Avila is uncertain to play against the Eagles in Week 3
Steve Avila, the Los Angels Rams‘ third-year offensive lineman, sprained his ankle in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, which also kept him sidelined for this past game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Avila missed seven games for the Rams last season with an injury but has proved to be a valuable piece at the guard position since being the team’s top pick in 2023.
Sean McVay provided an update on Avila’s status for Week 3 on Monday, telling reporters that he’s unsure if the young left guard will be able to play against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“No, I’m not sure,” McVay said. “I think he’ll be a week-to-week deal. I know he was encouraged with how he felt afterwards and he’s making good progress today, but we’ll take that a day at a time. I thought in his absence, Justin Dedich stepped up and did a really nice job yesterday.”
Avila has often been talked about as an athletic guard, and one who has the ability to block downfield on screen passes, while also being able to pull on run plays to the other side. In 2023, where Avila played all 17 games, he finished with a 59.9 overall grade from PFF, which was seventh among all rookie offensive linemen.
The obvious hope is that he will be able to suit up on Sunday, as the Eagles boast a great defensive line that includes one of the top interior defenders in the league in Jalen Carter.
For this team to have a successful 2025 campaign, the health of the offensive line is a main priority. In 2022, the Rams had to use 12 different offensive line combinations in their first 13 games, which was the highest in the league. Matthew Stafford also dealt with injuries the entire year, and it was no coincidence that the Rams finished 5–12, their worst record in the McVay era.
