Rams have harm disaster after being NFL's healthiest workforce in 2023; how slew of illnesses impacts Matt Stafford

Disaster is not a phrase usually used when describing many conditions in skilled sports activities, but it surely’s honest when discussing the 0-2 Los Angeles Rams‘ harm state of affairs via two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. 

Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s longtime favourite goal in Los Angeles, extensive receiver Cooper Kupp, may miss “an prolonged time period” after struggling a left ankle sprain within the workforce’s 41-10 loss in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, per ESPN. Kupp suffered an ankle sprain in Week 10 in opposition to the Cardinals in 2022 and wanted season-ending surgical procedure to repair the difficulty. Kupp is a candidate for injured reserve in 2024. as are guard Jonah Jackson (shoulder) and security John Johnson III (shoulder), after Week 2. 

“We’re sort of working out of these [injured reserve] spots and we’re solely into Week 3 by way of the return to play, however that could be a chance for all of these guys,” McVay said, via ESPN.

The trio of Kupp, Jackson and Johnson be part of a CVS receipt-long record of gamers on injured reserve, placing the prospects of the postseason in 2024 in early jeopardy. 

Notable Rams on injured reserve

McVay even famous how chaotic the offensive line’s lack of continuity in entrance of Stafford is simply two video games into the season. 

“The quantity of shifting components that we have had offensive line-wise has been wild,” McVay mentioned. “And that is such an essential spot to have the ability to get a rapport with the man that you simply’re enjoying subsequent to.”  

It is exceptional the Rams are at this level regardless of McVay placing nearly ever starter on ice within the preseason outdoors of joint practices, however according to Yahoo Sports, this glut of accidents is not all that stunning given the workforce’s latest traits. 

“One tangible motive to fret about Rams regression is their harm luck final season,” Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab wrote in July. “In 2022 they handled quite a few accidents and completed second in adjusted video games misplaced resulting from harm (a metric by Aaron Schatz of FTN Fantasy). The pendulum swung the opposite means and final season the Rams have been the healthiest workforce within the NFL, ending with the fewest adjusted video games misplaced resulting from harm. It went from 146.6 AGL in 2022 to 26.4 final season, which is an unbelievable shift and exhibits how harm luck usually has no rhyme or motive. The Rams’ luck final season included the fourth-fewest accidents on offense and the fewest on protection. Similar to the Rams’ depressing 2022 harm luck, the good run from final season is unlikely to repeat. Although, as Schatz identified, the Rams have been within the prime 10 in fewest AGL for six seasons in a row earlier than 2022, so maybe they’ve a method that works.”

What to do with Stafford?

It seems Los Angeles’ harm method was unable to forestall all these accidents, leaving their 36-year-old quarterback in peril. Stafford threw for 216 yards and misplaced a fumble after being sacked 5 occasions within the loss in opposition to the Cardinals, tied for the third-most in Week 2 coming into “Monday Night time Soccer.” A part of the rationale he was sacked so many occasions is as a result of his 3.25 seconds to throw ranked because the fifth-longest common time to throw in Week 2 as he was scanning the sphere, determined to seek out targets who may get themselves open with each Kupp and Nacua on the shelf. Life may get much more uncomfortable for Stafford forward of the Rams’ Week 6 bye with Los Angeles set to face Nick Bosa’s San Francisco 49ers, Montez Sweat’s Chicago Bears and Rashan Gary’s Green Bay Packers the following three weeks. 

Whereas this will sound foolish, it is likely to be price contemplating sooner or later throughout the 12 months if all of the aforementioned gamers’ stays on injured reserve final for weeks: ought to the Rams put Stafford in bubble wrap and wait to place him again on the sphere till his offensive line and/or receiving core is more healthy? Stafford missed the second half of the 2022 season with a spinal twine contusion and concussion, which led to him having to clear up that he wasn’t retiring in the 2023 offseason. 

Three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr and future Corridor of Famer Aaron Donald is retired, leaving the Rams defensive entrance seven extraordinarily younger with rookies Jared Verse (2024 first spherical decide) and Braden Fiske (2024 second spherical decide) alongside the defensive position subsequent to second-year gamers in Kobie Turner and Byron Young. Two key corners in Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick are on injured reserve. Donald not being round to be Los Angeles’ magic eraser in relation to potential defensive weaknesses is an enormous deal. 

Within the time for the reason that NFL postseason expanded to 14 groups within the 2020 season, two groups throughout the earlier 4 seasons have began 0-2 and made the playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 and the Houston Texans in 2023. Simply 5 of these 32 completed their respective seasons with profitable information. Los Angeles is up in opposition to in Week 3 in opposition to it since it’s going through the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers with a depleted roster. No NFL team to start a 12 months 0-3 has gone on to win a Super Bowl. 

Ought to the Rams begin 0-3 with all these accidents piling up, it might make somewhat sense, regardless that it might be fairly excessive, to protect Stafford till his offensive line’s and receiving room’s well being improves. Dropping just a few video games early may go a great distance towards offering normal supervisor Les Snead a lot better draft picks in 2025. Higher picks could possibly be used to inject extra youth right into a squad that’s getting older quickly in some positions. Or, Los Angeles may commerce away its picks within the identify of veteran aide, a Snead particular. The Rams at present personal the 2025 draft rights to their very own first, third, fourth and sixth-round draft selection whereas additionally possessing a sixth-round decide from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans through the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

McVay has lengthy raved about his kinship with Stafford as a soccer thoughts, however his quarterback’s physique might not be round for for much longer if the Rams do not take motion shortly as their 2024 season continues to spiral uncontrolled.