A Rocky Start and Injury Woes Plague the Rams
As the Los Angeles Rams find themselves at 0-2 two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the team is grappling with significant injury setbacks and poor performance. This troubling start marks a stark contrast to their recent seasons, challenging their depth and resilience.
One of the most pressing issues is the absence of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp is out for an extended period due to a left ankle sprain. This injury echoes a similar ailment he suffered in 2022, which required season-ending surgery. His absence on the field is palpable, depriving quarterback Matthew Stafford of a reliable target.
But Kupp isn’t the only player the Rams are missing. Guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are both nursing shoulder injuries. With all three players as candidates for injured reserve, the team is quickly running out of those slots. "We're kind of running out of those [injured reserve] spots, and we're only into Week 3 in terms of the return to play, but that is a possibility for all of those guys," head coach Sean McVay remarked.
McVay also highlighted issues with the offensive line, a unit struggling with continuity and performance. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," he said. This disarray was evident in the Rams' recent loss to the Arizona Cardinals, where Stafford was sacked five times and lost a fumble. Stafford posted 216 passing yards during the game, though his average time to throw was 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league for that week. This prolonged pocket time could be a symptom of both offensive line failures and receiver separation issues.
Stafford, returning from a 2022 season where he missed significant time due to a spinal cord contusion and concussion, has struggled to find the form that led the Rams to previous success. Without Kupp and facing relentless pressure, Stafford’s task grows ever more daunting.
The defensive side also has its own set of challenges. The retirement of Aaron Donald has left a gaping hole in the defensive front seven. The Rams now lean on rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, their first and second-round picks from 2024, to step up and perform. The secondary is also hit hard, with corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick on injured reserve. This reliance on less experienced players is a stark departure from their solid defensive units in recent years.
Last season, the Rams enjoyed the fewest adjusted games lost due to injury, a far cry from their current predicament. Frank Schwab noted, "The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense." Reflecting on their injury fortunes, Schwab continued, "In 2022 they dealt with numerous injuries and finished second in adjusted games lost due to injury. It went from 146.6 AGL in 2022 to 26.4 last season, which is an incredible shift and shows how injury luck often has no rhyme or reason." This year, however, injury luck seems to have deserted them.
Statistically, the Rams face a daunting task ahead. History is not on their side, as no NFL team starting a year 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl. Such a start would indeed put them in an unenviable position and test their resilience and strategic acumen.
Looking towards the future, the Rams hold their own first, third, fourth, and sixth-round picks for the 2025 draft, along with additional sixth-round picks from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans. These picks could prove vital as the Rams aim to rebuild and address their depth issues.
As the Rams navigate through this early adversity, their ability to adapt and persevere will be crucial. With a roster stretched thin and a challenging schedule ahead, Sean McVay and his coaching staff have their work cut out for them. Their season may hinge on how well they can manage their current crises and which players emerge to fill the void left by injuries.