The Los Angeles Rams find themselves in a precarious position two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, sitting at a winless 0-2. The challenges, both old and new, seem to be mounting for the team as they navigate a minefield of injury troubles and inconsistent performances.
Mounting Injuries
One of the most significant blows to the Rams is the loss of wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who will miss an extended period due to a left ankle sprain. Kupp's history with ankle injuries, notably the one in 2022 that required season-ending surgery, only compounds concerns regarding his long-term fitness. But Kupp isn't the only crucial player sidelined. Guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are currently nursing shoulder injuries, and all three are candidates for injured reserve.
"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," said head coach Sean McVay. The mounting injuries are a stark contrast to the Rams' good fortune last season, where they had the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense, according to Frank Schwab. It marks a dramatic shift from their tumultuous 2022 season, where they finished second in adjusted games lost (AGL) due to injury.
Offensive Struggles
The injuries have taken their toll on the offensive line as well, a point that McVay didn’t shy away from highlighting. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," he admitted. This inconsistency was on full display in the Week 2 loss against the Arizona Cardinals, where quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked five times and lost a fumble. Stafford's stats reflect the offensive line's struggles; he threw for 216 yards with an average time to throw of 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league for that week.
Stafford himself is no stranger to injury concerns. He missed the latter half of the 2022 season with a spinal cord contusion and concussion, making his protection in the pocket even more critical. Yet, the offensive line's woes make it difficult to shield him effectively, setting up a concerning pattern for the season ahead.
Defensive Concerns
Defense is another area where the Rams are feeling the strain. Aaron Donald's retirement has notably impacted the defensive front seven, forcing the team to rely on rookies like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, their first and second-round picks in 2024. The secondary isn't faring much better, with corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick both on injured reserve.
This year's defensive shortcomings are a stark departure from last season's performance, where the Rams benefited from good injury luck, as Schwab noted. "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 wrote. Indeed, the random nature of these injuries underscores the unpredictable landscape of the NFL.
Future Outlook
The Rams' schedule doesn't offer much reprieve, and time is of the essence. History is not on their side either; no NFL team starting a year 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl. Additionally, they need to carefully consider their roster moves and draft picks. The Rams 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 could be instrumental in rebuilding and fortifying a team that seems to be in the throes of an injury epidemic.
"One tangible reason to worry about Rams regression is their injury luck last season," Schwab aptly noted. As the season progresses, the team will need more than luck to turn their fortunes around. Tactical decisions, effective player management, and perhaps a bit of the injury luck they enjoyed last season will be crucial if the Rams hope to navigate through these turbulent times.
In a league where the margin for error is slim, the Rams have their work cut out for them to right the ship before it capsizes completely.