Sept. 17 – The Los Angeles Rams continue to struggle with injuries, with star wide receiver Cooper Kupp becoming the latest player to be absent for a long period of time.
Kupp sprained his left ankle in the second quarter of the Rams’ 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and coach Sean McVay said Monday that Kupp would miss the game “for a long period of time.”
The same applies for offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III, both of whom are dealing with shoulder injuries. According to McVay, all three players are candidates for injured reserve, but due to NFL rules, only eight players placed on injured reserve during the season can be designated to return, so that must be considered.
“We’re running out of space, and we’re not going to be back in the game until Week 3,” McVay told reporters. “But that’s a possibility for all of these guys.”
Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games before being eligible to return.
The Rams have already lost another top receiver in Puka Naikua, who suffered a knee injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve.
Kupp took over that game, a 26-20 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, catching 14 passes on 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. He started the game against Arizona with four catches for 37 yards before being carted off the field.
Kupp was named the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and won the receiving triple crown (145 catches, 1,947 yards, 16 touchdowns) and, when healthy, was one of the most efficient players in the NFL in recent years. He played only nine games in 2022 because of an ankle sprain and missed five games last season because of a hamstring problem.
The Rams have placed linebacker Steve Avila, backup tackle Joe Noteboom and cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve since the start of the season. Jackson was moved from center to left guard to replace Avila, who suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain in Week 1.
McVay said kicker Joshua Carty suffered a groin injury that will keep the Rams from practicing this week, but he should be ready to go against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
——Visual-level media
