After losing 3 injured starters, Rams will either hush critics or trigger chaos

Week 12 brings another top NFC contender to confront the Los Angeles Rams. After disposing of the 7-4 San Francisco 49ers and the 7-3 Seattle Seahawks, the team will host the 6-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Los Angeles had the restorative benefits of a Week 8 BYE, but that boost to health was short-lived after the team just sent three starters to injured reserve.

Right tackle Rob Havenstein, tight end Tyler Higbee, and safety Quentin Lake join wide receiver Tutu Atwell, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, and outside linebacker Keir Thoms on IR. That does not bode well for a team that needs another victory to remain in the hunt for the NFC West Division title, and perhaps even a top seed in the upcoming NFL playoffs.

But can a depleted roster hold up? Well, both teams are limping into a Week 12 encounter. The Bucs are dealing with their own roster struggles and injuries.

While many Rams fans are very knowledgeable about the roster, few are as versed in the rosters of other NFL teams. So, what does this all mean? Let's break it down for you:

How will Rams and Bucs compensate for injured players in Week 12?

Rams 1. Right tackle Rob Havenstein

Veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein has sat out games in the past. Previously, swing-tackle Warren McClendon Jr. has slid in as the starter and done a remarkable job in Weeks 5 through 7. The hope is that he will be just as effective in another starting segment of the season.

This could be an audition for Warren McClendon Jr. to take over as the starting right tackle in 2026.

Rams 2. Tight end Tyler Higbee

While veteran tight end Tyler Higbee has received the lion's share of offensive snaps this season, he has not been the exclusive tight end as he was in years past. Except for rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson, the tight end room has averaged better than 33 percent of the offensive snaps for its players.

Better still, the fact that multiple tight end sets are a thing in this offense now lessens the sting of losing Higbee. Ideally, this could signal the moment that Ferguson embarks on establishing himself as the go-to guy in the offense. But if not, the team has other viable options.

Rams 3. Safety Quentin Lake

Until Week 11, safety Quentin Lake has been a fixture of the Rams secondary. His absence could prove somewhat problematic, but the team has three other safeties who get plenty of work as well. When Lake fell to injury, the team repurposed cornerback Josh Wallace to fill in.

Week 12 truly feels like the debut of cornerback Roget McCreary is due. He is an accomplished slot cornerback, and he has been with the team long enough to be given the chance to step up now.

Bucs 1. Running back Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving will miss Week 12, his seventh consecutive game, due to ongoing injuries to his foot and shoulder. Since he has missed so much time, the Bucs offense has acclimated to using Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. They may not gain many yards individually, but as a running back room, they can be very effective.

Bucs 2. Cornerback Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean suffered an injury just two plays into the Bucs' Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. He is arguably the team's best cornerback, and his in-game replacement, Benjamin Morrison, struggled in a fill-in role. While the Bucs may not struggle as much having a week to adapt to the new secondary, they must go toe-to-toe with veterans Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Bucs 3. Left guard Ben Bredeson

Ben Bredeson is another key starter who will not play in Week 12. Backup Michael Jordan handled the starting role well in Week 11, but the Rams defensive front boasts talent everywhere. And if defensive coordinator Chris Shula smells a chance to create a mismatch, Jordan could be on the receiving end of a bull rush by Jared Verse in his Rhino role.

Bucs 4. Edge rusher Haason Reddick

Haason Reddick will miss his fourth consecutive game. While he is not nearly the force off the edge as he was earlier in his NFL career, his absence forces the Bucs defense to stick Anthony Nielson on the football field for nearly the entire game. And longer playing time yields diminishing returns off the edge.

Which team will win? Both teams need a victory. Hopefully, Los Angeles emerges as the victor. As always, thanks for reading.