Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Report: Rams WR Cooper Kupp unlikely to play vs. Raiders

Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp is not expected to make his return to action on Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN reported.

Kupp is listed as questionable after missing his previous three games due to an ankle injury. He is expected to test his ankle pre-game before the Rams make an official decision.

The Rams (1-4) have a short week of preparation after playing the Raiders (2-4) with the currently undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0) up next on Thursday night.

NFL Network reported the Rams have received trade inquiries involving Kupp, who is signed through 2026. He’s due to make $20 million in salary and bonuses in 2025 and $19.85 million in 2026.

Kupp, 31, has 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games this season. He has amassed 585 catches for 7,213 yards and 52 scores over his eight-year career. The Rams selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Eastern Washington.

His best season came in 2021, when he led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), receiving touchdowns (16) and receiving yards per game (114.5) en route to his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors to date. He was named Offensive Player of the Year that season as well as MVP of Super Bowl LVI after catching the game-winning touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

Rams eyeing Week 7 return for WR Cooper Kupp (ankle)

The Rams hope to see Cooper Kupp back on the field for Week 7, but Los Angeles coach Sean McVay said the star wide receiver returning that soon is not guaranteed.

Kupp has missed the Rams’ last three games after suffering a high left ankle sprain in a Week 2 loss at the Arizona Cardinals.

McVay told reporters Monday that Los Angeles’ Week 7 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders is “an ideal target” for Kupp’s return. The Rams (1-4) have a bye before hosting Las Vegas on Oct. 20.

“(The Raiders game) was always an optimistic target date just based on a few weeks back that we had set,” McVay said. “But by no means is that guaranteed.”

McVay said Kupp would miss “an extended period of time” immediately following his injury, but the Rams did not place Kupp on injured reserve. Doing so would have required Kupp to miss four games, meaning he would not have been allowed to return until Week 8.

McVay said he has to speak with the Rams’ medical staff to determine whether Kupp can begin practicing after the bye week. Kupp has continued his rehab with team doctors over the past few days, McVay said.

Kupp, 31, has 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games this season. He has amassed 585 catches for 7,213 yards and 52 scores over his eight-year career.

His best season came in 2021, when he led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16) en route to his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors to date. He caught the game-winning touchdown in that year’s Super Bowl, for which he was named MVP.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (16) tackles Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp (10) on Sept. 15, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

Rams put two more on IR, but not WR Cooper Kupp

The Los Angeles Rams placed offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson II on injured reserve Wednesday, but standout wide receiver Cooper Kupp remains on the active roster.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters this week that Kupp will miss an extended period. Either the Rams think that’s less than four games or they’re concerned about running out of future designations; teams are allowed to designate eight players for return from IR during a season.

With the additions of Jackson and Johnson, the Rams now have nine players on IR who could return during the season.

Johnson is out 4 to 6 weeks with a fracture in his shoulder. Jackson also has a shoulder injury sustained in Week 1.

Kupp sprained his left ankle during the second quarter of the Rams’ 41-10 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He has a league-high 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games.

In corresponding moves, the Rams signed OL Justin Dedich to the active roster from the practice squad and DB Quindell Johnson as a practice squad exemption.

The Rams have also placed guard Steve Avila, backup tackle Joe Noteboom and cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve since the season began. Jackson had slid over from center to left guard to fill in for Avila, who sprained an MCL in Week 1.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA;  Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Rams ‘running out of spots’ on IR; Cooper Kupp could be next

The injuries are piling up for the Los Angeles Rams, with star wide receiver Cooper Kupp the latest player facing a long-term absence.

Kupp sprained his left ankle during the second quarter of the Rams’ 41-10 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and coach Sean McVay said Monday that Kupp would miss an “extended period of time.”

The same goes for offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III, both of whom have shoulder injuries. All three of those players are candidates for injured reserve, according to McVay, but there’s math to consider because of the NFL rule that only eight players placed on IR during the season can be designated for return.

“We’re kind of running out of spots, and we’re only into Week 3 in terms of the return to play,” McVay told reporters. “But that is a possibility for all of those guys.”

Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games before being eligible to return.

The Rams were already without their other top receiver, Puka Nacua, who hurt a knee in Week 1 and went on injured reserve.

Kupp took over in that game — a 26-20 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions — and caught 14 passes on a whopping 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. He had four catches for 37 yards early in the Arizona game before he came up limping.

The 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, when he notched the receiving triple crown (145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns), Kupp has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL in recent years — when healthy. He only played in nine games in 2022 due to a high ankle sprain and missed five games last season with a hamstring issue.

The Rams have also placed guard Steve Avila, backup tackle Joe Noteboom and cornerback Darious Williams on injured reserve since the season began. Jackson had slid over from center to left guard to fill in for Avila, who sprained an MCL in Week 1.

McVay added that kicker Joshua Karty has a “mild” groin injury that will lead the Rams to keep him out of practice during this week, but he should be ready to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.

–Field Level Media