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Rams' Cooper Kupp Expected to Miss 'Extended Period' with Ankle Injury; IR Possible

Timothy Rapp

The Los Angeles Rams are down another wide receiver.

Head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that star Cooper Kupp is expected to miss "an extended period of time" and could be placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury.

The Rams are already without fellow wideout Puka Nacua, who is on injured reserve due to a PCL strain.

Kupp injured his ankle in the second quarter and didn't play in the second half of his team's 41-10 blowout loss against the Arizona Cardinals. The injury appeared to occur during a 24-yard reception, his fourth of the contest. After the game, he was seen in a walking boot.

"[Kupp] ran across the field, did a really nice job, and then was limping a little bit," quarterback Matthew Stafford told reporters on Sunday. "And he doesn't usually limp for too long. Sometimes you get stepped on and you limp for a minute and walk one off. But we will see what that is. Obviously a huge part of our team and a huge part of our offense."

It has been a tough start to the season for the Rams, who are beset by injuries:

Meanwhile, the receiver room is down to Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington. That's a severe downgrade for Stafford, who started the season with one of the best receiving duos in football in Kupp and Nacua.

Injuries have been a recurring issue for Kupp, meanwhile, as he missed 15 games between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. That followed a legendary 2021 campaign that saw him lead the NFL in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16) in what was one of the greatest seasons for a wideout in NFL history.

That year, he was named a Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro selection and the Offensive Player of the Year. It appeared he was on his way to a multiyear run as the game's top wideout, but injuries have prevented him from taking that mantle.

This year, he leads the NFL in receptions (18) despite only playing six quarters, a sign that he was on his way to another big year before the injury bug bit yet again. And now the Rams, at 0-2 to start the year, will need to find a way to generate offense without their top two weapons in the passing game.

   

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