Rams Designate OL Coleman Shelton For Return
The Rams should soon get some reinforcement on the offensive line. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve designated guard Coleman Shelton for return from IR.
After serving as a backup for his first three seasons in the NFL, Shelton earned the starting right guard gig heading into the season. He quickly moved over to center to fill in for the injured Brian Allen, starting four games between the two positions. The veteran suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4, an injury that was expected to knock him out for four to six weeks.
Shelton appears to be on track for that initial return timeline, and the Rams will now have three weeks to activate him from injured reserve. Coach Sean McVay hinted earlier this week that Shelton could be activated as soon as this weekend, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic (on Twitter).
The 27-year-old’s return should help provide some stability to what’s been a shaky offensive line. Allen has since returned to the lineup, and with Shelton back, the Rams will have the ability to play around with their options at offensive guard. Bobby Evans has struggled mightily in 2022, ranking 80th among 81 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ rankings. Alaric Jackson has fared much better and will likely keep his starting gig even with Shelton back in the lineup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/22
Here are the roster moves for today, leading into gameday tomorrow. Reminder that gameday elevations will revert to the practice squad after this weekend’s games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Promoted from practice squad: K Matt Ammendola, S Chris Banjo
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Vigil
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: TE MyCole Pruitt
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Brandon Copeland
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: WR Jamison Crowder
- Signed to active roster: WR Isaiah Hodgins, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tanner Gentry, LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Waived: DT Brandin Bryant
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Marquise Blair, WR Derek Wright
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: CB Cam Taylor-Britt
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Tyler Shelvin
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Dakota Allen, WR Chester Rogers
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Carlos Watkins, LS Matt Overton
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander, CB AJ Parker
- Promoted from practice squad: K Michael Badgley, CB Saivion Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Quintez Cephus
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, TE Mason Schreck
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Corey Peters
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Michael Bandy, K Taylor Bertolet
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: S Jordan Fuller, OL Coleman Shelton
- Signed to active roster: RB Malcolm Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jacob Harris, C Matt Skura
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: T Brandon Shell
- Activated from IR: S Clayton Fejedelem
- Placed on IR: TE Cethan Carter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: S Myles Dorn
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Dan Chisena, TE Nick Muse
- Placed on IR: TE Ben Ellefson
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: WR Tyquan Thornton
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Garrett Gilbert, TE Matt Sokol
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: CB Bryce Thompson
- Promoted from practice squad: S Chris Harris, WR Keith Kirkwood
- Placed on IR: CB P.J. Williams
- Waived: RB Tony Jones Jr.
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: S Tony Jefferson
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcus Johnson, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: T Duane Brown
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Placed on IR: OL Max Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere, K Cameron Dicker
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: OLB Ryan Anderson
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Josh Jackson, S Elijah Riley
- Waived: DE David Anenih
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: S Jimmie Ward
- Signed to active roster: LB Akeem Spence
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Malik Turner, RB Tevin Coleman
- Placed on IR: OL Colton McKivitz
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cullen Gillaspia, LB Christian Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kaylon Geiger, WR Deven Thompkins
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: OL Tyler Larsen
- Placed on IR: LB Milo Eifler
Coleman Shelton To Miss Extensive Time
The injuries continue to mount for the Rams on their interior offensive line. The defending Super Bowl champions lost another starter up front, with Sean McVay indicating Tuesday that Coleman Shelton will be sidelined due to a high ankle sprain.
Shelton, who won the team’s right guard competition out of training camp, had moved to center after Brian Allen‘s Week 1 injury. Allen has not yet returned, but McVay said Shelton will face a four- to six-week return timetable as a result of the injury he sustained against the 49ers. An IR stay seems likely for Shelton.
The Rams played without their starting center (Allen) and left guard (David Edwards) against the Niners, and other options are out of the picture inside as well. The team’s top 2022 draft choice, guard Logan Bruss, suffered ACL and MCL tears in August; right guard replacement Tremayne Anchrum is also out for the year. The Rams finished with third-string options at center (Jeremiah Kolone) and right guard (Alaric Jackson) by game’s end, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes (on Twitter).
A UDFA who has been with the Rams for four seasons, Shelton earned his first crack at a starting job this season. He was the team’s only interior-line constant during the first four games, playing guard and center for the injury-battered front. The Rams will need to make another adjustment before facing the Cowboys in Week 5.
The 49ers dropped Matthew Stafford seven times in Week 4, marking the second game this season in which Stafford has taken seven sacks. The Bills began the year with a seven-sack showing, doing so as the Rams lost Allen to injury. Allen underwent a knee procedure shortly after Week 1, but the Rams did not place him on IR. After missing three games, the veteran snapper should be back soon. It might not be this week, however, Rodrigue adds (via Twitter). Edwards was placed in the team’s concussion protocol over the weekend, leaving his status uncertain for the Dallas matchup. The Rams still have their tackles — Joe Noteboom and Rob Havenstein — available, though Noteboom allowed three of San Francisco’s sacks Monday.
Rams C Brian Allen Out For 2-4 Weeks
The Rams’ offensive line had a tough night in their season-opening loss to the Bills last night. Unfortunately, their job won’t get any easier as starting center Brian Allen will miss the next two to four weeks in order to undergo a knee procedure, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. 
Allen played the entirety of the game last night without apparent issue but requires a cleanout procedure on his knee. Allen has seen a number of ailments to his knee. He missed half of the 2019 season with a knee injury and had to earn his starting job back upon his healthy return.
After successfully topping the depth chart again in 2021, Allen was sidelined with an MCL sprain one snap into a Week 12 game against the Jaguars that would force him to miss the following game in Arizona, as well. Another knee injury forced him to leave a Week 15 matchup against the Vikings early, but he was able to return the next week and stay healthy all the way through the Super Bowl.
With Allen out, the Rams will slide starting right guard Coleman Shelton into center and Tremayne Anchrum will sub in for Shelton. Last night was just Shelton’s third career start in the NFL but he does have center experience from his time at the University of Washington.
Placing Anchrum in the starting lineup will give the former seventh-round draft pick his first career start after appearing in 13 games since being drafted in 2020. Los Angeles doesn’t have much more of a choice as third-round rookie Logan Bruss is on injured reserve with tears in his right ACL and MCL from the preseason. Past Anchrum, the Rams only have backup tackles A.J. Jackson and Bobby Evans as substitute options.
NFC West Rumors: Hopkins, Brunskill, Seahawks, Rams
While there was some contention in regards to the six-game suspension handed down to Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the NFLPA considers his case a closed issue, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. There was a sliver of hope that the ban may be reduced from six to four games, and Hopkins still believes there may be, but it seems all but certain that he will be out for all six.
With Hopkins out, Arizona’s receiving room will be led by trade acquisition Marquise Brown, veteran A.J. Green, and second-year player Rondale Moore. The depth gets pretty thin behind those three with Andy Isabella, Antoine Wesley, and Greg Dortch on the roster, among a few others. The Cardinals also shopped Isabella earlier this year.
Here are a few other rumors from around the NFC West, starting with a note out of the Bay Area:
- Many have thought that former Dolphins center Jake Brendel will take over for the retired Alex Mack as the 49ers‘ starting center. But, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Daniel Brunskill has been taking all of his snaps at center this summer. This is significant as Brunskill has started the last two seasons for San Francisco at right guard. If Brunskill can fill the hole at center, the real battle on the 49ers offensive line may be for the right guard spot.
- While there’s been some discussion on the intrigue of the cornerback position group in Seattle, there’s even a bit of intrigue among the Seahawks‘ rookies. Despite being drafted in the round after his teammate, rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen out of Texas-San Antonio could likely find himself earning playing time over fellow rookie cornerback Coby Bryant out of Cincinnati, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. In a mock game that took place the week before the preseason started, Woolen stood out alongside starter Artie Burns as Sidney Jones sat out with a concussion.
- With the departure of Austin Corbett over the offseason, the Rams have been looking for a replacement at right guard. Currently, Coleman Shelton has secured a lead on the position after three years as the team’s backup center, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. Rookie third-round pick Logan Bruss will get an opportunity to play some snaps in the preseason, but the job is likely Shelton’s to lose.
- Similarly, after releasing longtime punter Johnny Hekker following the team’s Super Bowl LVI victory, Los Angeles has held a punting competition between former Broncos and Giants punter Riley Dixon and undrafted Texas rookie Cameron Dicker. According to Rodrigue, Dixon is far and away expected to win that position battle.
NFC West Notes: Carroll, Murray, Rams
The Cardinals and Seahawks respectively announced Kyler Murray and Pete Carroll tested positive for COVID-19. While coronavirus protocols are absent to start training camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes the league in June informed teams anyone who tests positive must isolate for five days (Twitter link). Carroll, 70, is experiencing mild symptoms, according to the Seahawks, who add he will continue to participate in meetings virtually. As for Murray, he will not be required to be moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list. After two years of use, the NFL did away with the virus list this offseason. Murray will remain on the roster but away from the team.
Here is the latest from the NFC West:
- Murray is no longer contractually obligated to complete a certain number of film-watching hours this season, but the Cards’ issues with their recently extended quarterback’s commitment have surfaced. His off-and-on offseason participation is something the team has certainly noticed, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer, who adds questions about the former No. 1 overall pick’s leadership have lingered as well. The Chris Mortensen Super Bowl Sunday report about acrimony between Murray and the Cardinals — one that labeled the 2018 Heisman winner as a “self-centered, immature finger-pointer” — drove Murray’s camp to demand an extension this offseason. As evidenced by the since-scrapped clause, the Cards do want their franchise QB to commit more to the mental side of the game, per Breer. How the team went about ensuring that will remain one of the more notable matters in modern contract history.
- Former UDFA Coleman Shelton started two games for the Rams last season, the only two starts in his three-year career, but Sean McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, on Twitter) he is in the mix to start at right guard this season. Shelton has worked as a first-team guard and center in practice. The Rams lost Austin Corbett in free agency but also used a third-round pick (which means more to the defending champions than most teams, given their perennial first-round absence) on guard Logan Bruss. The Wisconsin alum joins Shelton and 2020 seventh-rounder Tremayne Anchrum (12 career games; zero starts) in competition to replace Corbett.
- Although it emerged as a point of contention this offseason, Kyle Shanahan said Deebo Samuel‘s usage as a running back did not factor into his 49ers extension talks.
Latest On Cam Akers, Rams Offense
Cam Akers was clearly limited when he returned from a full Achilles tear to join the Rams for their Super Bowl run. Following a rookie campaign where he collected 748 yards from scrimmage on 156 touches (4.8 yards per touch), Akers was limited to 248 yards from scrimmage on 75 postseason touches (3.3 yards per touch). Fortunately, the running back told Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic that he’s 100 percent healthy heading into training camp, and he’s focused on maintaining his health throughout the upcoming season.
“(I’m) focusing on building my armor up as strong as it can be, but really locking in on the mental side, as well,” Akers said during spring practices.
New Rams running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples might not necessarily have the luxury of easing Akers back into action. As Rodrigue writes, fellow RB Darrell Henderson is recovering from his own surgery and has missed games in each of his three NFL seasons. Plus, rookie fifth-round RB Kyren Williams suffered a foot injury during OTAs that required surgery and could miss a chunk of training camp. Otherwise, the team will be relying on inexperienced options like Jake Funk, Raymond Calais, and Xavier Jones.
Elsewhere on offense, we may see the Rams sign another QB for the preseason. Rodrigue cites sources who believed the Rams would add a UDFA to serve as a fourth quarterback for training camp. The organization still hasn’t added anyone to the trio of Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, and Bryce Perkins, and Rodrigue opines that the grouping is probably locked in. As a result, the Rams can’t offer much to a free agent QB besides some preseason opportunities, but they’ll likely find someone to fill that role before the start of camp.
Finally, the Rams offensive line will see some changes next season, and that includes right guard after Austin Corbett left for Carolina. To replace the former RG, the coaching staff will have three players compete for the open starting gig, per Rodrigue: Logan Bruss, Coleman Shelton, and Tremayne Anchrum.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/22
It’s been a busy day around the NFL. We’ve compiled today’s minor moves below:
Denver Broncos
- To be signed: G Ben Braden
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: TE Antony Auclair
- Claimed (from Cowboys): CB Reggie Robinson
- Restructured: LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: FB Michael Burton
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed (two years): C/G Coleman Shelton
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: TE Geoff Swaim
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: DB Troy Apke
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/21
Today’s minor transactions:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed ERFA tender: OL Coleman Shelton
New England Patriots
- Reinstated from reserve/retired list: C Dustin Woodard
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Jamir Jones
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/27/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Released: TE Dax Raymond
Denver Broncos
- Released: S Tyvis Powell, TE Bug Howard, DL Deyon Sizer, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli
Detroit Lions
- Released: RB Tra Carson, LS James Fisher, G Casey Tucker, P Matt Wile
Green Bay Packers
- Released: QB Manny Wilkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: TE Billy Brown, WR Steve Ishmael
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: QB Kyle Shurmur
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: RB Mark Thompson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Coleman Shelton (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
- Released: LB Jeff Holland
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Jacob Thieneman