Rams head coach Sean McVay says tight end Davis Allen is dealing with a significant soft tissue injury.
The Los Angeles Rams are taking a very strategic approach this camp by resting some of the veterans like Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, and Byron Young, to ensure they can stay healthy for the entire season and do not wear out in camp. However, that does not mean the Rams will go through camp without other injuries.
During Monday's media availability, McVay mentioned that veteran tight end Davis Allen is dealing with a quad injury and could miss some time. Additionally, McVay added, "Davis is going to be a big part of what we do."
Having injuries at this point in training camp is not ideal, especially when it is a quad injury, as McVay mentioned. However, the tight end position may be more equipped than most positions on the roster to handle a hit to the depth like this.
Currently on the roster, the Rams have five tight ends who could see playing time in Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Max Klare, and Tyler Higbee, in addition to Allen. Last season, Stafford distributed the ball pretty evenly across the board among the tight ends, with Parkinson leading the unit with 408 yards and eight touchdowns.
Regarding Allen, he was a solid contributor for the Rams in 2025 as he tallied 24 receptions for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Allen also provides a solid blocking presence for this offense with his 6-6 and 253-pound frame, which gives him the ability to work his way on the field regardless of the personnel grouping that McVay wants to put on the field.
Last season, the 13 personnel grouping became a key piece of the Rams' offense, especially when Adams was out with injury later in the regular season. With a player like Allen and the rest of the tight ends, McVay can have the confidence to call plays in 13 personnel because he knows each of them can be effective pass catchers but can also get it done in the run game as blockers.
With Allen expected to miss some time, this could be a good opportunity for him to serve in a mentor-type role for Klare and Ferguson, as they do not have a ton of NFL experience just yet. Allen's advice could be a major help in the film room, watching practice tape, but also on the field, as both Klare and Ferguson could be getting a lot more reps without Allen practicing.
While Allen could be a great mentor, it may be worth wondering how his injury may affect the depth chart in the tight end room. Following last season, it seems very likely that Parkinson will be at the top, but after that, training camp may be what decides the rest of the rotation.
The good news for Allen is the fact that he is now entering his fourth season in the NFL and definitely knows what to expect from an NFL season, but also that McVay talked about Allen having a big role in what the Rams will do this upcoming season.
With that in mind, the important thing for Allen is to get his quad healthy, which is what McVay talked about when he mentioned they will not rush Allen back. As a result of the experience that Allen has, this time off should help his quad to heal, but also give his legs a chance to rest and get prepared for the upcoming 2026 season.
As the Rams head into next season, if Allen can get healthy and the rest of the tight end room continues to progress, this could very well turn out to be the best and deepest tight end unit in the entire NFL.
