Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is scheduled to have surgery for his high-ankle sprain and he’ll be placed on injured reserve, coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday morning.
Kupp will be required to miss at least the next four games after he’s placed on injured reserve, but he’s looking at a recovery timeline of five to six weeks, according to McVay.
With the 3-6 Rams having eight games remaining in the regular season, that might be the end of Kupp’s season unless the injury-riddled Rams somehow manage to generate a winning streak, starting with Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints. Kupp, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, injured his ankle during the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Kupp, who led the league in receiving yards, touchdowns and catches in 2021, was on pace for another memorable statistical season before a quiet performance against the Cardinals. Kupp had three catches for minus-one yard before injuring his ankle while attempting to catch a pass from backup quarterback John Wolford with 14:24 left.
“Thanks to everyone who has reached out and sent prayers,” Kupp tweeted Tuesday. “This is unfortunately just part of the game. Appreciate having a trusted medical team around me. Gonna get this thing fixed, then get back to work to get back to work!”
In nine games, Kupp recorded 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns on 98 targets. Now the Rams have to prepare for life without Kupp, who has accounted for a big part of the team’s offense the past two seasons.
“Obviously, you never, ever replace a player like Cooper Kupp, but we’ve got to figure out the best way to accentuate the skill sets of the guys that will be playing,” McVay said. “It’s a lot of guys that we’ll be continuing to learn about because until you play in these types of games, you don’t really know. That’s part of what is enjoyable about the challenge and the journey and trying to be able to pour into these guys as good as we possibly can as coaches and see if we can get them to play to the best of their ability.”
Thanks to everyone who has reached out and sent prayers! This is unfortunately just part of the game. Appreciate having a trusted medical team around me. Gonna get this thing fixed, then get back to work to get back to work!
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) November 15, 2022
The Rams’ stagnant offense might not have its star receiver, starting quarterback and left tackle against the Saints. Matthew Stafford, who missed the game versus Arizona, remains in the concussion protocol, McVay said Tuesday.
Offensive guard Chandler Brewer sustained an MCL injury early in the game against the Cardinals and will be out the next four to six weeks, and left tackle Alaric Jackson is dealing with blood clots and will be shut down for the rest of the season, per McVay. Jackson, who also missed the game against Arizona, was the replacement for left tackle Joe Noteboom, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 6 versus the Carolina Panthers.
Ty Nsekhe, who joined the team last month, will likely be the starting left tackle moving forward. Brewer was filling in at right guard, but McVay said there’s a chance guard David Edwards returns from injured reserve this week after sustaining two concussions earlier this season.
Listing the injuries the Rams have had on their offensive line this season might be longer than a CVS receipt. To summarize, the Rams have had nine different offensive line combinations in nine games this season – one of many reasons why the Rams rank at the bottom of most offensive statistical categories.
“It’s tough, but you have to be able to see if we can continue to try to develop some of these other guys that are going to get opportunities that they wouldn’t get otherwise,” McVay said.
McVay has struggled to make adjustments for his broken offense. He recently challenged his players to win their matchups, and Kupp questioned the lack of innovation in the offense last week.
Not much has worked offensively for the defending Super Bowl champions this season, including the “give-it-to-Cooper” strategy. Now that’s not an option for the upcoming games against the Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders.
Wide receivers Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson and other offensive players will get opportunities amid this losing season for the Rams.
“What we have to really be able to do is figure out what is the best way for us to utilize the players that we’re expecting to play, what do they do best, and then how does that get reflected in the way that you’re trying to attack certain schemes relative to the upcoming opponent, and this being the New Orleans Saints?” McVay said. “Those are things that you try to be able to work through and will continue to learn and it’ll be an ever-evolving process.”
