https://theathletic.com/3706272/2022/10/19/rams-trade-deadline-options/?source=emp_shared_article

Ah, the bye week. A time to rest, recuperate and yank the Los Angeles Rams’ season off the ledge.

Sure, the team is off this week. But internally, the gears will still be turning with the Nov. 1 trade deadline looming, key returns from previously injured players and a lot of problem-solving still to do.

To the best of your ability, are you able to provide a timeline of when the Rams’ injured players/injured reserve players are projected to be back? — Mike V.

According to Rams coach Sean McVay, players who will be back in Week 8 include wide receiver Van Jefferson, center Brian Allen, cornerbacks Troy Hill and Cobie Durant and defensive lineman Bobby Brown. Two of these players were on injured reserve, with the opportunity for eight total players to return from injured reserve if necessary.

Coleman Shelton is (at the moment) eligible to return after the Tampa Bay game but may be out a little longer as he rehabs a high ankle sprain with a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. Running back Kyren Williams could activate into the 21-day return window soon, which would give him three weeks to determine whether he can be ready for the backstretch of the season. Safety Jordan Fuller is eligible to return after the Bucs game. Guard David Edwards, who will visit concussion specialists in Pittsburgh, has an unknown recovery timeline. I don’t have a timeline on outside linebacker Daniel Hardy, but he wasn’t on McVay’s list of names. I don’t have an update on rookie safety Quentin Lake, who had knee surgery this spring and has yet to practice with the team.

How similar or different will the offense look with returns or potential returns of Van (Jefferson) and Kyren Williams? How big of an impact will they have? — Reginald K.‬

Based on Williams’ reps with the first-team offense in joint practices against Cincinnati this summer, then McVay’s effusive praise following those reps, I think Williams figures to have a big role when he’s back. Williams is probably not going to be a high-volume power-yards guy, but he sees the levels of McVay’s outside zone well and can work into the passing game. I’d love to see what he can do behind fullback Ben Skowronek.

Is Brian Burns a feasible trade candidate/will the Rams trade for more edge rushers? — Chef R., CaliWoodStoner

I actually do not buy for a second that Burns is “untradeable” because not trading him does nothing to protect Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer’s job, while acquiring assets for a future quarterback might. That said, it would probably take the Rams’ 2024 first-rounder (and maybe more) to get this done. Would I do it? Yep. Burns is a franchise pass rusher, and he’s young. Pairing him with Aaron Donald in the short term, then building out a core around Burns in a post-Donald existence seems like a reasonable strategy. As of the writing of this piece, I’ve been told there is nothing on the Rams’ end to the video of a Ram that Burns posted to his Instagram account. Still, I’d call.

I think we also need to keep an eye on Robert Quinn, and — how about this one — I think they should call the Broncos about Bradley Chubb.

As colleague Nick Kosmider noted, a new ownership group and an imploding season might be reasons for the Broncos to stockpile picks. Chubb is just 26, and Denver clearly believes in younger player Baron Browning behind him. The Rams need a pass rusher. They entered the 2022 season needing one, and they need one now. They’ll need one next year, too, and time is running out on current younger/developing players (and there’s no way to know what skill level they have in still-recovering rookie Hardy). I haven’t been repeating this since early spring simply to say it.

Matthew Stafford and Christian McCaffrey. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)

Astounding that so many people are inquiring about Christian McCaffrey when we don’t have a line for him or any back. Can you set everyone straight on the priority of fixing the OL? — Paul C.

Definitely, definitely the play/health of the offensive line is the top priority of this team and should be, considering how the catastrophic streak of injuries has affected every single thing the Rams do on offense. They should not (and likely won’t) neglect that as the deadline looms.

I don’t think it’s far-fetched to match the Rams to McCaffrey, who I have watched make a lot of yards out of terrible offensive line play in person and from afar for years. His injury history is really the biggest question, to me, because he’s owed only about a half-million by any team that trades for him near the deadline in 2022, and his remaining salary isn’t guaranteed (the Rams would probably restructure). When healthy, McCaffrey is a very good running back who could be great in a tandem and in an outside zone scheme, plus a dangerous underneath option for a quarterback (picture these double-backfield sets with McCaffrey on one side of quarterback Matthew Stafford and Darrell Henderson on the other, with Kupp and Robinson lined up wide).

The Rams shouldn’t overpay. If McCaffrey himself — friends with Stafford, with personal ties to Los Angeles — makes it known that he’d like to be moved instead of suffering through yet another rebuild, the price drops. If general manager Les Snead can get away with offering a future second and a future third (knowing he’s getting a third back in the compensatory formula), and maybe adds a player to the mix, and McCaffrey wants to come to Los Angeles …

All I’m saying is, they can try to fix two glaring issues at one time (and great question, Paul C.).

Do you think the Rams make just one trade or multiple trades by the deadline? — Satoru G.

I think they could make multiple, which would include trading running back Cam Akers. I think they need a pass rusher and a running back/offensive player and could stand to bolster the interior of the offensive line a little more.

Any chance of trading for (former Rams guard) Austin Corbett? — John R., Mark P. and M.

No, I think this is a long shot. Corbett will net the Rams a high compensatory pick in the draft, and he’s clearly a stabilizing force on that offensive line in Carolina.

When healthy, Shelton did a heck of a job at guard and at center (he was pass-protecting among the better interior players in the league before his injury). The Rams also have another standout undrafted free-agent lineman in Alaric Jackson, who will probably now move to left tackle (his natural position, though he played very well at right guard).

The Rams signed veteran depth tackle Ty Nsekhe on Tuesday, which tells me (as of now, barring any other type of move) they could have him back up Jackson and possibly put some resources into their guard spots with Edwards’ longer-term status unknown. Edwards and the left guard spot are really the biggest questions at the moment, because of other players the Rams are getting back — and therefore could be another spot where the Rams allocate resources.

What shall we call the new Ben Skowronek pocket-knife player sensation? The Skowrenaissance? The Skowrevolution? — Joshis

I like “Skowrenaissance,” in this season of pumpkin spice and Fullback Fall.