Any hope that the Rams wouldn’t lose Cooper Kupp (hamstring) for long was snuffed out on Saturday when the team announced it’s placing Kupp on injured reserve (IR).
That decision means he’ll be unable to play for at least the first four weeks of the season, making his first game back potentially against the Eagles on Oct. 8.
He was declared out for Week 1 on Sept. 6. Head coach Sean McVay hinted that Kupp could head to the IR on Friday, saying, it was a “definite possibility.” While the move to the IR isn’t unexpected, it’s still a massive blow.
Kupp is quarterback Matthew Stafford’s favorite target and the team will be without him for a pair of divisional games.
Los Angeles plays at Seattle on Sunday and hosts San Francisco in Week 2. Then, in Week 3, it travels to Cincinnati for a Monday night game. Without Kupp, the Rams chances of heading into their Week 4 game at Indianapolis with an 0-3 record got even stronger
The Rams (+1100) were already a long shot to win the NFC West before Kupp was placed on IR. They went 5-12 last season and traded All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey during the offseason.
Kupp only played in nine games last season due to a high-ankle sprain injury, and his absence highlighted how bare the Rams are at the skill positions.
Per PlayerProfiler, Kupp ranked seventh in yards per route run (2.61 yards) while having a target share (31 percent) and target rate (31.5 percent) that ranked in the top five in the league.
The Rams’ unofficial depth chart lists Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell as the other starting wide receivers while third-year pro Ben Skowronek is listed as Kupp’s backup.
Kupp finished last season with 75 receptions, 812 yards and six touchdowns. Atwell, Jefferson and Skowronek combined for 81 receptions, 1,044 and four touchdowns.