2 min read • February 11, 2022
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Injured Rams tight end Tyler Higbee and backup left tackle Joseph Noteboom will miss the Super Bowl, but running back Darrell Henderson and nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day will return from injury to play in the game Sunday.
The Rams placed Higbee and Noteboom on IR Friday and activated Henderson and Joseph-Day.
Higbee did not practice since suffering an MCL sprain in the NFC championship win over the 49ers. By video, his MCL sprain did not appear as severe as Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah's, but Higbee has a better backup in Kendall Blanton.
Higbee would not have been 100% if he had played and the IR move was likely made to clear up space for Henderson and Joseph-Day.
Uzomah practiced fully on Friday, but will likely have trouble blocking and running routes, said Dr. David Chao, ProFootballDoc.
Backup tight end, Drew Sample, is primarily a blocking tight end and may be used in more short-yardage or goal line situations with Uzomah hurt.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Friday he expects Uzomah to play.
Noteboom's absence could become significant if left tackle Andrew Whitworth reinjures the MCL sprain he played through against the 49ers.
If Whitworth gets injured, rookie A.J. Jackson would step in.
The returns of Henderson and Joseph-Day should have a big impact on Super Bowl LVI.
Henderson will likely get a fair share of carries with Cam Akers dealing with a shoulder injury and Sony Michel looking slow of late.
Joseph-Day is returning from a torn pectoral tendon Week 7 and is likely not 100%.
However, the Rams will likely use him alongside backup Greg Gaines to create extra pressure against a Bengals offensive line that allowed 55 sacks during the regular season.
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