The injuries are piling up for the Los Angeles Rams, with star wide receiver Cooper Kupp the latest player facing a long-term absence.
Kupp sprained his left ankle during the second quarter of the Rams’ 41-10 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and coach Sean McVay said Monday that Kupp would miss an “extended period of time.”
The same goes for offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III, both of whom have shoulder injuries. All three of those players are candidates for injured reserve, according to McVay, but there’s math to consider because of the NFL rule that only eight players placed on IR during the season can be designated for return.
“We’re kind of running out of spots, and we’re only into Week 3 in terms of the return to play,” McVay told reporters. “But that is a possibility for all of those guys.”
Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games before being eligible to return.
The Rams were already without their other top receiver, Puka Nacua, who hurt a knee in Week 1 and went on injured reserve.
Kupp took over in that game — a 26-20 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions — and caught 14 passes on a whopping 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. He had four catches for 37 yards early in the Arizona game before he came up limping.
The 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, when he notched the receiving triple crown (145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns), Kupp has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL in recent years — when healthy. He only played in nine games in 2022 due to a high ankle sprain and missed five games last season with a hamstring issue.
The Rams have also placed guard Steve Avila, backup tackle Joe Noteboom and cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve since the season began. Jackson had slid over from center to left guard to fill in for Avila, who sprained an MCL in Week 1.
McVay added that kicker Joshua Karty has a “mild” groin injury that will lead the Rams to keep him out of practice during this week, but he should be ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
–Field Level Media
