Rams tight finish Tyler Higbee suffered a sprained knee ligament within the NFC championship recreation victory over the San Francisco 49ers, and his standing for the Tremendous Bowl is unsure, coach Sean McVay indicated Monday.
“We’re working via some totally different avenues,” McVay stated throughout a videoconference with reporters. “He’s such a tricky man, we’re going to do every part in our energy to try to get this man again and able to go.
“However we’re working via some issues.”
Higbee, considered one of quarterback Matthew Stafford’s essential targets, was injured Sunday in the course of the first quarter of the Rams’ 20-17 victory at SoFi Stadium. The victory put the Rams within the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time since 2018.
Cooper Kupp stated Monday that “it didn’t look good” when he noticed Higbee depart the sphere, however he didn’t rule out that he may return to the sport.
Tremendous Bowl LVI protection
“Higbee’s so robust, he’s performed via so many issues, you by no means know should you’re going to see Large-Rig Higs trotting again onto the sphere once more,” Kupp stated.
Kendall Blanton stepped into Higbee’s function and caught 5 passes for 57 yards. His reception on what performed out as a flea-flicker display screen cross produced 20 yards. On the following play, he had a nine-yard reception that helped arrange a landing.
“Kendall may not have gotten as many reps as Higbee did this final week, however mentally he was dialed into the precise stuff, he knew what he wanted to do,” Kupp stated. “So, when his alternative did come, he was in a position to go in there and execute. He did an excellent job for us.”
It was the second time in as many video games that Blanton performed effectively.
Rams tight finish Kendall Blanton (86) runs after a catch towards the 49ers within the NFC championship recreation. He stuffed in for Tyler Higbee, who injured his knee within the first quarter.
(Elaine Thompson / Related Press)
Within the Rams’ 30-27 divisional-round victory over the defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Blanton caught his first landing cross.
Blanton, 6 foot 6 and 265 kilos, is the son of former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs linebacker Jerry Blanton. Signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019 after taking part in at Missouri, Blanton spent most of his first three seasons on the follow squad however bought a chance to play after Johnny Mundt suffered a season-ending knee damage in October.
“I’ve all the time dreamed of and labored to be on this place, prayed to be on this place, so I hoped that guys like me throughout the league would get alternative and get a shot,” Blanton stated final week. “I’m not going to want damage on anyone. Johnny Mundt is my man — that’s my man via thick and skinny.
“However I hoped for an opportunity and I bought one. Similar to each different individual whether or not you’re drafted or not. I really feel like all of us simply need an opportunity and a chance. So, I all the time hoped that I’d get one and hoped that I’d make large performs on the largest of phases.”
Now, if Higbee is sidelined or restricted for Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, Blanton may once more play a significant function instead of a participant who’s a “tone-setter and energy-giver” for the offense, offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth stated.
“When he went out, it was positively a blow,” Whitworth stated of Higbee, “but it surely’s a kind of issues the place you’re additionally happy with a younger man, in Kendall standing in there and to take it on and understand what a giant second he was in, and step up large in that second and be productive for us.
“So, I believe that makes you are feeling actually good to see a man progress that manner.”
And so on.
Security Taylor Rapp, who has been sidelined because the begin of the playoffs due to a concussion, “is trying like he’s turning the nook in a constructive manner,” McVay stated. No determination has been made on the standing of operating again Darrell Henderson, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and cornerback Robert Rochell, however “there’s positively a risk” that they might be activated to the roster, McVay stated. All are being evaluated after spending time on injured reserve.
— by way of www.latimes.com
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