If it was not enough that the Los Angeles Rams signed Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson to big contracts in free agency, the team had to keep scouring the market for offensive line help in August due to training camp injury and agreed to terms with former Bills, Jets, and Patriots tackle Conor McDermott on Tuesday.

McDermott is a career backup, but has started 11 games over the past two seasons, all with the New England Patriots. He’s now going to have a pretty important role for the Rams by being the team’s offensive line insurance should L.A. need to go into Week 1 against the Detroit Lions short-handed at guard or tackle.

Jonah Jackson, left tackle A.J. Jackson, and right tackle Rob Havenstein are all missing time with various injuries and nobody can guarantee at this point that they’ll be available in the regular season. Sean McVay’s terminology that Havenstein’s injury is “not expected to be season ending” is especially concerning.

McDermott, a native of Tennessee, played college football at UCLA and returns back to L.A. for another shot at the NFL. At 31, McDermott only has 17 career starts, but again most of those have come recently. The Rams now have McDermott, Warren McClendon, Joe Noteboom, A.J. Arcuri, and undrafted rookie Blake Larson as tackle depth. With Havenstein sounding less likely to be ready for the season and Alaric Jackson on the mend, McVay may need them sooner than later.