Rams WR Cooper Kupp a candidate to go on IR as team’s injury woes compound

The reality of the situation for receiver Cooper Kupp was clear in the locker room after the Rams’ 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday as he sported a walking boot on his injured left ankle. On Monday, head coach Sean McVay confirmed the fears, telling reporters Kupp will be out for an “extended period of time” with an ankle sprain, with the possibility that the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year will be put on injured reserve.

Somehow, the beleaguered Rams’ injury luck continued to get worse from there.

Left guard Jonah Jackson aggravated his shoulder injury from training camp and is also expected to miss multiple weeks, possibly landing on IR, too, McVay said. Another injured reserve candidate is safety John Johnson III, whose podcast reported on Monday that he will be out 4-6 weeks with a hairline fracture in his scapula.

On the bright side for the Rams (0-2), kicker Joshua Karty is expected to play against the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) on Sunday despite a groin injury suffered against the Cardinals.

That’s where the Rams are at this point. Injuries that only cost a player a practice or two are considered good news.

Following Puka Nacua’s Week 1 PCL sprain and subsequent IR placement, Kupp’s injury leaves the Rams without their top two receivers for multiple weeks. Behind Kupp and Nacua, the Rams have wide receivers Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington.

Kupp had spoken throughout the preseason about his relief entering 2024 with a clean slate of health, the first time since 2021, when he led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). That optimism was buoyed by his 14-catch, 110-yard performance in the season-opening loss in Detroit. But now he’s staring down another absence, and an injury that could linger like his hamstring and ankles issues did last season.

“He’s strong; he’s a man of faith, he and [Kupp’s wife] Anna, they trust in the lord’s plans for him. But it’s tough,” McVay said. “The amount of time, the sacrifices to try to put yourself in a position to positively affect the team. … He was disappointed, but his spirits are as strong as they can be relative to the circumstances while also acknowledging the real human emotions of the disappointment.”

Jackson, the team’s big free-agent acquisition in March, aggravated his shoulder injury in the third quarter on Sunday and played through it, McVay said. His is the latest in a long line of injuries for the Rams’ offensive line dating to the first week of training camp. Jackson and tackles Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein both missed extensive portions of camp due to injury.

Havenstein missed the first week of the season with his ankle issue, but returned in Week 2. Alaric Jackson completed his two-game suspension this weekend and is back to prepare to face the 49ers. But Jonah Jackson joins guard Steve Avila (MCL sprain) and reserve swing tackle Joe Noteboom (high ankle sprain) on the medical report, with no clear return date in sight.

And now the Rams will have to make more adjustments up front as they try to get their running game back on track after a dreary performance against the Cardinals.

“The amount of moving parts that we’ve had offensive line-wise has been wild, and that’s such an important spot to be able to get a rapport with the guy that you’re playing next to,” McVay said. “It starts with me, putting guys in better spots. … Stay connected, handle movement, play as hard as we can to be able to put a body on a body and give ourselves a better chance.”

Johnson is the second member of the Rams’ starting secondary to go down with a significant injury; cornerback Darious Williams is already on injured reserve with a hamstring pull. Johnson’s absence will put further responsibility on the shoulders of third-round rookie Kamren Kinchens.

“Young guys will be asked to be able to step up,” McVay said. “But [Johnson’s] communication, his command, his playmaking ability will be tremendously missed.”

So the Rams find themselves in a state of flux across the roster. The receivers they planned their passing attack around, the offensive line meant to establish their offensive identity, the secondary meant to give the young pass rush time to get home, all decimated only two weeks into the season.

“I feel terrible for those guys and we certainly care, but the outside world doesn’t and the games go on,” McVay said. “So we have to figure out how to adjust and adapt and that’s kind of an ongoing process for us as we navigate it right now.”