Sometimes it isn’t what you say, but what you don’t say that matters. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay gave updates on the injury status of several players, but many were left unaddressed.
Rams Injury Updates
The players he did give updates on were Cooper Kupp and Joe Noteboom. Each will work with the training staff on Monday to determine their next steps. For Kupp that means he could return as early as this week.
McVay said, [Kupp is] feeling good, he’s feeling optimistic but he’s very aware of what that looks like to be ready to roll, and maybe [he’s] not quite there yet.
For Noteboom, it will be to determine if they will start the transition off the injured reserve. Noteboom has been on the IR since Week 2. This is the first week that he is eligible to return, but McVay seemed uncertain at the time of his press conference.
Two more Rams are eligible to return this week, Puka Nacua and Steve Avila. McVay said that neither would resume practice.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported back on September 15 that Nacua could miss between 5 – 7 weeks. At the time of the writing of this article is the five-week mark, but no chance of practice doesn’t bode well for the sophomore wide receiver. It seems like his earliest return would be the Week 9 match against the Seattle Seahawks, with the Week 8 Minnesota Vikings game falling on Thursday Night Football.
No Injury Updates On These Rams
The Rams have not been updates given on left guard Jonah Jackson, safety John Johnson, and tight end Tyler Higbee. Coincidentally Jackson and Johnson went on the IR on the same day with the same injury, a fractured scapula. These typically take 4-6 weeks to heal and the first game they will be eligible to return will be Week 8, again a Thursday night game.
Higbee was injured nine months ago, to the day. Nine months is the early return date for a torn ACL and MCL. The late estimated return is 12 months. Of course, if that is the case Higbee will miss the entire 2024 season. Given how the Rams have handled the situation, that isn’t what they are expecting to be the case.
It is obvious the Rams need to get healthy to win games. They currently have a 17 percent chance to make the playoffs with a record of 1-4.
