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After yesterday’s practice where Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported the potential serious injury to Los Angeles Rams DE Dominique Easley dropped, he was scheduled for an MRI. Unfortunately for Dom and the Rams, the fear was correct.
MRI confirmed that Rams DT Dominique Easley tore his ACL, and he is out for season, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2017
With another torn ACL, that brings Easley to 3 in his career total, but only his first in the NFL (2 in college). Unfortunately for Easley, that means he’ll miss the entire season after finally being pegged as a starter, and not only that, but he was entering a contract year.
With this news, the Rams will need to regroup and find a replacement for the starting LE. Some potential options are rookie Tanzel Smart, Ethan Westbrooks who is likely the main beneficiary, or even the newly added Mike Purcell. This wont help a defense looking to pull a team to the playoffs on its shoulders, though with DC Wade Phillips it’s hopeful the defense will be able to mask the loss of Easley as best as they can.
With it being August, there aren’t many options remaining out there. Just recently we at TST released an article on some potential options at DE that the Rams could look at add through free agency. With options like Westbrooks and Smart, the Rams don’t need to add a star at LE, just another body who can rotate for snaps and play on early downs contributing against the run.
Thoughts and prayers are with Dominique Easley, hopefully he can have a smooth recovery and find himself in a favorable situation next season, potentially with the Rams again.