Sean McVay Suggests Rams Cooper Kupp Out In Week 1?
For the time being, the Los Angeles Rams aren't putting any timetable on receiver Cooper Kupp's hamstring injury, but coach Sean McVay did acknowledge this week that the former Super Bowl MVP did have a "setback." And if you read between the lines, you get the feeling that the Rams may be preparing for the possibility of opening the season without their top receiver.
When asked about whether the Rams will be especially cautious with Kupp because he's dealing with a soft-tissue injury, McVay sounded like that was the plan of action for the team.
‘There's a difference between return to play and return to performance,’" McVay said. "We want a return to performance for Cooper Kupp and we know how special of a player, special of a person he is," McVay continued. "Whether that be Sept. 10 or not we'll continue to monitor that and control what we can control.”
Will Sean McVay and the Rams be without Cooper Kupp to open the season? (USA Today)
The top-heavy Rams have a gauntlet of a schedule in September, as they'll face the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals in the first month of the season. It would be a particularly bad time to be without Kupp, but if he's rushed back, that increases the chance that he reaggravates the injury and it's something that derails his entire season.
A year ago, Kupp was limited to just nine games by a high-ankle sprain. Despite missing nearly half of the season, he still hauled in 75 passes for 812 yards and six touchdowns.
Obviously, having him back healthy for as many games as possible has to be the priority for the Rams, but there's not really a way to replace his production when he's out of the lineup.
There have been positive reports about the likes of Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, and rookie Puka Nacua for much of the summer, which is an encouraging sign as the Rams try to build depth at receiver behind Kupp.
But if the former All-Pro misses an extended period of time for the second year in a row, McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams will be in big trouble.
