Rams don't expect Tavon Austin's role to change under Sean McVay
Cameron DaSilva
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
The Los Angeles Rams seemed to have a very clear plan for Tavon Austin heading into the 2017 season. Sean McVay thought he could become a real deep threat for Jared Goff, similarly to the way DeSean Jackson was for Kirk Cousins in Washington.
A wrist injury and hamstring issue have kept Austin off the field for just about all of training camp and spring practices, leading to some uncertainty when it comes to Austin’s role this season. The addition of Sammy Watkins doesn’t clear up anything for Austin or the Rams, but Les Snead is confident McVay will find a place for Tavon this season.
“We haven’t figured out how much he evolves as a receiver in this offense because he hasn’t had a chance to play,” Snead told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. “Plan to see him used very similarly to how he’s been used in the past. By that I mean, he’s scored as a receiver, he’s scored as a running back, he’s scored as a returner. That’s why we like him. He threatens the opposing team in many different ways. We’ve just got to get him healthy.”
Snead said Austin suffered a “freakish wrist injury,” which actually happened when he was doing “some clean and jerks” this offseason. The wideout had surgery to repair the injury, but he was also sidelined for all of minicamp in the spring as a result.
With Watkins in the mix, the Rams can use Austin as more of an offensive weapon rather than a true No. 1 receiver. He can line up in the backfield, run screens and short crossing routes, getting the ball in his hands quickly so he can do what he does best: make defenders miss.
McVay is a creative offensive mind, so he’ll find a way to incorporate Austin on offense. After all, he does carry a cap hit of nearly $15 million this season, so it’d be unwise to keep him on the bench.
First, he has to get on the field, which has been a challenge all offseason.
