Just one year after drafting Logan Bruss with their top pick in the 2022 draft, the Los Angeles Rams waived the former third-rounder. It was their most surprising move from cutdown day, releasing the struggling lineman before his second season in the NFL even began.
It didn’t help that Bruss tore his ACL last preseason and missed his entire rookie year, but Bruss had a chance to prove himself this offseason – especially with how uncertain the Rams’ offensive line was. After playing poorly at right guard, Los Angeles tried moving him back to his college position of right tackle. That didn’t go much better.
Buy Rams TicketsRams GM Les Snead spoke about the decision to cut Bruss and what went wrong in the last 16 months. He pointed to two things: his torn ACL and Aaron Donald. Bruss is back on the Rams’ practice squad but it’s still been a disappointing year for the former third-round pick.
“So obviously we didn’t think Logan was there yet. The goal is to still try to get him there,” Snead said. “I think from the start with Logan, he came in playing right tackle from Wisconsin, we moved him to guard. He got introduced to the NFL trying to block Aaron Donald while trying to learn a new position. That probably set him back a little bit. Then the ACL, then because of some injuries, we moved him back to right tackle. So there’s been a lot that’s occurred with Logan.”
No lineman wants to block No. 99. Not in practice on Wednesday and certainly not on Sundays. For some players, facing a future Hall of Famer can help but that doesn’t appear to have been the case for Bruss.
Bruss was supposed to be one of the Rams’ top linemen after he was drafted, hopefully solving their woes at guard. He can’t help that he tore his ACL, but he needed to play better in training camp and the preseason this year to earn a roster spot.
Ultimately, the Rams liked Kevin Dotson better, who they traded for this weekend, and they also preferred Zach Thomas, who they signed off the Bears’ practice squad last year.
Now, what I can say is there’s also been a lot that occurred with someone like Zach Thomas that we poached last year and he may have handled that situation better than Logan and is one of the reasons we kept him,” Snead continued. “But, don’t want to give up on Logan yet. Jacked that he wants to come back because that’s not easy. When we draft a player, release him, and probably release a player a little earlier than we would normally do, it’s a lot easier for him to say, ‘Maybe a new ecosystem, new environment’s better for me.’ He really liked what was going on here. Felt like this was the best place for him to have a shot of improving and getting to where he thinks he can be and where we think he can be.”
Bruss landing on the practice squad is great news for both him and the Rams. He gets to continue working with a coaching staff he’s familiar with, while the Rams still have a shot at developing him into a starting lineman.
He still has a lot of work to do to become that, but the Rams haven’t given up hope just yet.
