LA Rams tight end Tyler Higbee was taken to hospital after suffering a chest injury during their playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
Higbee had five receptions for 58 yards when he sustained the injury in the first half at State Farm Arena, which helped the Rams take a 7-0 lead on their first drive.
The 32-year-old left the game after playing just 12 snaps, with LA eventually downgrading him to out having initially declared him doubtful to return.
After being taken to a local hospital in Glendale, Arizona, Higbee is now said to be in a ‘stable’ condition.
‘It was something with his chest,’ head coach Sean McVay said, via The New York Post.
‘I think he’s going to be OK. What does that mean in terms of his status moving forward? I don’t know.’
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee was taken to hospital after their playoff win over the Vikings
Higbee suffered a chest injury during the first quarter of Monday’s game in Glendale, Arizona
Higbee’s appearance on Monday night was only his fourth of the season after he missed the first 15 weeks in the wake of an ACL and MCL tear last year.
Following his early exit, the Rams went on to earn a shock 27-9 victory over the Vikings, who only lost three games in the regular season.
Displaced by the Palisades Fire and the lingering smoke that has led to dangerous air quality levels in LA, they were forced to play nearly 400 miles away from a grieving city that is still digging itself out from the rubble amid the ongoing wildfires.
The matchup was highly emotionally-charged for the Rams in Glendale, and they prevailed after restricting the Vikings to just one touchdown on the night.
Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Rams (11-7) looked comfortable from the first snap. LA drove for a touchdown on the opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
‘I thought they epitomized and represented the city the right way,’ Rams coach Sean McVay said.
‘You talk about sports offering a platform for people to come together and offer a little temporary relief – I thought the way our team competed tonight was what that looked like.’
Higbee now faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Divisional Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
