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Tag: Tyler Higbee

  • 9-2 Rams Aim for Seventh Straight Win vs Panthers

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    Fresh off a dominant display on home turf, the Rams have the chance to continue proving themselves on the road to hopefully earn their seventh win in a row

    There’s a heap of excitement swirling around the LA Rams team and their wonderful fans. And can anyone be surprised? Now sitting atop the entire NFC conference, winning six in a row, boasting the front-runner for this year’s MVP, and playing an unstoppable level of football offensively and defensively, the Rams are not only legit Super Bowl contenders, they’re flat-out the best team in the NFL currently. Stafford has continued establishing his firm case for MVP alongside his all-star cast of offensive weapons. And on the other side of the ball, players like Emmanuel Forbes Jr, Jared Verse, and Byron Young, among others, have turned the defense into a clear-cut elite unit.

    After a landslide 34-7 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, granted a few unlucky injuries sustained on their side, the Rams must now focus on an intriguing 6-6 Carolina Panthers team in week 13, who are currently second in the NFC South. Intriguing because, for a team that was considered bottom of the barrel last year, they’ve been teetering between greatness and lackluster throughout the current season. 

    There are plenty of promising positives surrounding this young and hungry Panthers team. Their new RB1, Rico Dowdle, has seemingly revived his career after a failed stint with the Dallas Cowboys. Many teams wrote off the six-year veteran as another journeyman running back, but upon signing with Carolina, Dowdle has since turned into one of the best running backs in the league.

    When former starting running back Chuba Hubbard went down with a calf injury earlier in the season, Dowdle stepped up in historic fashion. He became the first running back since Dalvin Cook in 2020 to post two back-to-back games of 200 yards, one in week 5 against the Miami Dolphins with 206 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards, and the other in week 6 against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, with 183 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards. He seemingly overtook the starting job at the RB position, much to everyone’s surprise, including the Panthers’ coaching staff.

    Another bright spot is their rookie wide receiver, Tetairoa McMillan, who has easily become their best receiving threat, and a standout among the entire rookie class this year. He is well on his way to earning more than 1,000 receiving yards, along with roughly 80 receptions. McMillan clearly has Pro Bowl level talent and should help elevate this team in the coming years.

    Long gone are the days of Carolina’s defensive unit being the punchline of every joke. They are currently 16th in passing yards and 19th in rushing yards—while it certainly isn’t the best, it’s definitely a huge upgrade from what we’ve seen in recent years. And this is largely due to arguably their best player, cornerback Jaycee Horn. Horn was the former 8th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and has proved to be one of the more notable players at the position since then, and is now seen as a top 10 cornerback in the NFL. 

    The shaky area of the team still surrounds quarterback Bryce Young. Sure, he’s made massive strides of improvement from last year as a player and an overall leader. He’s had stellar games, like his otherworldly 448 passing yards and 3 touchdown performance in week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons, but he’s also shown flashes of his old self, like his previous match against the San Francisco 49ers where he had 169 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Bryce has given us glimpses of excellence, but lacks the consistency to take him over the hump to be considered an actual threat. 

    The injuries for Carolina are unfortunately plentiful, with CB Damarri Mathis (knee), G Robert Hunt (bicep), WR David Moore (elbow), LB Patrick Jones II (back), G Brady Christensen (achilles), and CB Corey Thornton (fibula) on the IR list. LB Claudin Cherelus (concussion), G Chandler Zavala (calf), C Cade Mays, LB Christian Rozeboom, LB Trevin Wallace, and CB Jaycee Horn (concussion) are listed as questionable. 

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    For the Rams, TE Tyler Higbee (ankle), S Quentin Lake (elbow), and OT Rob Havenstein (ankle) are on injury reserve. WR Tutu Atwell, who was on IR for the past few weeks, as been elevated to questionable, so hopefully he’ll fully return to action come Sunday. The other players listed as questionable are OT David Quessenberry and WR Xavier Smith. 

    Sunday’s game should be a fun one after the Thanksgiving festivities have cooled down. If your leftovers make it from Thursday until then, nothing pairs with Rams football better than a delicious sandwich packed with all the Thanksgiving fixings. Catch Stafford and company attempt to continue their gridiron excellence at 10:00 AM PST, Sunday morning. 

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    Vahe Baghdoyan

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  • Rams vs Colts: Week 4 Showdown at SoFi Stadium

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    The Rams will defend home field against a booming Colts team that’s been making waves of their own

    The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in week 3 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
    Credit: Los Angeles Rams

    Like the Greek God Icarus, who flew too close to the Sun, the Rams dealt with their first real moment of adversity last week against the Philadelphia Eagles after dropping a sizable lead and ultimately dramatically losing the game. While it was a tough pill to swallow, it goes to show that no victory is ever given, regardless of how much of a hot streak a team is on or how big a lead is.

    As we turn to week 4, the Rams will host the Indianapolis Colts, a team that has been on an absolute hot streak since the start of the season, thanks to QB Daniel Jones playing the best football of his career. After several failed seasons with the New York Giants, many people wrote off Jones as the next journeyman quarterback who would only fill the quarterback role for teams in transition to drafting their next QB. 

    But to everyone’s surprise, Jones is leading a historic offense with the Colts, who’ve scored a franchise record 103 points in their first 3 games, the most since 1967. They are also one of four teams in the Super Bowl era to score at least 100 points with 0 turnovers to start a season. And up to a certain point during their previous game against the Tennessee Titans, they were tied for 5th all-time for continuous offensive drives without a punt. 

    But Jones is not a one-man army by any means. At his side is the extremely cunning RB Jonathan Taylor, who’s been performing as the top running back in the league so far into the season, averaging just over 5 yards a carry, has scored 3 touchdowns, and leads the league in total rushing yards with 338.

    Seasoned WR Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie TE Tyler Warren have also been very impactful in the passing game for Indy, with both players currently at 193 receiving yards each, and Pittman Jr. with 2 touchdowns thus far. 

    Safe to say, the Rams will need to bring their ‘A’ game. 

    For the Rams, they have a chance to take advantage of some of the injuries Indy is dealing with on the defensive side. CB Kenny Moore II is currently labeled as doubtful for Sunday’s game due to an achilles concern, which should ease the pressure off of Stafford’s shoulders when airing it out. 

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    The Rams scoring agains the Eagles
    The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in week 3 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
    Credit: Los Angeles Rams

    Another key piece for their defense is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who is currently questionable to play due to a back injury. While we’d love to see Buckner (and Moore II) in action as true fans of the sport, this is something RB Kyren Williams can definitely target when penetrating their run-defense, especially at the goal line. 

    Unfortunately, the Rams also have some injuries of their own to deal with, including WR Davante Adams, who is coming off of a fantastic game last week. He is currently questionable to play due to a sore hamstring that prevented him from participating in practice on Wednesday.

    Injuries aside, Sunday’s game could be another popcorn-thriller here at SoFi Stadium. Puka Nacua is poised to have another dominant performance against an undermanned secondary unit, and expect TE Tyler Higbee to step up should Adams need to sit out. 

    Want to catch the action in person? You can purchase tickets to Sunday’s game here.

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    Vahe Baghdoyan

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  • Mayfield, Akers lead Rams’ 51-14 blowout of Wilson’s Broncos

    Mayfield, Akers lead Rams’ 51-14 blowout of Wilson’s Broncos

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    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee, Cam Akers rushed for 118 yards and three more scores, and the Los Angeles Rams routed the Denver Broncos 51-14 Sunday for their second victory since mid-October.

    Mayfield went 24 of 28 for 230 yards in another standout performance for his second win in three starts with the Rams (5-10), who produced the best game of their dismal season on Christmas.

    Rookie Cobie Durant returned his second interception 85 yards for a touchdown with 4:08 left to cap the Rams’ first 50-point performance under Sean McVay since their famed 54-51 victory over Kansas City in 2018.

    For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL’s 32nd-ranked offense coming in, Los Angeles became just the second team to score 50 points in the NFL this season, joining Dallas earlier this month, and put together a comprehensively dominant performance.

    In his Los Angeles debut, Larrell Murchison made 2 1/2 of the Rams’ six sacks of Russell Wilson, who passed for 214 yards with three interceptions for Denver (4-11).

    The beleaguered Wilson was not sharp in his return from a one-game absence with a concussion, throwing interceptions to end Denver’s first two drives. The second pick was by Bobby Wagner, who faced his longtime teammate and friend for the first time after spending a full decade together in Seattle.

    Wagner also sacked Wilson during the first half, when the Rams improbably racked up 261 of their 388 yards before halftime and eventually scored on their first eight drives against Denver’s above-average defense, already matching their full-game season high in points with their 31-6 halftime lead.

    Denver trailed 41-6 before Wilson hit Greg Dulcich for the Broncos’ only touchdown with 8:30 to play.

    Akers continued his late-season surge by producing the Rams’ first 100-yard rushing game of the season, while Higbee led the passing attack with 94 yards receiving for an offense missing its top three wideouts due to injury.

    The Rams led by double digits less than nine minutes in when Durant picked off Wilson’s second pass and Mayfield hit Higbee for a 9-yard TD three plays later. Higbee became the Rams’ career franchise leader in touchdown catches by a tight end with his 19th score.

    Wagner then poached a pass from Wilson across the middle of the field and made a long return, and the Rams scored two snaps later on Akers’ 3-yard run. Los Angeles had scored just one touchdown off a takeaway all season long before doing it twice more in the first quarter.

    The Rams’ 17-point first quarter was their highest-scoring opening period since Week 6 of McVay’s first season in 2017. They subsequently scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives for the first time in McVay’s tenure.

    Higbee made his second TD catch early in the second quarter after a smooth 75-yard drive by the Rams’ long-struggling offense. Akers then punched it in again 1:06 before halftime for a 31-3 lead.

    Ramsey picked off Wilson’s long heave to the end zone on Denver’s opening drive of the second half. The Rams’ pressure on Wilson improbably was led by Murchison, who signed with LA 13 days ago after Tennessee cut him.

    INJURIES

    Murchison left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. … Dulcich was ruled out with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter.

    UP NEXT

    Broncos: At Chiefs on Sunday.

    Rams: “At” Chargers on Sunday.

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Rams RB Akers not with team; McVay: ‘uncharted territory’

    Rams RB Akers not with team; McVay: ‘uncharted territory’

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    THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Running back Cam Akers will not play for the Los Angeles Rams against Carolina on Sunday after missing two days of practice this week for what coach Sean McVay called personal reasons.

    McVay would not give further details Friday when asked about Akers’ circumstances, though he did say the Rams’ leading rusher was not away from the team for the past two days because he was injured.

    When asked whether Akers would be part of the Rams going forward, McVay replied: “We’re working through some different things right now, so hopefully you guys understand and respect that.”

    McVay also said the team wanted to keep it “in-house,” later adding that the personal reasons cited for Akers’ absence are “more like we’re dealing with things internally. This is kind of uncharted territory. … He’s going to be OK.”

    Akers practiced with the defending Super Bowl champions Wednesday, but wasn’t with the team Thursday or Friday.

    “He’s good,” said running back Darrell Henderson, who is likely to get most of the Rams’ workload in Akers’ absence. “We trust that he’s going to be good. So he’ll be all right. We’re going to do this for him.”

    Henderson claimed he doesn’t know much about the issues keeping Akers away from the Rams.

    “That’s on Coach and Cam to talk,” Henderson said. “I don’t know what’s going on. … You all probably know more than I know. I just come in and go to work.”

    But when asked if he thinks Akers will be back with the Rams this season, Henderson replied: “Oh yeah.”

    Akers has rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown this season for the Rams, who have the NFL’s worst rushing offense at just 62.4 yards per game. Akers has been unproductive in the ground game by most statistical measures while running behind an offensive line missing three starters and two backups due to injury.

    McVay publicly called for a better effort earlier this season from Akers, who responded with mild surprise and acceptance. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said Thursday that the Rams need more “creativity” from their running backs, particularly when obvious running lanes aren’t available.

    Akers played in each of the Rams’ first five games this season, but is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry after gaining 33 yards on 13 attempts last week against Dallas. He has acknowledged he is still attempting to recover his peak explosiveness after tearing his Achilles tendon during preseason workouts last year.

    Henderson didn’t get a carry against the Cowboys, but was used extensively as a receiver. He has only 138 yards rushing this season.

    The Rams (2-3) have lost back-to-back games. Los Angeles’ bye is next week, and when asked if the Rams expect to be in the market for a running back over the break, McVay replied: “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say no, ever. We’ll always explore our options if there’s chances to upgrade. That’s probably not something that’s at the forefront.”

    The Rams’ other active running backs Sunday are likely to be veteran Malcolm Brown and recent practice squad signee Ronnie Rivers.

    Brown spent six seasons with the Rams from 2015-20, and he scored the first touchdown in SoFi Stadium history. After a one-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, he returned to LA last month.

    Akers rushed for 625 yards as a rookie out of Florida State in 2020 after the Rams selected him with their highest pick in any of the past five drafts. He recovered remarkably quickly from the Achilles injury to rejoin Los Angeles for the regular-season finale and its playoff run to a championship.

    According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Akers has minus-0.98 rush yards over expected per attempt this season, which is the second-worst performance in the league. He has just 86 yards after contact and has broken only one tackle all season.

    NOTES: LG David Edwards will visit with concussion specialists in Pittsburgh, McVay said. Edwards is on injured reserve after returning last Sunday from a one-week absence with an apparent concussion, only to take another hit to the head against the Cowboys. … WR Cooper Kupp, DT Aaron Donald and TE Tyler Higbee are all expected to play Sunday despite being questionable with minor injuries. Rookie DB Cobie Durant (hamstring) and backup QB John Wolford (neck) are also questionable.

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    More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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