When will the Rams get more out of Tyler Higbee, Pharoh Cooper?

By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER

THOUSAND OAKS – A few months ago, UC Irvine buzzed with hype around couple of mid-round gems.

It was training camp, after all, the time when – barring injuries – fans are most often filled with optimism and potential about their NFL teams. For the Rams, who had just returned to Southern California after more than two decades, that dynamic was no different.

No, top overall pick Jared Goff hadn’t yet seized the starting quarterback job, but that felt like a only matter of time. And when he did, he’d have a pair of young targets to throw to in Tyler Higbee and receiver Pharoh Cooper, the Rams’ two fourth-round picks.

Coach Jeff Fisher wasn’t shy about their promise. In early August, he described Higbee as a potential red-zone target, saying that the 6-foot-5 tight end had a chance to play early and be “a big-time part of our offense.” Two weeks later, he added that Cooper was “obviously” one of the Rams’ top three receivers.

Fast forward through eight games, however, and the duo has combined for just four catches and 40 yards – 31 of which came on Higbee’s grab against the Panthers on Sunday. (Goff, of course, remains on the bench despite starter Case Keenum’s struggles through a four-game losing streak.)

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