The Los Angeles Rams are dealing with a significant injury crisis in their wide receiver group. They lost second-year player Puka Nacua to a PCL sprain in Week 1, which put him on injured reserve. He’s expected to return around Week 9, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
This situation could have opened the door for Cooper Kupp to shine and return to his All-Pro form. Unfortunately, Kupp also picked up an injury during the Rams’ Week 2 loss to the Cardinals.
Cooper Kupp Injury Update
Kupp limped off the field near the end of the first half. He briefly sat out a few plays but came back for the final play before halftime, which led many to believe he was okay. However, it turns out he might have either aggravated an existing issue or was hurt worse than initially thought. He didn’t return to the game, as the Rams were already trailing by a large margin.
After the game, Kupp was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. Rams head coach Sean McVay indicated that Kupp would be out for “an extended period” and mentioned the possibility of placing him on injured reserve (IR).
September 29 Update
Kupp’s injury, sustained in Week 4, has kept him off the field since then. NFL analyst Jay Glazer reported that Kupp will miss at least the next two weeks, with a potential return around mid-October. As of now, he hasn’t been placed on IR yet.
How Long is Cooper Kupp Out?
Initially, there was talk of putting Kupp on IR, but that plan has changed. According to Schefter, there are currently no plans to place Kupp on IR. This suggests the Rams believe Kupp could be back within the next three weeks, which is important since being on IR would typically mean he’d miss a minimum of four games.
Kupp is unlikely to play this Sunday against the 49ers, but it’s encouraging to hear that his return might not be too far off.
Rams Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Here’s a look at the current depth chart for the Rams’ wide receivers:
- Cooper Kupp (Inj.) – WR1
- Puka Nacua (IR) – WR2
- Demarcus Robinson – WR3
- Tyler Johnson – WR4
- Tutu Atwell – WR5
- Jordan Whittington – WR6
In addition to these wide receivers, running back Kyren Williams and tight end Colby Parkinson are likely to see more targets while Kupp is out, which could help the Rams’ offense stay competitive.
