THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras approached Lance Kendricks in the moments following a stinging 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers, shortly after his primary tight end had showered and dressed.

"You OK?" Boras asked.

"Yeah," Kendricks said. "I won't lose sleep over that."

Kendricks had just finished his most productive game in four years, but it was highlighted by perhaps his most crucial drop. It came with just over eight minutes remaining and Los Angeles trailing by 13 on third-and-goal from the Panthers' 7-yard line. Rams quarterback Case Keenum fired a bullet pass immediately after Kendricks came off his route, but the ball bounced off the middle off his chest for an incompletion.

The Rams settled for a field goal, taking four fewer points in an eventual three-point defeat.

"A game like that is kind of when you have to take the positives away from it, and realize that I was able to still be productive," Kendricks said after Wednesday's practice. "The play, that’s an easy fix. A play like that, knowing Case and knowing coach Rob Boras, they’ll call it again. And the next one, I’ll make it."

Kendricks was targeted 12 times, three more than his previous career high set during his rookie season of 2011. He made seven catches for 90 yards, his highest output since producing 119 yards on Dec. 23, 2012.

But with the Rams finally driving down the field, Kendricks could barely see.

Daylight saving time pushed the clocks back an hour Sunday, so the sun was setting low on the west side of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, frequently in Kendricks' sightline. He nonetheless made three catches in that drive, the last on a 25-yard seam route despite barely being able to pick up the football. But he couldn't pick it up quickly enough on the play that would've resulted in an easy touchdown. The sun was hitting him at a 45-degree angle.

"So I’m looking at the ball and at the sun at the same time," Kendricks explained. "But that’s an excuse, I guess, at the end of the day. I still have to catch the ball regardless. The sun just plays a factor. That’s a play where if you call it 10 times, I’ll catch nine of them."

Key drop aside, Kendricks is quietly having a productive season. With tight end Jared Cook having departed to the Green Bay Packers and rookie Tyler Higbee slowly getting worked into the offense, Kendricks is on pace for a career-best 662 receiving yards in his sixth season. The 28-year-old has already made 32 catches for 331 yards, more than his output each of the previous three years.

"That’s what I want," Kendricks said. "As tight ends, we love to be able to carry the load. That’s what we do. We do all different types of things. Being able to go out there and make plays, man, that’s something I’ve been waiting to be able to do for a long time. I’m glad I’m getting an opportunity."