The Los Angeles Rams had plenty of roster items to address before they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on âSunday Night Footballâ in Week 12, including with 2021 Super Bowl champions Rob Havenstein and Tyler Higbee.
They joined versatile veteran safety Quentin Lake on injured reserve. There remains hope for all three players. Still, these are significant blows to a Rams team gearing up for a postseason run.
The reality is that the Rams will miss all three players on the field.
Rams Lose Super Bowl Champions to Injured Reserve
GettyRob Havenstein #79 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was an ominously busy day for the Rams. They placed Lake on IR with the elbow injury that he picked up in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks. There is optimism, though, that he will be able to return if the Rams can make a deep playoff run.
The Rams ruled Higbee, who exited early in Week 12, questionable in the third quarter.
He never returned, though. Meanwhile, Havenstein finished the contest, and Rams head coach Sean McVay did not mention him during his day-after press conference injury updates.
McVay said that Havensteinâs issues are an accumulation of ankle and knee issues from the wear and tear of a season. Havenstein and Higbee have already missed time due to injuries. The Rams have already played and won games without the veterans.
That leaves them in a better position than it might otherwise seem.
Rams Youngsters Must Step Up
GettyTerrance Ferguson #18 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before facing the Houston Texans.
The Rams are equipped to withstand the loss of Havenstein and Higbee, arguably better than they are to replace Lake, whose status McVay said they would continue monitoring as he recovers from a dislocated elbow. None of the three can return until Week 16 against the Seahawks.
LA will turn to former fifth-round draft pick (2023) Warren McClendon in Havensteinâs place. McClendon has already started three games this season.
The Rams will likely rely on a platoon to replace Higbee, just as they did with him healthy.
Veterans Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen could lead the way. However, the Rams had seen rookie second-round pick Terrance Feguson become more involved in the offense before a step back in Week 11.
One thing the Rams cannot replace, no matter how well the fill-in starters perform, is the loss of leadership on the field in all three of Havenstein, Higbee, and Lake.
Rams HC Sean McVay Gets Honest About Losing Key Trio
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on before a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
McVay did not mince words about what the Rams would miss without Havenstein, Higbee, and Lake, and what they expect of the players who replace those three.
âNo. 1, those guys are going to be here. They’re going to continue to uplift and elevate those guys. There is a lot of guys that we have confidence in. You donât replace players like that; You donât expect others to be able to do that. You expect the guys that are getting opportunities to step up to be the best versions of themselves. And this is something that you deal with, and itâs an unfortunate â itâs one of my least favorite parts of this business,â McVay told reporters, citing the work that players put in to play.
âTheyâll still be here. Theyâll still be able to affect and influence things in a positive way. And even though I know all three of those guys would be chomping at the bit to be out there, theyâre everything thatâs right about this place, and theyâll contribute in their own ways.â
Despite that, on the field, the Rams will miss their injured vets.
âThose are tough losses,â McVay said. âBut you look around this league, and weâve had to deal with things like this before. And there is a lot of confidence from the guys that have been asked to do different things thatâll be elevated to be able to go deliver, and play to the best of their ability. Not try to be Q, not try to be Rob, not try to be Higs. But be the best versions of themselves, and thatâs what weâll do.â
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