The Los Angeles Rams have been banged up in recent weeks, missing players such as Davante Adams, Kevin Dotson and Alaric Jackson. They enter Week 18 with improved health but the real goal is getting ready for the playoffs.
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sean McVay shared several injury updates on key players. It was mostly positive news, which is encouraging with less than two weeks until the postseason begins.
Here’s the latest on the Rams’ injured players.
Quentin Lake
McVay said the Rams plan to designate Lake to return from injured reserve on Thursday, getting him back on the practice field for the first time since injuring his elbow in Week 11. Lake is not expected to play on Sunday, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready for the playoffs.
“Lake would be more to get him out there on the practice field with the expectation of him playing in the first round of playoffs,” McVay said.
Davante Adams
Adams is “running around and moving well,” per McVay, but he’s not quite ready to return to game action. Like Lake, the expectation is that he’ll be ready for the start of the playoffs as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
“He’s been running around and moving well,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that he’s totally out for the game, but it’s more likely than not that he will not play. He and Quentin, the goal is for sure expecting them to be ready to roll for the playoffs.”
Alaric Jackson
Jackson missed Week 17 with a knee injury but is progressing. McVay said he expects Jackson to play against the Cardinals on Sunday, which will be a big lift after seeing D.J. Humprhies struggle all night in Atlanta.
Rob Havenstein
Havenstein remains on injured reserve and McVay said he doesn’t think the team will open his practice window this week. His last game came in Week 11 but he’s been dealing with ankle and knee injuries.
Tyler Higbee
Higbee had his practice window opened Wednesday, with the Rams designating him to return from IR. McVay is happy to have Higbee back, particularly as a leader in the locker room.
It’s unclear if Higbee will play this weekend, though. The team hopes he’ll be ready for the playoffs.
“It means a lot. He’s obviously always been a glue guy. You know from seeing the influence and effect that he has on his teammates and his team in general, not only with his production but with his competitive spirit. We’ll see how the week progresses. If he is able to go, it’d be great to be able to get him some snaps before the playoffs end up starting. If he’s not, then we’re hopeful that the playoffs will represent for sure him being ready to go.”
Kevin Dotson
This isn’t an update from McVay, but from beat reporter Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News. Dotson was seen moving “VERY gingerly” in the locker room, which is an indication that he won’t play this week. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out with an ankle injury suffered in Week 16.
Nothing official about Dotson. He’s been moving VERY gingerly in the locker room https://t.co/wyMTsXhwUQ
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) January 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams injuries: Updates on Quentin Lake, Davante Adams and others
