Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp walked away from Sunday’s loss with a boot on his left foot and won’t be returning to the field anytime soon.
Head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that Kupp would miss an “extended period of time” with an ankle sprain. Kupp, along with offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (shoulder) and safety John Johnson (shoulder), are candidates for injured reserve, but McVay said none are dealing with injuries that are season-ending.
This will now mark the third consecutive season in which Kupp has missed time due to injuries after winning the receiving triple crown in the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning season of 2021. Over the previous two years, he missed 13 combined games with ankle and hamstring ailments.
It’s been a terrible start to the 2024 season on the injury front and in the win-loss column for McVay’s Rams, who are now 0-2.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s receiving corps — led by Kupp and second-year sensation Puka Nacua — is dwindling fast. Kupp could join Nacua on IR, as the latter was placed on reserve last week after suffering a knee sprain in the season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions.
The offensive line is also beleaguered, with Jackson joining injured Joe Noteboom and Steve Avila. Avila and Noteboom were placed on IR along with Nacua last week.
Kupp had four catches for 37 yards against the Cardinals in what will be his last game action for a bit.
Through two games, Kupp was the Rams’ leading receiver with 18 catches and 147 yards, along with the team’s only receiving touchdown.
In his and Nacua’s absence, the Rams will need bigger contributions from Tyler Johnson, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington in the WR corps.
The road ahead gets no easier for the Rams, who will host the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
