LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Tyler Higbee has been with the Los Angeles Rams long enough to see teammates come and go, some under surprising circumstances brought about by the organization鈥檚 ruthless pursuit of winning.
Despite being the team鈥檚 longest-tenured player, there were no guarantees the veteran tight end would be back for his 11th season until . Now, Higbee is ready to justify the Rams鈥� continued trust in him.
鈥淚 understand how rare it is to be in the same position or on the same team for as long as I have been,鈥� Higbee said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 take that lightly so I give everything I鈥檝e got. I try to be the best I can, best teammate, best player. I come in here and I work every day and I expect to earn it. I don鈥檛 feel like I鈥檓 just going to be here because I鈥檝e been here that long.鈥�
Head coach Sean McVay called Higbee 鈥渢he greatest tight end in Rams history.鈥� He is the franchise career leader at the position in receptions (386), yards receiving (3,949), and touchdown receptions (27).
But at 33-years-old and having dealt with multiple injuries over the previous two seasons, it would not have been a surprise if the organization moved on from Higbee. The Rams have been willing to , even if meant absorbing hits in terms of finances or draft assets.
Bringing back Higbee is a reflection of his versatility, which is particularly useful as the Rams have significantly expanded their use of multiple tight end sets in the past year.
鈥淭he beauty is that he鈥檚 got the ability to be a real contributor in the pass game, in the run game,鈥� McVay said. 鈥淗e can play in line. He can be a move player for us, and he鈥檚 also shown proficiency as a protector.鈥�
McVay capitalized on the varied skill sets of Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen to last season. It was a major change from McVay, whose Los Angeles tenure had been defined by an almost exclusive reliance on using three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back.
Higbee had 25 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games, and Parkinson, Ferguson and Allen also had at least 200 yards receiving and three or more scores. Rams tight ends combined to catch 17 of Matthew Stafford鈥檚 46 touchdowns during his MVP season.
Having had a healthy offseason under his belt, Higbee expects to be even more productive. He sustained a serious knee injury in a wild-card playoff game in January 2024 and was limited to three games that fall while also recovering from shoulder surgery. A ankle injury sidelined him for much of the second half of the 2025 campaign.
By re-signing Higbee and in the second round, the Rams have the depth to continue to for the upcoming season and years to come.
鈥淲ith getting all the guys on the field and some of the 13 personnel stuff, the more we can do, the more guys we can get out there,鈥� Higbee said. 鈥淲e had a great group, a great year last year, and we鈥檙e working to build on that.鈥�
Notes: DE Myles Garrett did not practice for the third straight day. McVay said Garrett is dealing with soreness in his 鈥渓ower half鈥� but does not believe the ailment is serious.
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