On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime, which was heartbreaking. It was a promising showing for Sean McVay’s team to be able to compete with the AFC’s top seed on the road, despite their narrow loss.
Regretfully, the Rams were not spared from the game either. In the first half, McVay had to carted backup tight end Hunter Long off the field, and the news was not good—he’s done for the season.
“So coming off the game unfortunately (TE) Hunter Long got his MCL,” McVay said on Monday. “He’ll require surgery for that so he’ll be out for the year.
“It’s unfortunate for him. He was performing admirably. I thought he played really well in the first half of that game, and he has overcome a lot of adversity this year. You’re sorry for him, but you’re hoping he gets well and works well with us going forward.”
This offseason, Long was traded for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey by the Rams in exchange for a third-round selection. After missing the majority of the season due to a thigh injury, he had already dealt with it and appeared to be returning to form.
Despite being Tyler Higbee’s primary backup tight end, Long started on Sunday because Higbee was sidelined with a neck injury. It’s thought that Higbee will be able to play against the Washington Commanders in Week 15, but if not, McVay will use Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen, who the latter caught four passes for fifty yards and his first-ever touchdown against the Ravens.
McVay and the Rams are deep in the NFC playoff hunt, so these final four games are vitally important. They are currently tied with five other teams at 6-7 for the final playoff spot, but because of tiebreakers and a conference loss to the Green Bay Packers, they are currently ranked eighth.
But the Rams have a chance to get ahead of the pack and give themselves a genuine shot at making the playoffs with two winnable home games remaining against the Commanders and New Orleans Saints. something that, at the beginning of the season, many felt Sean McVay’s team was incapable of.