For most of the season, David Quessenberry has been the kind of player Rams fans rarely think about.
asserted
fans → think → player
That’s about to change.
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That → change → ?
On Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, the veteran offensive tackle will suddenly become one of the most important men on the field, entrusted with protecting Matthew Stafford’s blind side in a must-win NFC West showdown against the Cardinals.
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tackle → become → Cardinals
With starting left tackle Alaric Jackson serving a one-game suspension for punching Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb following Monday night’s heartbreaking overtime loss, the Rams are turning to a 36-year-old journeyman who hasn’t started an NFL game since 2023.
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who → start → 2023
But here’s what fans should know about Quessenberry: The Rams haven’t been scrambling to prepare him for this moment.
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Rams → ’ → moment
They’ve quietly been preparing him for months.
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They → prepare → months
“He’s a consummate pro,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.
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McVay → ’ → ?
“Even though it’s been a little bit of time, he still has played a lot of good, meaningful snaps.”
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he → play → snaps
Quessenberry has spent more than a decade in the NFL, overcoming a battle with cancer early in his career before establishing himself as a reliable veteran offensive lineman.
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Quessenberry → spend → lineman
He’s played for multiple organizations, including the Texans, Titans, Bills and Vikings, developing the versatility to line up on either side of the offensive line.
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He → play → line
That experience matters when your assignment involves keeping a 38-year-old quarterback upright.
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assignment → matter → quarterback
And unlike most emergency replacements, Quessenberry isn’t walking into unfamiliar territory.
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Quessenberry → walk → territory
Because of Jackson’s previous absences related to blood clot issues, McVay revealed that Quessenberry has regularly taken first-team practice repetitions alongside Stafford.
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Quessenberry → relate → Stafford
“He takes a bunch of snaps with our first offense all the time,” McVay said.
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McVay → take → offense
“I do feel confident in him.
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I → feel → him
He has a great look in his eye, and he’s a Ram through and through.”
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he → have → eye
Stafford shares that confidence in Quessenberry as well.
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Stafford → share → Quessenberry
“A lot of trust in DQ,” Stafford said, pointing to the veteran’s experience and the fact that he’s already proven himself in the league.
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he → say → league
For Quessenberry, the opportunity is less intimidating than the uncertainty of being a reserve offensive lineman who must prepare for multiple positions every week.
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who → prepare → positions
“It’s kind of nice knowing, ‘Hey, on Sunday, we’re going to start the game and we’re rolling,'” Quessenberry said Thursday.
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Quessenberry → ’ → game
“When you’re a swing guy preparing for both sides, there’s a lot of situations where you don’t know how it’s going to play out.
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it → ’re → situations
He’s the starting left tackle, and his assignment is keeping Arizona’s pass rush from wrecking Stafford’s afternoon.
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assignment → ’ → afternoon
“Protecting Nine [No. 9 Matthew Stafford] is at the top of everybody’s list, no matter what,” Quessenberry said.
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Quessenberry → protect → list
“No matter what the game, no matter who we’re playing, that’s always the No. 1 thing.
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that → play → who
The Cardinals have surrendered 142 points over their last four games, but that doesn’t mean Stafford’s protection can be taken for granted.
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protection → surrender → games
The Rams are 2-3, coming off a devastating 37-34 loss to Buffalo, and can ill afford another afternoon of self-inflicted mistakes.
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Rams → come → mistakes
Their offensive line has already struggled with costly pre-snap penalties, making discipline every bit as important as blocking.
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discipline → struggle → blocking
Quessenberry understands the stakes, even if his demeanor suggests he’s been preparing for this opportunity his entire career.
uncertain
he → understand → opportunity
“This is kind of what I’m here for,” he said.
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he → ’m → what
“Things like this happen, so I’m ready to go.
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I → happen → this
This is what I’ve worked for.”
For years, Quessenberry has made his living being ready when somebody else couldn’t play.
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somebody → work → living
On Sunday, the forgotten veteran finally gets his turn, and if Rams fans barely notice him against Arizona, that might be the biggest compliment he could receive.
uncertain
he → forget → Arizona
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