The 2023 NFL season is not getting off to a good start for the Los Angeles Rams, who hope to bounce back from a forgettable 2022 campaign marred by injuries and failed expectations.
Although the Rams aren’t expected to be a significant threat in the NFC this season, the team was hoping to get back on track with their star quarterback Matthew Stafford, and superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp back on the field healthy and ready to go.
Even though Stafford will be ready for Week 1 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, the same can’t be said for Kupp, who recently went down in practice with a hamstring injury, which needed multiple opinions before the team made the decision to place him on injured reserve on Saturday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams have placed Kupp on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season.
Rams are placing standout WR Cooper Kupp on injured reserve due to his lingering hamstring issues, per league sources. Kupp now will be sidelined a minimum of four games, starting with Sunday’s regular-season opener at Seattle. pic.twitter.com/T3ZWEZmUt3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2023
Outside of superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald going down to start the season, this is the worst news the team could get, as Kupp is arguably the second-best player on the squad and the best offensive weapon the team has moving forward.
This will put tremendous pressure on Stafford and the other wide receivers on the team to step up in the first four games of the season.
Unfortunately for the Rams, Los Angeles doesn’t have a deep team at the wide receiver position, with a drastic dropoff from Kupp to the other wideouts, like Tutu Atwell, Van Jefferson, and Puka Nacua.
NEXT: Aaron Donald Opens Up On His Return To The Field
