The Los Angeles Rams have ruled tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and cornerback Cobie Durant (chest) both out for the team’s crucial Thursday Night Football contest against the division rival San Francisco 49ers.
Higbee has yet to debut this season after tearing his ACL and MCL in the Rams’ playoff loss to the Detroit Lions in January. The tight end was designated to return to practice at the end of November, but still hasn’t progressed quite enough to suit up just yet. But the Rams are certainly anticipating his return.
Durant had started every game for the Rams so far this season and has been a reliable piece of their secondary, leading the team in passes defensed with six. It is also worth noting that head coach Sean McVay had mentioned that Durant’s status could play a role in whether Emmanuel Forbes Jr., whom the Rams just claimed off waivers, would debut.
Forbes was the 16th overall pick of the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL Draft but fell out of favor and was ultimately released with the Rams picking him up. He was inactive last week, but with Durant out he could be making his Rams debut in a massive divisional game.
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (shoulder) and offensive lineman Beaux Limmer (knee) are listed as questionable. Robinson has been a huge part of the Rams offense and leads the team in touchdowns with seven while averaging a team-high 15.5 yards per reception. Limmer, a sixth-round rookie, has emerged as the team’s starting center and being without either of these players would be a tough loss.
At 7-6 the Rams currently sit second in the NFC West, a game behind the Seattle Seahawks whom they own a victory over and will face once again in the regular season finale. The 49ers are right behind them at 6-7 and the Rams defeated them earlier this season as well so a victory on Thursday night would guarantee a tiebreaker which would be massive.
Sean McVay calls preparing for 49ers on short week a ‘great challenge’
A big divisional game on a short week at this stage of the season is tough. But Rams coach Sean McVay is embracing the challenge that comes with it.
“There’s a familiarity if that makes any sense, but it’s a great challenge,” McVay said when asked how difficult it is to prepare for a division opponent on a short week.
“They know us. We know them. There are some different things. We’ll really dive into the prep pretty deeply after we finish up and some of the coaches have done a good job of getting ahead on some things. It’s a little bit more challenging just in terms of my rhythm and routine. I’ll tell you what, you like the Thursday games after you get through it. It’s a good grind all the way up to it.”
