Two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams are already facing significant challenges. The team currently holds an 0-2 record, with injuries exacerbating their struggles on both sides of the ball.
Injury Woes Piling Up
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, a critical offensive asset, is set to miss an extended period due to a left ankle sprain. This injury echoes a similar setback Kupp experienced in 2022, which ultimately required season-ending surgery. Joining him on the list of injured key players are guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III, both nursing shoulder injuries. The trio are strong candidates for the injured reserve list.
Head coach Sean McVay expressed his concerns, stating, "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."
Offensive Line Struggles
The issues extend to the offensive line, a unit highlighted by McVay as having significant problems. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," McVay commented, underlining the instability that has plagued the team's offensive trenches.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford's performance against the Arizona Cardinals was emblematic of these struggles. Stafford threw for 216 yards, but the game was marred by his fumble loss after being sacked five times. His average time to throw in Week 2 was 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league, indicating poor protection up front.
Defensive Setbacks
The Rams' defense has also been hit hard. The retirement of star defensive lineman Aaron Donald has left a significant gap in the defensive front seven. The team now leans heavily on rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, their first and second-round picks in the 2024 draft, to fill the void. The secondary is also feeling the strain, with corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick on injured reserve.
Shifting Fortunes
The Rams' current injury crisis marks a sharp contrast from their relatively good health last season. NFL analyst Frank Schwab noted the stark difference: "The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense." This was in sharp contrast to 2022, when they "dealt with numerous injuries and finished second in adjusted games lost due to injury." Schwab continued, "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."
Schwab pointed out, "One tangible reason to worry about Rams regression is their injury luck last season." The current slew of injuries seems to affirm this concern and has already begun to surface just two weeks into the season.
The Road Ahead
With no NFL team ever having started 0-3 and gone on to win the Super Bowl, the Rams face a daunting task to reverse their fortunes. Looking ahead, the Rams hold their own first, third, fourth, and sixth-round picks for the 2025 draft, as well as additional sixth-round picks from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans.
As they grapple with injuries and performance issues, the Rams will need to leverage these future assets wisely. For now, the team's resilience will be tested as they strive to rise above this challenging start to the season. The road to recovery will not be easy, but it is a path that must be navigated with determination and strategic acumen.