Despite 4 tight ends on the Rams roster, Tyler Higbee proved this once more

When LA Rams starting tight end Tyler Higbee fell to nearly a 2024 NFL season-ending injury, the front office had plenty of time to formulate alternative options for the team. The Rams roster already boasted veteran TE Hunter Long who had yet to get targets of any significance. The team also boasted rookie TE Davis Allen, who had limited but promising work in 2023.

Dissatisfied with only two options, the team signed former Seattle Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson to add oomph to the blocking while giving quarterback Matthews Stafford a big-bodied target to throw to in the end zone. On paper, it appeared to be a fine plan, perhaps a bit much as the team could find itself with three tight ends on the roster competing for limited targets. And in a worst case scenario, if and when veteran TE Tyler Higbee returned to the active roster, the team would find it very difficult to pare down to three tight ends going forward.

Well, that is exactly what happened, with one exception. Rather than carrying three tight ends, the front office and coaches opted to carry four tight ends on the roster.

The team afforded each tight end opportunities to claim the starting roster spot, but in the end the trio of veterans performed in a dead heat. What do I mean? Just check out these stats and 2024 season grades from Pro Football Focus:

• Davis Allen: 15 games | 5 starts | 13 tgts | 6 catches | 39 yards | 0 TDs | NSS
• Tyler Higbee: 3 games | 3 starts | 12 tgts | 8 catches | 66 yards | 2 TDs | NSS
• Hunter Long: 17 games | 2 starts | 9 tgts | 7 catches | 60 yards | 0 TDs | NSS
• Colby Parkinson: 17 games | 9 starts | 49 tgts | 30 catches | 295 yards | 1 TD | 63.3 grade

*NSS = Not sufficient snaps

As you can see from the data table above, the Rams carried three to as many as four tight ends but only managed to get 51 catches on 83 targets for 450 yards and three touchdowns out of the entire group. Worse yet, of 1090 offensive snaps on the season, the Rams meted out their offensive snaps as follows:

• Davis Allen: 309 snaps
• Tyler Higbee: 58 snaps
• Hunter Long: 279 snaps
• Colby Parkinson:  601 snaps

Now the image comes readily into focus. Tyler Higbee slid into the lineup over the final three games of 2024, but was clearly the most productive in terms of putting yards on the football field and points on the scoreboard.

Higbee was even more impressive in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. He managed to haul in 12 of 15 targets for 112 receiving yards and a touchdown. His three TE teammates would only combine for six of eight catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, Higbee suffered an injury in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, a chest contusion. But he quickly recovered and was able to suit up the following week.

Higbee adds a dimension to the offense that it sorely needs:

The thing is, Tyler Higbee may be the best of the bunch, but he is 32 years old, has just returned from a serious injury, and is likely to be difficult to keep on the football field going forward as he competes at a very physical position.

The Rams front office has already added 2+2 to get 4, and has made a significant effort to draft rookie TE Dalton Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft. The following year, the team tried to trade up to draft rookie TE Brock Bowers.

The team was unsuccessful in both attempts.

Clearly, tight end Tyler Higbee's absence in 2024 was a setback that the offense could not overcome. The Rams won 10 games, but the offense fell far short of expectations this season. Higbee is not a 1000+ yard receiver in the offense, but he is a go-to guy who can move the chains and score in a tight spot.

The Rams are unlikely to extend TE Hunter Long for the simple reason that TE Tyler Higbee is back. The offense simply has had limited success whenever Higbee is not on the football field.

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