Two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves in a precarious position, standing at 0-2 and grappling with a slew of critical injuries that could shape their season's trajectory. Among the most significant of these injuries is wide receiver Cooper Kupp’s left ankle sprain, an ailment eerily reminiscent of a similar injury he sustained in 2022, which necessitated season-ending surgery.
"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," admitted head coach Sean McVay, reflecting the team’s uneasy predicament. Alongside Kupp, guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are both contending with shoulder injuries that have made them potential candidates for the injured reserve list.
Offensive Struggles
McVay has been candid about the challenges facing the offensive line, a unit whose instability has been a recurring theme early in the season. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," McVay noted, underscoring the disarray that has hindered consistent performance. This volatility was on full display during their recent loss to the Arizona Cardinals, where quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked five times, losing a fumble in the process.
Stafford, who threw for 216 yards against the Cardinals, also faced an uphill battle with defensive pressure, averaging a league fifth-longest time to throw at 3.25 seconds in Week 2. His struggles are compounded by the memory of missing the latter half of the 2022 season with a spinal cord contusion and concussion, making his durability a significant concern for the Rams moving forward.
Defensive Adjustments Without Donald
The Rams’ defensive scheme has also seen a shake-up, particularly in the absence of retired defensive linchpin Aaron Donald. The team has put its faith in rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, their first and second-round picks in 2024, to fill the void in the defensive front seven. The challenge is substantial, particularly with corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick also on injured reserve, leaving the secondary shorthanded.
Despite the current injury woes, it's worth noting that the Rams were one of the luckier teams last season in terms of health. As Frank Schwab highlighted, "The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense." This drastic turnaround underscores Schwab’s observation that "injury luck often has no rhyme or reason," contrasting sharply with 2022 when the Rams were plagued and ended second in adjusted games lost due to injury.
Schwab's analysis suggests a concerning trend. "One tangible reason to worry about Rams regression is their injury luck last season," he noted, implying that the current spate of injuries could spell a return to their previous misfortunes.
Looking Ahead
The Rams face a particularly daunting statistic as they march deeper into the season: no NFL team that has started 0-3 has ever gone on to win a Super Bowl. With a challenging road ahead, the team must rally despite the setbacks, capitalizing on their remaining strengths and draft assets. They hold multiple picks, including 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 assets may prove crucial as they potentially look to infuse fresh talent to mitigate the injury toll.
As the Rams navigate these turbulent waters, the resilience of their roster and the strategic acumen of their coaching staff will be put to the test. The coming weeks will reveal whether they can overcome these early adversities and carve out a path to redemption, or whether this season will serve as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the NFL. For now, the focus remains on shoring up an ailing roster and addressing the critical vulnerabilities that have surfaced so early in their campaign.