The Los Angeles Rams will start veteran offensive tackle David Quessenberry at left tackle on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, as the team faces the Arizona Cardinals in a key NFC West matchup. Quessenberry steps in for Alaric Jackson, who is serving a one-game suspension after punching Buffalo Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb during Monday night’s overtime loss.
Quessenberry, 36, hasn’t started an NFL game since 2023, but coach Sean McVay says the team has been quietly preparing him for this moment for months. Because Jackson has previously missed time due to blood clot issues, Quessenberry has regularly taken first-team practice snaps alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“He’s a consummate pro,” McVay said. “Even though it’s been a little bit of time, he still has played a lot of good, meaningful snaps.” McVay added, “He takes a bunch of snaps with our first offense all the time. I do feel confident in him. He has a great look in his eye, and he’s a Ram through and through.”
Stafford echoed that confidence. “A lot of trust in DQ,” he said, citing Quessenberry’s experience and track record in the league.
Quessenberry has spent more than a decade in the NFL, overcoming a cancer diagnosis early in his career and playing for the Texans, Titans, Bills and Vikings before joining the Rams. His experience on both sides of the offensive line has made him a reliable depth option.
For Quessenberry, knowing he’ll start the entire game offers a different kind of preparation than his usual role as a backup who must be ready to play multiple spots. “It’s kind of nice knowing, ‘Hey, on Sunday, we’re going to start the game and we’re rolling,'” he said Thursday. “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.”
His main task Sunday will be protecting Stafford from Arizona’s pass rush. “Protecting Nine [No. 9 Matthew Stafford] is at the top of everybody’s list, no matter what,” Quessenberry said. “No matter what the game, no matter who we’re playing, that’s always the No. 1 thing.”
The Cardinals have given up 142 points over their last four games, but the Rams, now 2-3 after a 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo, can’t afford to take anything for granted. The team’s offensive line has struggled with pre-snap penalties this season, adding pressure on Quessenberry to play clean as well as solid football.
“This is kind of what I’m here for,” Quessenberry said. “Things like this happen, so I’m ready to go. This is what I’ve worked for.”
