LA Rams’ Cooper Kupp to skip season opener due to injury

Cooper Kupp – refer to caption – CC BY-SA

Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will sit out the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks due to a hamstring injury, as confirmed by head coach Sean McVay.

McVay acknowledged the possibility of listing Kupp on the injured reserve list, which would keep him out of action for at least four games.

“Not much more information … just dealing with some soft tissue stuff,” McVay said.

Kupp recently returned to Rams practice, ending a weeks-long absence due to the injury. He encountered a setback in his hamstring recovery and was listed as day-to-day when September began.

Last week, Kupp sought a renowned specialist’s expertise to understand the underlying problem better.

While Kupp missed eight games last season due to a high-ankle sprain, he managed to record 75 receptions for 812 yards and six touchdowns in just nine games.

In 2021, Kupp became the first player since 2005 to secure the NFL’s triple crown, topping the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He played a crucial role in the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, earning him a new three-year contract extension worth $80 million.

Rams’ offense without Kupp

With Kupp out, wide receiver Van Jefferson is listed as the first replacement for the position, set to play under the command of QB Matthew Stafford. The 27-year-old had 24 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 and 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.

Alongside Jefferson, the Rams’ WR depth chart includes several other names, such as Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson.

McVay expressed confidence in playing the new season without Kupp in the starting offense, saying, “We’re more prepared for it coming off of that.”

McVay explained that the team should not become preoccupied with factors beyond their control.

“We’re not going to do it. We’re going to control the things that we can control and we’re going to really operate in the present and do the best we can to prepare,” McVay said, as quoted by Sports Illustrated.