Depleted by pervasive injuries, Rams search for answers

The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2024 season with high hopes. However, injuries have decimated the team through two games.

Lamenting the number of players placed on the injured reserve list, head coach Sean McVay recently told reporters, "We're kind of running out of those [injured reserve] spots, and we're only into Week 3."

The position groups most plagued by injuries are wide receiver, tight end, offensive line and defensive secondary. Rendered involuntarily thin at these critical position groups, the Rams are unexpectedly scrambling for solutions early in the season.

Let's examine who's injured, their expected recovery timetables and who will need to step up in their absences.

Wide receiver

The Rams' top two wide receivers, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, suffered leg injuries in the first two weeks of the season and are expected to miss significant playing time.

After suffering a strained PCL in his right knee in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, Nacua is on the injured reserve list and is expected to be out for five to seven weeks.

While being tackled by Arizona Cardinals defenders on Sept. 15, Kupp rolled his left ankle and had to be helped off the field. Kupp is expected to miss multiple games, but McVay declined to put a specific timetable on his return.

"I know he's going to want to be back as soon as he can, but I don't want to put any expectations or unnecessary things on him," McVay said . "He's going to do everything in his power to get back, whenever that is."

Meanwhile, the Rams only have four wide receivers left on their active roster — Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington. General manager Les Snead signed veteran WR Quintez Cephus to the team's practice squad after the Kupp injury.

Tight end

The Rams put tight end Tyler Higbee on the physically unable-to-play (PUP) list at the beginning of the season, making him ineligible to play until after the first four games of the 2024 campaign.

Backup TE Davis Allen missed the game last week and has not practiced yet this week. Dealing with a back issue, Allen is listed as doubtful about returning to action this weekend.

Assuming Allen cannot go, the Rams will have only two active tight ends, with Hunter Long backing up Colby Parkinson.

Offensive line

The Rams have suffered multiple injuries along the offensive line. In the words of CBS Sports, the team has been forced to put together a " patchwork OL " behind which the safety of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is imperiled. Four offensive linemen have been placed on the IR: Joe Noteboom, Steve Avila, Conor McDermott and KT Leveston. A fifth, Jonah Jackson, may be placed on the IR with a shoulder injury.

Secondary

Cornerbacks Darious Williams, Derion Kendrick and Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson are on the IR, and CB Cobie Durant is listed as questionable for this weekend. Additionally, safety John Johnson III is on the IR. Williams and Johnson are starters.

This multitude of injuries has prompted calls for the Rams to elevate veteran defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon from the practice squad to the active roster. As Witherspoon played on 93.5 percent of defensive snaps for the Rams in 2023, setting career highs in tackles and interceptions, activating him might make good sense. Indeed, the Rams do not appear to have many other options.

While the Rams were the healthiest team in the NFL in 2023, they have been anything but in 2024.

Los Angeles (0-2) hosts the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sept. 22.