Ahead of Monday night’s Week 14 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams announced that they have placed Jalen Ramsey and Tyler Higbee on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
This is obviously not good news for the Rams ahead of their big division game that could decide the NFC West as they will now be without at least five key players due to coronavirus issues. Darrell Henderson was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the week, followed shortly after by Rob Havenstein and Dont’e Deayon.
The biggest loss, of course, is Ramsey as the Cardinals have one of the most talented wide receiving corps in the league, led by DeAndre Hopkins. Ramsey has done a solid job on Hopkins in the past, but it will now be up the Darious Williams and the rest of the young secondary in Week 14.
As far as how the Rams will replace all their missing players, they announced a number of players that will be called up from the practice squad for the game against the Cardinals:
LA Rams transactions:
• Activated, from Practice Squad (COVID-19 Replacement) DB Grant Haley, RB Javian Hawkins, DB Kareem Orr, TE Jared Pinkney, WR Brandon Powell
• Activated, from Practice Squad G Jeremiah Kolone— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 13, 2021
Getting Justin Hollins back is big for L.A. as he got off to a really strong start to the season before going down with a pectoral injury.
Considering how many key players the Rams will be missing in their secondary, perhaps the best way to stop Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense will be to get pressure on him, which Hollins can help with.
As far as replacing Higbee goes, the Rams will likely go with a combination of Kendall Blanton and Brycen Hopkins, neither of which has much experience catching passes at the NFL level.
