The Los Angeles Rams picked up a big win over the Minnesota Vikings on Wild Card weekend, although it came at a bit of a cost as Tyler Higbee, Ahkello Witherspoon, Bobby Brown and Alaric Jackson were among their players to get banged up.
The Rams are now traveling to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round and are doing so on a short week after playing on Monday night.
Despite that though, Rams head coach Sean McVay revealed that Higbee, Witherspoon, Brown and Jackson are all expected to be able to play on Sunday, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
Rams head coach Sean McVay on Thursday said he expects tight end Tyler Higbee (chest), cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh), nose tackle Bobby Brown III (shoulder) and offensive lineman Alaric Jackson (chest) to play in Sunday’s divisional round playoff game against the Eagles.
Jackson “got a shot to the chest” in Monday night’s game against the Vikings, but his chest injury was “nothing like what Higbee’s was,” per McVay. McVay said Higbee’s chest injury, which had him “spitting up a little bit of blood” and hospitalized Monday night before being discharged and traveling home with the team, was “a little chest contusion.”
Jackson was a full participant in Thursday’s practice, Higbee was limited and Witherspoon and Brown did not participate. The Rams did not practice Wednesday, so those players’ participation that day was an estimation.
“Tyler’s making great progress, he was able to participate today,” McVay said. “Alaric, we were just being – I mean, we didn’t practice yesterday, it was just a projection. … He was good today.”
This means that the Rams will essentially be at full strength against the Eagles, which is great news as it will take everyone to pick up a big road win.
Higbee, in particular, has shown how important he is to the Rams since coming back from a knee injury. He was off to a great start against the Vikings before suffering a chest contusion that had him spitting up blood. To be able to be back in game action less than a week later shows how tough the tight end is.
Sean McVay discusses Rams’ matchup with Eagles
While the Rams will have all of their key players in the lineup, head coach Sean McVay knows they are in for a tough test against the Eagles.
“They’re real. Obviously, we have a familiarity,” McVay said.
“I got a little bit of a jump on them this morning. This defense is outstanding. Their offense… we know how tough they are to defend in terms of the different things that they can present in the run game and how good they are offensive linewise.
“They have great skill. Obviously [Eagles RB] Saquon [Barkley] is probably going to win Offensive Player of the Year. We have a ton of respect for [Eagles QB] Jalen Hurts. I think [Eagles TE Dallas] Goedert… you look at him making a big play, catching a bubble for a touchdown and stiff-arming guys the other day. They’re in this position for a reason and we’re looking forward to the challenge to go swing though, I’ll promise you that.”
