IRVINE, Calif. — The Rams will be without their No. 3 receiver, Van Jefferson, for at least a few weeks after he has a second procedure on his knee, head coach Sean McVay said after Monday’s practice.

Jefferson had an initial surgery this spring after playing through a separate injury to the same knee in the postseason, and doesn’t yet have a solid timetable for return after Tuesday’s scheduled procedure. McVay indicated that the team feels positive about Jefferson’s situation overall, and Jefferson’s substantial experience in the Rams’ offense means that, once cleared, it won’t take him long to onboard back into the offense.

But the Rams have a unique complication in their approach to filling Jefferson’s role in the interim. It’s pretty clear — based on watching how the staff is replacing Jefferson’s snap share while he’s been out these last few days — that the No. 3 receiver role would be filled by a committee of young players. All of these players — Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, Jacob Harris, Brandon Powell and even undrafted free agent Lance McCutcheon — have potential, some hugely so. So, why a committee? All of these players are missing some polish in one area or another, so combining snaps between a few of them creates a complete threat at the three spot (plus, with Jefferson’s snap share available at the moment, coaches need to see a variety of players doing a variety of things).

To me, the Rams’ biggest problem then becomes schematic. One of the best offensive weapons added in greater levels to McVay’s trademark system in 2021 was their use of tempo. If the Rams have to sub in and out various No. 3 receivers based on the type of play they’re running, they give up a huge tempo advantage and even provide a “tell” for opponents based on the style of wideout in the spot. Jefferson, who contributed a largely-unheralded 800 yards to the Rams’ offense in 2021, is a complete receiver who can stretch the field while selling the underneath routes, and also learned over time how to do the dirty work close to the stack.

Time will tell which player(s) can emerge while Jefferson is out. The Rams are still going to prioritize tempo, especially with the understanding that Jefferson’s absence is only temporary. Who can showcase not just the traits the Rams liked when they drafted/signed them in the first place, but take things a step further and prove they can be a trusted every-down player?

Skowronek, the edgy, physical second-year receiver, was thrown into a much larger role than the norm for a rookie seventh-round pick in 2021. Coaches love Skowronek because he is a fearless and violent blocker — something receivers need to do well in this offense — and has learned all three receiving positions that would be required of him as a No. 3. But Skowronek had inconsistent hands when he did get on the field last season, and because they haven’t played any live ball yet, there’s been little proof that he can stretch the field in the same way that Jefferson did. Just don’t tell him that — in speaking with Skowronek this week, I found a chippiness that is very much a plus for the nature of his position — and an adamance that he can show people he’s faster than he gets credit for.

Second-year receiver Tutu Atwell, a second-round pick in 2021, does absolutely have the speed that initially intrigued the Rams during the draft process. This year is starting vastly better than last, in part because he missed the first 10 days of his rookie camp due to COVID-19. His hands look better and the Rams are clearly trying him out on a variety of routes, not just the vertical stretches. But because the Rams don’t utilize as much play-action as they did pre-Matthew Stafford, Atwell doesn’t have as much of a “wind-up” to spring open and get into the next gear in his speed. Without the play-action, receivers sometimes must separate more quickly and get through more instant traffic and that does require physicality (as does their blocking expectations for the position). I’ll never rule a young player out of the mix before they get a fair shot to prove themselves, but Atwell, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds on the Rams’ roster, may not be able to be a volume-down player in a tempo offense that wants to stay unpredictable, despite his prodigious speed.

Meanwhile, athletic phenom and former fourth-round pick Jacob Harris is still extremely raw in his second season — technically his first year at the receiver position in the NFL. Harris’ size and speed would actually make him an ideal No. 3 in combination with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson in this offense, but it might be a bit longer before Harris puts everything together.

I’m keeping an eye on Powell, personally, though perhaps not for the No. 3 spot. The former journeyman receiver has been the first to the field each morning ahead of practice for special teams installation periods, has attached himself to offensive assistant Greg Olson during offensive installations (which means he’s getting first and second-team looks) and shows a tenacity after the catch that only players who know what it’s like to be out of a job possess. It’s my opinion, albeit after just a week of work, that he’s firmly in the driver’s seat at punt and kickoff return. If Powell can prove he can contribute in a pinch on offense, he can probably keep a roster spot.

Through Monday’s active, padded practice, it was clear that the Rams were testing all of these players in frequent rotation and in a variety of concepts.

“This gives us an opportunity to really evaluate some of these other receivers, I’ve been really encouraged,” said McVay. “Tutu had some good things that he did today. We know Ben Skowronek has played a lot of football for us on (special) teams and even last year on the offensive side of the ball. And then I think Brandon Powell has really shown that he’s not only capable of being a really good returner, but a capable receiver.

“It’s our job to be able to create authentic competition and real situations where their skills can come to life.”

Meanwhile, there’s the endless “Odell Beckham Jr.” question hovering around this group. McVay has been publicly courting the superstar free agent, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams but tore his ACL in the first half of that game. My understanding is that Beckham Jr. wouldn’t be able to contribute until about November, even if signed before that time, but I remain optimistic that the team can work out a deal with Beckham even if their initial offer hasn’t yet been acted upon (keep in mind that the process must be fair to Beckham and his growing family, too, if that means exploring whatever other offers might be out there).

But that won’t stop McVay from making his position on the matter clear.

“We’ll look at those (in-house) guys,” he said, flashing a wry smile at the cameras, “and then we’ll continue to see if we can figure out when Odell will come back at some point as well.”