Los Angeles Rams: Tyson Jackson camp invite problematic?
Defensive end Tyson Jackson’s invitation to Los Angeles Rams training camp for a workout shows LA may be in dire straits in terms of line depth.
A Tyson Jackson sighting at the Los Angeles Rams training camp shows the dilemma the defense is facing during the preseason. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the workout on Twitter.
Jackson has a résumé that resembles former Rams offensive tackle Greg Robinson’s. Or more appropriately, Robinson’s fits that of Jackson. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Jackson with the third overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. The defensive end spent five uneventful years with the Chiefs.
His most productive year was 2011, in which he had 37 tackles and 18 assists but just one sack. In 2013, Jackson had a career-high four sacks but just 24 tackles and nine assists. Still, that earned him a five-year, $25 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, as Pro Football Rumors reported. In 48 games and 35 starts, Jackson had 28 tackles, 38 assists and no sacks.
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Atlanta cut him at the start of free agency with two years left on his contract. No reports of any other Jackson workouts have surfaced.
Dominique Easley suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier during Rams training camp. The Rams obviously need defensive line depth without Easley or star Aaron Donald in camp. Donald is holding out amid talks over a new contract.
The Rams cut ties with Robinson, whom they drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in 2014. The left tackle committed more penalties in 2015-16 than any other player. New coach Sean McVay quickly moved Robinson to right tackle in the offseason and then traded him to the Detroit Lions.
If Jackson was a commodity, another team would’ve signed him before now. The Rams are doing their due diligence by working out the talented-but-underwhelming Jackson. Los Angeles, however, is putting Jackson through a workout more out of hope and desperation than expectation.
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Jackson may surprise during the Rams training camp and find a roster spot. Actually, he may not surprise the Rams and still find a roster spot because of the depth issues on the line. But Los Angeles may want to consider another avenue (a Tavon Austin trade?) to bolster its defensive roster.