2 Rams projected starters race to recover, but how ready are their backups?

Who backs up Higbee if he cannot go this season?

While you may or may not have concerns with the state of the 2024 defensive secondary if Tre'Davious White is not a starter in Game 1, I believe that you will find the roster in far better shape where the matter of tight end is concerned. While the injury to Higbee was violent, quite serious, and alarming, the scenario that is currently unfolding is surprising nobody.

While it's tough to envision such a grand leap, the second season of former Clemson Tigers tight end Davis Allen could become of carnival of offensive celebration. Allen was targeted 10 times in the regular season, and caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted twice in the playoffs, and hauled in both passes. Quite honestly, he played superb football in the playoffs.

That is a clear sign that he is ready for a much larger role in this offense.

The LA Rams felt it necessary to attack their tight end conundrum strategically. In essence, if the offense could engineer their next generation tight end, what would that ideal prospect look like? Well, he would have to have the size and power of an offensive lineman to ensure clean and reliable blocking. But he would need to be uncommonly tall, like an NBA Power Forward, to ensure that the quarterback could find him in congestion. Finally, he would need to possess the soft hands capable of making tough clutch catches in the Red Zone.

Quite clearly, he would look just like TE Colby Parkinson.

Colby Parkinson is at a point in his career now where Tyler Higbee was in 2018. He is a young burly competitor who is consistent and dependable at both blocking and receiving. The problem was that he was competing among a group of tight ends on the Seattle Seahawks roster, so his diet of targets never increased above 34 passes in a season. Even in a semi-starter, backup TE role in this offense, that number ought to increase.

While Allen may be the Plan B-2 if Higbee cannot go, the enthusiasm and praise from the Rams coaching staff already leads me to believe that Parkinson is the team's Plan B-1. The final indication is the fact that the team signed Parkinson to a three-year deal worth up to $22.5 million. The front office, with the blessing of the coaching staff, believes that Parkinson is the heir apparent for a future starting role at tight end.

So, what do you think? Are the LA Rams dancing perilously close to the edge this season? Or are you comfortable that the Rams have everything under control this season?

As always, thank you for reading.