The Los Angeles Rams have placed three starters on injured reserve, guaranteeing they will miss the next four games: DB Quentin Lake, TE Tyler Higbee, and RT Rob Havenstein.
Havenstein has struggled this season and previously missed a stint of three games. Warren McClendon filled in for the veteran and performed at or above the level we are accustomed to seeing from Havenstein this year. Could the Rams upgrade at right tackle with Havenstein out, and did the injury make a difficult decision for the Rams easier?
Higbee’s injury likely creates challenges for the Rams’ usage of heavier personnel, as they’ve often deployed packages that utilize two and three tight ends with increased frequency this season. Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, and Colby Parkinson are currently on the roster, though the Rams could elevate Mark Redman or Nick Muse from the practice squad to add to the room.
While all three injuries are notable, perhaps the greatest loss is Lake. He played every defensive snap in the team’s first nine games before injuring his elbow last week versus the Seattle Seahawks. Lake is a defensive captain and is capable of handling defensive signal calling. In terms of options for replacement, the Rams recently acquired CB Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans—who has inside/outside versatility—and CB Josh Wallace primarily filled in for Lake in Week 11 against Seattle.
These are three sizeable losses for the Rams. Even if Higbee and Havenstein were not playing at career high levels, they are still starters and veteran leaders within the locker room.
Could these injuries derail a five-game win streak for Los Angeles?
