Rams place Quentin Lake, Tyler Higbee and Rob Havenstein on IR
The Rams, Super Bowl contenders who are on a five-game winning streak, will navigate at least the next four games this season without three veteran players.
The Rams on Wednesday placed safety Quentin Lake, tight end Tyler Higbee and right tackle Rob Havenstein on injured reserve.
Lake, who underwent surgery Tuesday for dislocated left elbow, Higbee (ankle) and Havenstein (knee/ankle) joints, must miss at least four games before he is eligible to return. The first return will be a Dec. 18 game against the Seahawks in Seattle.
“You can’t replace players like that,” McVay said of the experience and leadership that will be lost when the Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at SOF Stadium. “You can’t expect other people to be able to do that. You expect people who get opportunities to step up and be the best versions of themselves.”
Lake, 26, was injured last Sunday during a win over the Seattle Seahawks, a win that improved the Rams’ record to 8-2. McVay noted that if Lake returns, it will likely be in the playoffs.
Josh Wallace played in Lake’s place as a cornerback/nickelback hybrid. McVay said the Rams will continue to evaluate and formulate a plan to replace Leake moving forward, but they are expected to consider using a group that includes safeties Cam Kinchens and Wallace and linebackers Kobe Durant and Roger McCreary.
Higbee was also injured against the Seahawks.
The 10th-year pro has 20 receptions, including two for touchdowns, as the leader of a tight end group that includes Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson and rookie Terrance Ferguson, who is expected to have an increased role in Higbee’s absence.
Havenstein, an 11th-year pro, played the first four games before being sidelined for three games with injuries. Third-year pro Warren McLendon played in his place.
Havenstein returned against the New Orleans Saints and played the final three games, but McVay said his time on injured reserve will enable him to return to full strength.
“Both guys are obviously great leaders and motivators on our team and our offense,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said of Higbee and Havenstein. “But we’ll move forward with the players we have, and then hopefully those guys can recover and be ready to move on at some point.”
In corresponding moves, the Rams signed kicker Harrison Mewis to the active roster, claimed safety Chris Smith II off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders and signed cornerback Alex Johnson to the practice squad.