energy after offseason knee surgical procedure, and Brycen Hopkins’ ascent little doubt factored into the choice to waive Blanton.

Hopkins, a 2020 fourth-round draft decide from Purdue, caught 4 passes within the Tremendous Bowl. Throughout two preseason video games, he demonstrated he could possibly be an efficient blocker. He caught six passes for 41 yards in opposition to the Texans.

Requested if the Rams waived Blanton to make room for extensive receivers resembling undrafted free agent Lance McCutcheon, McVay mentioned no. The choice was made after evaluating what was optimum for the offense.

“It’s actually about what’s one of the simplest ways to make use of your finest 11 gamers,” McVay mentioned.

Working backs Raymond Calais and A.J. Rose, receiver J.J. Koski and defensive again Jairon McVea had been different gamers waived forward of Tuesday’s deadline to trim rosters to 80 gamers.

McVay mentioned making the cuts early would possibly enable gamers to be signed by different groups forward of the ultimate preseason video games subsequent weekend.

Rosters have to be lower to 53 gamers by Aug. 30.

And so forth.

The Rams are off Sunday. They may resume apply Monday and journey to Cincinnati on Tuesday for Wednesday and Thursday practices in opposition to the Bengals. The Rams play the Bengals of their ultimate preseason sport Saturday.