The Los Angeles Rams were somewhat bitten by the injury bug heading into the 2017 NFL season. As a result, potential starters have not seen very much preseason action
For the most part, the injuries have been minor and are simply being used as a precaution to help players get healthy for Week 1 versus the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately for tight end Temarrick Hemingway, he has been ruled out indefinitely with a fractured fibula, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter:
Rams TE Temarrick Hemingway fractured his fibula, will require surgery and is out indefinitely.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2017
Los Angeles selected Hemingway in the sixth-round of the 2016 NFL Draft where he mostly saw the field on special teams. However, he was expected to see a larger role as the starting tight end up to this point in head coach Sean McVay’s new offense.
The Rams have been cautious about playing key starters throughout the preseason and it shows why with injuries like these. Hemingway’s injury now opens the door for tight ends Tyler Higbee and rookie Gerald Everett.
Higbee and Everett both came into the league as elite pass-catching tight ends from small colleges, which should still serve them well considering McVay’s history of utilizing big men as receivers. However, with Hemingway likely out for the year, they will now have to split blocking duties on early downs.
