Rams running back Tre Mason has been in legal hot water all offseason, first after a March arrest on numerous charges including resisting arrest, possession of cannabis, and reckless driving, and then following a missed arraignment in April. Those incidents could lead to Mason losing his spot on Los Angeles’ roster, as Rams head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters, including Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News, that the club has to “prepare [itself] that Tre’s not going to be here.”
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It’s not entirely clear if Fisher is referring to a looming league suspension — which is very likely — for Mason, or whether the head coach is implying that the Rams could waive the 22-year-old Mason. Mason hasn’t attended any of Los Angeles’ OTAs this offseason as he deals with his legal troubles, and even if he does make it back on the field, Mason is in danger of losing his role in a Rams running back corps that includes superstar Todd Gurley, plus reserves Benny Cunningham, Chase Reynolds, and Malcolm Brown.
Mason already saw his place on the club dwindle in 2015, as the presence of Gurley meant that Mason’s carries dropped from 179 to just 75. After rushing for 765 yards during his rookie year, Mason toted the ball for only 207 yards in 2015, while his snap percentage was nearly cut in half (36.7% vs. 19.1%). With Cunningham acting as the Rams’ go-to third down back, and Reynolds serving as a special teams ace, waiving Mason might not be all that difficult a decision.
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