The Rams are more than happy to hand over the baton to the Saints. The NFL’s most injury-plagued team is no longer Sean McVay’s crew. In fact, as the Rams (1-4) come off a bye and prepare for a visit from the Raiders (2-4), they’re as healthy as they’ve been all season. First on the list of potential returns is All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
The Rams’ head coach said Kupp, who was limited in practice with a high-ankle sprain that has sidelined him since Week 2, could play this week against Las Vegas (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).
“He’s trending in the right direction, but we’ll see exactly what that means as the week progresses,” McVay said Wednesday.
In an injury desert since their Week 1 loss at Detroit, the Rams could use Kupp like a cold drink of water. Kupp is one of five offensive starters from that game who have since missed games due to injury. They’ve also since lost guard Steve Avila, center Jonah Jackson, tackle Joe Noteboom and Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua. Tackle Rob Havenstein, who missed that Lions game with injury, has returned to the lineup.
There’s no discounting Kupp’s return, though. McVay this week told reporters what he’d like to see before green lighting the NFL’s 2021 Offensive Player of the Year.
“Some of the short-area movements, some of the things that are necessary as far as being engaged as part of the blocking surface or to be able to work edges on people as a receiver,” McVay said. “I think some of it, too, is even just when you’re connected with somebody and it’s a lean or press-away, what does that feel like? Just the overall twitch, the overall strength and power with some of the movements that we’ll ask of him.”
They may also ask Kupp whether he feels better returning to the lineup after Las Vegas, when the Rams will host the Vikings on Thursday Night Football in Week 8. And while Kupp’s news is encouraging, Nacua’s update was not. McVay said Nacua, who injured his knee in that Week 1 loss and went on injured reserve, would not practice all week. The Rams need to open a 21-day practice window before they activate Nacua, with the ability to bring him to the active roster at any point during those three weeks.
McVay himself can reach some timely history by beating the Raiders Sunday. According to ESPN, McVay (78-53) needs one win to match John Robinson (79-74) for the most victories by a head coach in Rams franchise history. McVay, 38, would then join the Raiders’ John Madden as one of only two individuals since the 1970 league merger to become the winningest head coach in franchise history before their 40th birthdays.
Las Vegas plays its first game since trading Davante Adams to the Jets on Tuesday. The team is just 1-5 at SoFi Stadium, including a 22-10 loss in Week 1 to the Chargers. The Raiders, who called Los Angeles home from 1982-94, typically have a strong fan presence at their games in the city, although the team’s only win at the new stadium was in 2020, when the pandemic restricted fans from attending the game. Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell made his NFL debut at the stadium last season, a 24-17 loss to the Chargers in Week 4. He was 24 of 39 for 238 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
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