Rams Face Challenges Early in 2024 Season
The Los Angeles Rams' 2024 NFL season has gotten off to a rocky start, with the team currently standing at 0-2. Compounding their woes, key players are set to miss significant time due to injuries, including their star wide receiver, Cooper Kupp, who is dealing with a left ankle sprain.
Kupp's injury is particularly troubling for the Rams, as it mirrors a similar ankle issue he suffered in 2022, which ultimately required season-ending surgery. The injury bug hasn't spared other vital players either. Guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are currently nursing shoulder injuries, making all three strong candidates for the injured reserve list.
Head coach Sean McVay finds himself dealing with a plethora of issues, particularly on the offensive line, which he pointed out has been a significant concern. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," McVay lamented, highlighting the fluidity and instability plaguing that unit.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who missed the latter half of the 2022 season with severe injuries including a spinal cord contusion and concussion, has not had the happiest return. In a tough loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Stafford threw for 216 yards but was sacked five times, losing a fumble in the process. Notably, his average time to throw in Week 2 was 3.25 seconds, ranking him as the fifth-longest in the league for that week—a stat that indicates clear issues with pass protection.
The Rams' injury situation extends beyond just the offense. Defensive linchpin Aaron Donald has retired, which puts additional pressure on a young and relatively inexperienced defense. Rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, the team's first and second-round picks in 2024, are now expected to anchor the defensive line.
The secondary has also been hit hard, with corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick currently on injured reserve. McVay acknowledged the tightrope the team is walking concerning injured reserve spots: "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."
The Rams' current injury misfortunes are a stark contrast to their relatively healthy 2023 season. Last year, they boasted the fewest adjusted games lost (AGL) due to injury, which stood in stark contrast to their 2022 season when they finished second in AGL. Commenting on the Rams' recent injury history, sports analyst Frank Schwab observed, "The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense." He added, "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."
The ramifications of starting the season 0-2, and potentially 0-3, are severe. Notably, no NFL team that began a season 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl—a daunting prospect for a team that still harbors championship aspirations. Further complicating the Rams' future, they hold 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 picks will be crucial assets as the Rams look to rebuild and retool their roster amid these challenging times.
As the Rams prepare for Week 3, the road ahead is undeniably tough. McVay and his team must navigate these early-season adversities while finding a way to stabilize both the offensive line and overall team health. Given the current state of the roster, Rams fans can only hope that their squad can emulate the resilience that defined their most successful seasons.