The Los Angeles Rams are already navigating a depleted roster due to significant injuries. That includes missing their top two wide receivers.
After losing sophomore stud Puka Nacua due to a knee injury, veteran Cooper Kupp is also sidelined. What happened to Kupp, and how long will he be out?
What is Cooper Kupp’s Injury?
In Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, Kupp left the field near the end of the second quarter after his left ankle got rolled on by Cardinals defender Jalen Thompson. Kupp received attention from the Rams’ medical staff and was spotted running around on the sidelines. He returned for one offensive play before halftime but didn’t look entirely comfortable. He exited the game and did not return.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp has a walking boot on his left foot/lower leg as he leaves the locker room.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 15, 2024
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Kupp was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and lower leg as he left the locker room after the Rams’ loss.
After the game, McVay announced that Kupp suffered an ankle injury.
How Long Will Kupp Be Out?
Shortly after the injury occurred, McVay said that Kupp would be out “an extended period of time.” Initially, he said that Kupp was a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for four games. However, the Rams ultimately decided not to put Kupp on IR.
Still, don’t expect Kupp back this week. On Monday, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Kupp would be out for Sunday’s contest against the Green Bay Packers. Ruling him out so early in the week isn’t a great sign.
However, we did get some good news on Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Kupp is expected to return after the Rams’ Week 6 bye. That means Kupp would suit up in Week 7 when the Rams are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rams are planning for WR Cooper Kupp — who will miss his third game in a row Sunday due to a high ankle sprain — to return after their bye next week in time for their Oct. 20 home game vs. the Raiders as long as there are no setbacks in practice, per sources. pic.twitter.com/JkoohnAd6c
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2024
This was always the game that we had circled as Kupp’s likely return date, as his three-game absence would explain why Kupp wasn’t put on IR (which requires a player to miss four games) and it would give him the bye week to heal.
For Kupp, this latest setback adds to a long list of previous lower body injuries he’s endured.
He began the 2023 season by missing the first four games with a hamstring injury. Kupp missed much of 2022 after sustaining an ankle ailment against the Cardinals in November and inside SoFi Stadium.
Even during his breakout 2021 season that saw him lead the NFL in all three major receiving categories, Kupp operated with a knee bruise that occurred in the Rams’ playoff win over the Cardinals. He managed to play through it and went on to earn Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player honors while catching the game-sealing touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
But his most significant injury arrived in 2018 when he suffered an ACL tear on Nov. 11. Kupp never got the chance to return as the Rams clinched the NFC title in that 2018 season.
Who’s Starting in Kupp’s Absence?
With both Nacua and Kupp sidelined, the Rams will be relying on Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and Tyler Johnson as their starting wide receivers. Here’s a breakdown of Robinson and Atwell’s fantasy outlook entering Week 5.
Demarcus Robinson Fantasy Outlook
Robinson saw seven targets in the season opener but hasn’t earned more than four looks in a game since. His routes have been slowly ticking down, which makes him a tough bet in any format, with the Packers ranking in the top quarter of the NFL in time of possession and the Rams ranking in the bottom quarter.
In theory, the 18.2 aDOT comes with preloaded upside, but with Green Bay owning a low blitz rate, I’m not comfortable in Robinson exposing single coverage for the type of spike play that it requires to make him a viable option.
Tutu Atwell Fantasy Outlook
He may only stand 5’9”, but Atwell has been able to make a few splash plays given his extended role, and that’s been enough to justify him being added in most leagues.
I don’t hate it.
Atwell has cleared 80 receiving yards in consecutive games and now faces the second-worst defense in terms of yards per completion allowed (12.3, NFL average: 10.6). That stat is tied to Green Bay consistently being attacked downfield (third-highest opponent aDOT when targeting the WR position), a spot where we’ve seen Atwell win on occasion.
The looks have been limited, but Atwell has produced 32.4% over expectation this season, ranking him 10th of 72 qualifiers. I don’t have him ranked as a top-40 option because I fear that the Packers control this game. However, if the Rams are playing from behind for the majority of the afternoon, there is a path where Atwell makes the most of a deep look or two.