Higbee has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Cardinals following his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he could be eligible to return to the active roster as soon as Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
According to Schefter, Higbee's placement on the list was the result of an initial positive test, but the tight end proceeded to test negative for the virus twice thereafter. That would seemingly lend credence to the idea that the initial result was a false positive, but because the Rams couldn't confirm as much prior to Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Higbee will have to sit out his first game of the season. Kendall Blanton is the next man up on the depth chart behind Higbee and profiles as the Rams' best blocking tight end, while Brycen Hopkins and the newly promoted Jared Pinkney represent greater pass-catching threats at the position.