LOS ANGELES -- The Rams have placed safety Quentin Lake, right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee on injured reserve, Sean McVay said Wednesday.
Lake dislocated his left elbow in the Rams' Week 11 victory over the Seattle Seahawks and had surgery Tuesday. McVay said he doesn't believe "it's out of the question" for Lake to return if the Rams make the playoffs.
Before his injury Sunday, Lake played every defensive snap for the Rams this season. The versatile safety is in the last season of his rookie deal.
Higbee injured his ankle Sunday against Seattle. The veteran tight end has 20 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Havenstein has been "pushing through" ankle and knee injuries. All three will miss at least the next four games on injured reserve and be eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 16 against the Seahawks.
"We'll have hope and optimism that all those guys will return at some point," McVay said.
Lake and Havenstein are two of the Rams' seven team captains and Higbee has "been such a glue guy for us," McVay said.
"You don't replace players like that," McVay said. "You don't expect others to be able to do that. You expect the guys that are getting opportunities to step up to be the best versions of themselves."
Warren McClendon Jr. will start at right tackle in place of Havenstein. The third-year player started Weeks 5 through 7 while Havenstein was dealing with an ankle injury.
This season, Lake has one interception, 10 passes defended, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, a sack and 61 total tackles. Lake is also in his second year as a Rams captain, something McVay said you can't replace.
