Rams' Tyler Higbee Hospitalized After Chest Injury; TE Expects to Play vs. Eagles

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee exited Monday night's NFC Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Vikings with a chest injury, but the situation was a little more serious than it initially appeared.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Tuesday that Higbee was hospitalized after "coughing up a little bit of blood." However, McVay added that Higbee was able to make the trip home to Los Angeles and he expects to play in Sunday's Divisional Round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Higbee had team highs of five catches and 58 yards, all in the first quarter, before exiting Monday's game. He was initially deemed doubtful to return after the second quarter before being downgraded to out at the start of the third. The Rams dominated the Vikings with a 27-9 victory behind a stellar defensive performance in which they tied an NFL playoff record with nine sacks.

Higbee had appeared in just three games this season and had eight catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He was sidelined while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in a wild-card game against the Detroit Lions in last year's playoffs before making his 2024 season debut in Week 16.

The Rams had dealt with a difficult week leading up to Monday night's game, as devastating fires across the Los Angeles area forced the game to be moved to a neutral site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Still, the Rams didn't let the off-field tumult deter them from running through the Vikings in the wild-card game. Los Angeles will be motivated to put on a similar performance when it faces the Eagles on Sunday.