The Rams are unlikely to have Tyler Higbee on Sunday, while Byron Young and 3 others are also questionable against the Ravens
The Los Angeles Rams have some injury concerns heading into Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Sean McVay told reporters on Friday that Tyler Higbee is doubtful to play this weekend due to a neck injury suffered in the Rams’ win over the Browns.
Byron Young, Michael Hoecht and Quentin Lake will all be questionable due to the injuries they’re currently dealing with; Young and Hoecht have knee injuries, while Lake is recovering from a hamstring injury.
McVay did say that “unless there’s a setback,” he thinks Young and Hoecht will both be “good to go” for Sunday’s contest. That’s good news for the Rams because Hoecht and Young are their two primary edge rushers and play the majority of the snaps.
As for the Ravens, Rashod Bateman, Justin Madubuike and Lamar Jackson are all good to go and will not carry injury designations into Sunday’s game. They each had a day where they either missed practice or were limited, but they were all full participants Friday.
Tyler Higbee and Michael Hoecht missed practice again on Thursday, but Puka Nacua and Quentin Lake are making progress
The Rams only held a walkthrough to begin the week on Wednesday, but they hit the field for a full practice Thursday as they prepare for this weekend’s game against the Ravens. While some players made progress in their participation levels, Michael Hoecht and Tyler Higbee did not.
Higbee missed practice for the second straight day with a neck injury, and Higbee was also absent from practice again on Thursday due to a knee injury.
Byron Young was upgraded to limited, as was Quentin Lake, which is a good sign for both players as Sunday approaches. Puka Nacua is trending in the right direction, too, going from limited to full.
On the Ravens’ side Rashod Batemen was upgraded from DNP to full as he deals with an illness, and Justin Madubuike also went from limited to full, so he should be able to play against the Rams on Sunday. Lamar Jackson popped up on the report Thursday after missing practice due to an illness.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Geno Smith
334-6
4
Brock Purdy
314-9
4
Dak Prescott
299-23
3
Jalen Hurts
298-20
2
Matthew Stafford
279-(-2)
3
Running Backs
Rush
Receive
TD
Alvin Kamara
14-51
6-58
2
De’Von Achane
17-73
3-30
2
Derrick Henry
21-102
1-18
2
James Conner
25-105
2
Chuba Hubbard
2-104
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
DK Metcalf
6-134
3
Deebo Samuel
3-22
4-116
3
Nico Collins
9-191
1
CeeDee Lamb
2-30
12-116
1
Tyreek Hill
5-157
2
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Sam LaPorta
9-140
1
Trey McBride
8-89
1
Jake Ferguson
6-77
1
Harrison Bryant
5-49
1
Taysom Hill
13-59
2-15
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Brandon Aubrey
3
4
Matt Gay
1
4
Lucas Havrisik
4
2
Jason Sanders
6
1
Matt Ammendola
1
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Chargers
5-1
0
Colts
6-2
1
Dolphins
3-1
1
Falcons
4-3
0
Texans
3-3
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Kenny Pickett – Ankle
QB Derek Carr – Concussion “plus”
WR Tank Dell – Fractured fibula
WR Marquise Brown – Heel
WR Amari Cooper – Head
WR Christian Watson – Hamstring
RB Derrick Henry – Head
RB Emari Demarco – neck
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – Ankle
RB Brian Robinson – Hamstring
TE Tyler Higbee – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
QB Kenny Pickett – He injured his right ankle that will need a surgical procedure to fix. He is expected to miss at least a few weeks and Mitch Trubisky will replace him for this Thursday’s game against the Patriots.
QB Derek Carr – For the third time this year, Carr left the game injured. This time he was blasted when he threw the ball and suffered a concussion while also injuring his shoulder and back. The Lions Bruce Irvin was penalized for roughing the passer and Carr was carted from the field. Carr just had a concussion three weeks ago, so this a serious situation. Jameis Winston will take over until Carr returns.
WR Tank Dell – The Texans phenom fractured his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. It is a sad ending for a season that has been so bright but he should return in 2024 with no lasting problems. Noah Brown just returned after missing two games with a calf injury and should be the replacement. Brown posted two 150-yard performances in Weeks 9 and 10, so he’s already seen success in the offense. He’ll need to step up into a starting role.
WR Marquise Brown – He was already questionable heading into the game with a heel injury, and reaggravated it during the win over the Steelers. If he cannot go when they return from their Week 13 bye, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch would share the workload.
WR Amari Cooper – He was already battling a rib injury heading into the game and was crushed by two defenders while trying to catch a pass. He is reported to have a concussion. He was already meshing well with Joe Flacco when he was hurt. There is no true replacement for Cooper who is clearly the best receiver on the team. Elijah Moore would see an uptick if Cooper remains out and he led the team with four catches for 83 yards.
WR Christian Watson – He had already scored twice on the Chiefs, but at the end of the game he went down clutching at his leg with an apparent hamstring injury. He missed three games to start the season with a hamstring issue as well, so another one is concerning. Dontayvion Wicks would become a starter if Watson remains out, but his production would be replaced by Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.
RB Derrick Henry – Suffered a head injury expected to be a concussion. Henry has been very durable considering his career workload but hasn’t missed time with a concussion. Tyjae Spears will replace him in Miami this week if he remains out.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – The Pats’ running back suffered an ankle injury and while his X-rays were negative, the early speculation is that he may miss multiple games. An MRI will determine the severity of the sprain but it’s highly unlikely that Stevenson plays on Thursday night at the Steelers. Ezekiel Elliott entered Week 13 with a thigh injury but was active and stepped up once Stevenson left near the end of the first quarter. Elliott handled 17 carries for 52 yards and caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards.
RB Brian Robinson – The Commanders’ back was running well against the Dolphins, gaining 53 yards on seven attempts but injured his hamstring and did not return. There was no immediate speculation as to the severity of the injury or if he would miss any games. Antonio Gibson would see the bigger boost in carries and catches, and Chris Rodriguez would also bump up to being the No. 2 back if Robinson misses any time, but the Commanders enter their bye and that gives Robinson more time to heal.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
Where did all the passes go? – It’s that time of the season when passing starts to decline. There were six teams on bye this week, but it is still notable that there were only two passers that topped 300 yards – Geno Smith (334 yards) and Brock Purdy (314 yards). Bet you didn’t see that coming.
RB De’Von Achane – We can’t be certain how long he will stay healthy, but he’s back to form at least for now. After taking last week off and flopping in Week 11, Achane ran for 73 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards, while scoring twice. His 20 touches topped the 12 given to Raheem Mostert.
RB Austin Ekeler – The stud of 2022 just hasn’t been nearly as effective this year. He just ran for 18 yards on 14 carries and caught just two passes for nine yards. He was on the road, but the Patriots run defense has declined to being only average – until this week.
RB Ezekiel Elliott – The injury to Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to last at least a week or two. The ex-Cowboy star gets a chance to handle a workhorse load until Stevenson returns. Three of their next four games are on the road which is not ideal, nor is scoring zero points at home this week. But Elliott can help an RB-hungry fantasy team reach the playoffs.
TE Kyle Pitts – He led the Falcons in Week 13 with eight targets for four catches and 51 yards. That was versus the Jets defense. The Falcons host the Buccaneers this week for a violent shift in the quality of the secondary. He had a minor boost from the Jets taking Drake London (1-8) out of the game, but it is good to see his name atop the box core for once.
RB Tyjae Spears – Derrick Henry consumed 21 rushes for 102 yards and two scores before leaving with a head injury in the loss to the Colts. But Tyjae Spears also turned in 16 carries for 75 yards (4.7 YPC) and caught four passes for 13 yards. He ran well enough that the Titans may not be in a hurry to replace Derrick Henry next season.
WR Jonathan Mingo – The Panthers second-round rookie is picking up steam as the offense appears to intentionally involving him more while relying less on Adam Thielen. This season was over long ago and working on next year by throwing more to the younger players makes sense. Thielen is sighed through 2025 and the Panthers cannot get out of that until after next year, so Thielen still needs to be involved.
QB Joe Flacco – Compared to Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker, the aged Flacco looked sharp passing for 254 yards and two scores in the loss to the Rams. Amari Cooper was lost in the game, and Elijah Moore ended with 12 targets that became four catches for 83 yards to lead the Browns. Flacco needs Cooper to be healthy, but he gets a lighter time for the next two weeks at home against the Jaguars and Bears.
QB Patrick Mahomes – He’s ranked as the No. 14 fantasy quarterback and hasn’t missed any games. Eight of his last nine games did not record more than two passing scores and no games this year had him rushing in a touchdown. Over the last five games, he’s averaged 222 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns which is pretty much the definition of an average NFL quarterback. What I’m trying to figure out is if we can say that he is a… you know,,, “average quarterback”? Can we even say that aloud? Is that even legal? I’m asking for a friend.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Deebo Samuel – You’d think visitors would be less aggressive in the City of Brotherly Love, but not so for Samuel. The 49ers Swiss Army knife caught four passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns at the Eagles, and ran for 22 yards and another score on three carries. Oh yeah, he also gained 60 yards on his two kick returns. He may have several blades, but each one can cut you.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Tyler Higbee is questionable to return vs. Browns as he is being evaluated for a concussion.
The Los Angeles Rams are experiencing a couple of injuries on the offensive side of the ball in Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns. After Puka Nacua exited — and returned — from a rib injury, Tyler Higbee is questionable to return due to a potential concussion.
Rams Injury Update: TE Tyler Higbee (concussion) questionable to return
Higbee suffered the injury after taking a tough hit on a pass intended for him from Matthew Stafford. The experienced tight end went to the sideline and he’s being evaluated for a concussion, making his return iffy in the fourth quarter.
Sean McVay explained why the Rams felt comfortable giving more reps to Davis Allen and Hunter Long in Week 12 vs. the Cardinals.
The Los Angeles Rams are a team that runs their offense almost exclusively out of 11 personnel. But after Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, Sean McVay discussed why Davis Allen and Hunter Long got more snaps alongside Tyler Higbee in Week 12.
“Yeah, I think it was just what you mentioned,” McVay said. “Those guys have done a good job in practice. I think we wanted to make a concerted effort to be able to get some other guys some snaps. Higs has done such a good job, but to take a little bit off his workload just considering all the work that he’s gotten, continue to develop the depth at that position. (TEs coach) Nick Caley has done a really good job. Then we had another guy that wasn’t active who’s more than capable of filling in and playing snaps when he’s done that in previous games with Brycen Hopkins, as well.”
The Rams made Hopkins a healthy scratch ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals, which paved the way for Allen and Long to get more reps. Allen received nine offensive snaps, while Long was on the field for 15 offensive snaps in the lopsided victory.
While Allen and Long combined for one catch for 6 yards, their contributions in the run game didn’t go unnoticed. The Rams would rush for 228 yards, with Kyren Williams and Royce Freeman accounting for 220 of those yards.
On the season, the Rams have run their offense out of 11 personnel at a 92 percent rate. In Week 12 versus the Cardinals, the Rams were in 11 personnel 89 percent of the time, and the other 11 percent was spent in 12 personnel. That was tied for the third-highest rate of running 12 personnel for the Rams this season.
Even though Higbee remains the starting tight end — and he caught his first two touchdowns of the season in Week 12 — we could see more of Allen and Long down the stretch.
We take an inside look as to how ball distribution from the Rams was the main force behind their best offensive performance of the season.
The Sean McVay offense is truly a thing of beauty when all its pieces are healthy and operating at a top level. Having his allotment of weapons, Matthew Stafford put together a masterclass performance on Sunday, going 25-for-33 with 229 passing yards, four touchdowns, and only one interception as the Rams cruised to a 37-14 victory over the Cardinals.
The Rams had 457 yards of total offense. They welcomed back Kyren Williams, who picked up right where he left off as the running back from Notre Dame put together an astonishing 143 rushing yards on just 16 carries. Royce Freeman, not wanting to lose out on his opportunities, put together 77 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown from 13 carries.
However, Williams proved his worth as he added six receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns to go with his already impressive stat line. Williams was one of eight pass catchers on the day as Stafford and company moved the ball with ease.
The Rams’ biggest targets on the season, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, were basically non-factors Sunday, combining for seven receptions and 45 yards. Previously, there was an argument that prioritizing Nacua would be the path to opening up the offense. Perhaps it is actually Williams if we look at the stats.
The emergence of Tyler Higbee also played a huge factor. The tight end had five receptions, 29 yards and two touchdowns. His size, ability to create his own space and the attention he requires helps open up the run and pass game.
It’s nice to see everyone healthy and playing at a high level. Yes, it was the fledging Cardinals but after the last two months of play, having back-to-back division wins after the bye was desperately needed.
The Rams play one of the best defenses in the NFL next week in the Cleveland Browns. They will provide an accurate picture of how effective this offense truly is, but with Williams back and Freeman performing at a high level, I have confidence that the Rams will produce another winning effort.
It took 11 games but a Rams tight end has finally scored a touchdown in 2023
It had been a long time since Tyler Higbee found the end zone, but he finally scored a touchdown in the Rams’ Week 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s the first time a Rams tight end has gotten into the end zone this season and the first time since Week 16 of last season for Higbee himself.
The touchdown came on the Rams’ opening drive Sunday against Arizona, a 7-yard pass from Matthew Stafford where Higbee made a defender miss in the open field and he walked into the end zone for six points.
It gave the Rams an early cushion against the Cardinals, in part thanks to a fourth-down conversion by Kyren Williams earlier in the drive.
After the Rams’ 20-3 loss in Green Bay, Sean McVay revealed that Tyler Higbee has been dealing with a few injuries
It was not a good day to be a fan of the Los Angeles Rams. A 20-3 loss in Green Bay marked the franchises’ sixth straight loss at Lambeau Field, a place they haven’t won at since 2006.
There are multiple factors that went into Sunday’s loss but one could not be more evident then the stat sheet of Tyler Higbee. The often reliable tight end was a nonfactor with no catches against Green Bay. When asked about the status of his Super Bowl-winning tight end, Sean McVay said Higbee has “been fighting through a lot of stuff.”
“He’s playing with something that restricts his right thumb,” McVay said.
Alluding to his play today, McVay makes a quick mention that Higbee was hurt in today’s contest, allowing all of us to assume that the combination of today’s injury with what he has already been dealing with was a bit too much for him to overcome. Higbee did have one target but he dropped it when colliding with a Packers defender.
This game was a crucial loss for the 3-6 Rams. In games that the Rams either won or lost by three or fewer points, Higbee averaged 3.75 catches and 50.5 receiving yards per game. In their five other games in which the Rams lost by more than three, Higbee averaged 2.2 catches and 16.8 yards per game.
A member of the Rams since their move back to Los Angeles, there’s a reason why Higbee has played his entire career in Los Angeles. While the Rams have let players come and go including second-round pick Gerald Everett, a player McVay wanted, Higbee is still here.
When the Rams have him on the field and in good health, his production and the respect he commands from opposing defenses helps open up the field for everyone else. He was a member of both Super Bowl runs under McVay, he blocked for three 1,000 yard rushing seasons with Todd Gurley and the Rams have only suffered one losing season since Higbee became a full-time starter seven years ago.
Until they get Higbee back to full health, McVay and the coaching staff is going to have to make up for his production in the aggregate. How? Thats a good question, because Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen have shown very little.
He does so many things that it’s virtually impossible. It should be interesting to see how the Rams manage his injury issues because missing a few games might be the right call for his long term health but it was also sink the ambitions of 2023.
Here are our studs and duds from the Rams’ 26-9 victory over the Cardinals in Week 6.
The Los Angeles Rams were able to bounce back from last week’s 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 26-9 on Sunday. With their Week 6 win over the Cardinals, the Rams have improved to 3-3 on the season.
The Rams were down 9-6 at halftime to the Cardinals before outscoring them 20-0 in the final two quarters. Moving the ball and scoring in the second half has been an issue for the Rams this season, so it was a positive sign to see them deliver when they needed to on Sunday.
Following the lopsided win against the Cardinals, here are our studs and duds from the Rams in Week 6.
Here are our studs and duds from the Rams’ 24-13 loss to the Eagles in Week 5.
The Los Angeles Rams were unable to upset the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 at home, losing the game, 23-14. With the loss on Sunday, the Rams have now fallen to 2-3 on the season ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
The defense failed to get off of the field at times as the Eagles converted 13 of their 18 third downs. On top of that, the Eagles had the ball for nearly 38 minutes in the game, controlling the time of possession throughout Sunday’s matchup.
Following the team’s third loss of the season, here are our studs and duds from the Rams’ 23-14 loss to the Eagles in Week 5.
