Long played nine of the Rams' 70 offensive snaps and finished without a target in Monday's 23-15 loss to the Dolphins.
Long ranked third among Los Angeles tight ends in playing time, trailing Davis Allen (56 snaps) and Colby Parkinson (11 snaps). Though he's held a modest role for much of the season, Long had recorded at least one reception in each of the past four games before seeing that streak come to an end Monday. Long should continue to remain the Rams' third tight end Sunday at New England, but he could be at risk of moving to the inactive list if/when Tyler Higbee (knee) is cleared to return from the PUP list.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Snags pair of targets
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Long secured both of his targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 24-19 loss to the Packers.
While Long's 17 snaps on offense was a typical week of usage for the fourth-year tight end, the two catches marked his first two as a Ram. Starting tight end Colby Parkinson led the team with 13 targets, which he turned into seven catches for 52 yards. Fellow backup Davis Allen failed to secure his only target and was on the field for just three snaps, leaving Long as the primary backup to Parkinson heading into the Rams' Week 6 bye.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Fails to make an impact
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Long failed to bring in either of his two targets during Saturday's 13-9 victory against the Chargers.
The battle to start the season as the No. 2 tight end behind Colby Parkinson while Tyler Higbee (knee) remains on the mend, seems to be leaning toward Davis Allen. Long hasn't done anything to make himself stand out over the second-year pro, and Allen showed enough when called upon in the latter half of the 2023 campaign to secure a roster spot. Long will likely be the tertiary option at tight end to start the year unless he breaks out in a big way against the Texans in the Rams' preseason finale, and he will likely struggle to find snaps on offense even before Higbee's eventual return.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Done for season
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Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday that Long (knee) will require season-ending MCL surgery, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.
Long was carted to the locker room during Sunday's 37-31 overtime loss to the Ravens, and after getting follow-up tests, the Rams determined that he suffered a significant injury. While Tyler Higbee (neck) was sidelined for the Week 14 contest, Long had been poised to take on a larger workload before going down with an injury of his own. Rookie Davis Allen -- who caught four of five targets for 50 yards and a touchdown versus Baltimore -- and Brycen Hopkins are now the team's healthiest options at tight end, though Higbee could be ready to play in next Sunday's game against the Commanders. Long closes the 2023 season without any targets across 54 snaps on offense over four games.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Carted to locker room
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Long (knee) was carted to the locker room and is considered doubtful to return to Sunday's game against the Ravens, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.
Long appears to have sustained a signficiant knee injury at some point during the first half, as his departure via a cart likely indicates he won't be available to return for the remainder of the contest. The third-year tight end appeared in just three game coming into Sunday, but his absence will now leave the Rams without their top two tight ends, as starter Tyler Higbee (neck) is already inactive. Brycen Hopkins and rookie Davis Allen will have to step into bigger roles for the time being.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Won't come off IR ahead of Week 8
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Long (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.
Long was placed on IR with a hamstring injury in early September. The Rams designated him to return this week, and the tight end was able to log three full practice sessions. However, the team isn't yet ready to activate him. Long's next chance to make his regular-season debut with Los Angeles will come Week 9 in Green Bay.
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Rams' Hunter Long: Could start season on PUP list
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Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that the possibility of Long (undisclosed) beginning the 2023 season on the PUP list hasn't been ruled out, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
The Rams placed Long on the active/PUP with an undisclosed injury late July. The issue has forced him to miss two preseason games and weeks of valuable training camp reps already. McVay said he hopes Long can return soon, but at this point the team may consider keeping him on the PUP list simply so he doesn't take up a spot on the 53-man roster. If Long does start Week 1 on the PUP list, he will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Isn't playing Sunday
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Long (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans.
Although Long missed Miami's Week 10 matchup versus Cleveland due to a concussion and has since cleared protocols, he'll still be sidelined this weekend as a result of a coach's decision. Durham Smythe and Tanner Conner are subject to receive larger workloads this weekend behind usual starter Mike Gesicki.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Practices in full Wednesday
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Long (concussion) logged a full practice session Wednesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Long landed in the NFL's concussion protocol Nov. 9 following Miami's Week 9 win over Chicago. He was unable to return for the team's Week 10 win against Cleveland but had some time to recover during the Dolphins' Week 11 bye. It appears that Long has a good chance of suiting up Sunday against Houston, though his potential return won't make much of an impact in fantasy, as he's het to receive a target or record any counting stats so far this season.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Won't play Sunday
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Long (concussion/illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Browns, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Long was placed in concussion protocol Wednesday and was unable to practice at all during Week 10 as a result. The 24-year-old is now also dealing with an unspecified illness, though he'll have an extra week to work his way back before Miami's next contest against Houston on Sunday, Nov. 27. Long has not recorded a catch while playing 58 offensive snaps over five games this season, so his absence shouldn't play much of a factor in Sunday's game against Cleveland.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Lands in concussion protocol
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Long didn't practice Wednesday due to concussion protocol, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Long presumably suffered the concussion during Miami's Week 9 win over Chicago and is in danger of missing Sunday's matchup against the Browns. The reserve tight end will have two more opportunities to practice before the Dolphins need to make a decision on his status for Week 10.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Misses practice again
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Long (ankle) is listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice report.
Long has already missed two straight games due to the ankle injury, and given his lack of on-field activity so far this week, he looks to be trending toward another absence Thursday in Cincinnati. The second-year tight end will be limited to a depth role behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe whenever he's healthy.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Inactive against Baltimore
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Long (ankle) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
After missing the Dolphins' first two practices of the week due to an ankle injury, Long will not travel with the team to Baltimore. With the 24-year-old off the field, Tanner Conner will will likely take over the team's No. 3 tight end role for his season debut.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Officially out
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Long (ankle) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Long will focus on his recovery and not travel with the team to Baltimore. As a result, Tanner Conner will serve as the team's No. 3 tight end behind Durham Smythe and Mike Gesicki.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Long didn't participate in Wednesday's practice session due to a non-COVID illness, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Long recorded his first reception of the season in Week 13 but is dealing with an illness ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets. Even if he's unable to suit up in Week 15, his absence wouldn't have a significant impact on Miami's offense.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Healthy scratch
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Long (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Long played in Week 6 against the Jaguars, but he had only one target and didn't record a single catch. He's made three appearances this season and has played just 29 snaps, so him being inactive shouldn't affect many fantasy rosters.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Inactive Week 2
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Long (coach's decision) is listed as inactive ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Bills.
Long is a healthy scratch Sunday after Adam Shaheen was activated from the COVID-19 list this week. The rookie registered 23 total snaps (18 offensive) during his first NFL action against the Patriots in Week 1.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Able to take some practice reps
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Long (lower body) is participating in some team drills Tuesday, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Long appears to be limited at Tuesday's practice, but it's certainly encouraging to see him handle blocking drills just over a week after he had to be carted off the field due to a lower-body injury. The Dolphins have a number of reliable tight ends atop the depth chart, namely Mike Gesicki, Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe, so the team can take a cautious approach to Long's recovery. Still, it looks like the rookie third-round pick could have a chance at suiting up for action at some point during the preseason.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Out for Saturday
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Long (lower body) will not play Saturday against the Bears, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel reports.
The rookie was carted off the field last Sunday and was reportedly unable to put any weight on his left leg, but he evidently avoided a significant injury and has been without a brace for most of this week. The Dolphins will obviously play it safe with their third-round pick, which means Long will wait to make his professional debut until later in the preseason.
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Dolphins' Hunter Long: Considered day-to-day
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Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said Wednesday that Long (lower body) is day-to-day, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Long was carted off the field Sunday with what's being described as a lower-body injury, and he was reportedly unable to put any weight on his left leg afterward. The tight end appears to have avoided a serious injury, as he was seen walking around on the sideline at Wednesday's practice without a brace or sleeve on his leg. The 2021 third-round pick will compete for a role in the Dolphins' offense behind Mike Gesicki once he's able to return to the field.
