The Los Angeles Rams have been without star wideout Cooper Kupp since Week 2, when he sustained a high ankle sprain in the team’s 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Kupp was not placed on injured reserve, which offered some hope that he could be back in a reasonable amount of time. The 31-year-old has since missed three consecutive games, but the plan all along was for him to potentially return after the team’s bye in Week 6.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Kupp had a positive workout on Monday and is trending toward playing in the Rams’ Week 7 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders:
#Rams WR Cooper Kupp, attempting to return from a high-ankle sprain, had a positive workout today and his return this week is at least possible, sources say.
The next step is to see when he practices and how it goes. The team will gather more info, but today presented good news. pic.twitter.com/hX6ZmoI3ex
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2024
Rams head coach Sean McVay had said before the practice that it would be a big test for Kupp.
“Today provides an opportunity to be able to get an extra day’s worth of work. I know you guys are going to be curious about a lot of our guys. Today will be a big day for guys like Cooper Kupp. We’ll see how he’s doing. He’s making good progress. I’ll have an injury update in regard to how today goes for him [and] what that affects. There is a possibility he could be ready this week. There is also a possibility that he might not be ready so today is a big day for him… It’s a big workout that will then dictate alright, what does that look like for his availability on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday if he’s going to play this week?”
It was reported last week that Kupp’s potential return in Week 7 would depend on his health and not having any setbacks during practice.
So far, the Rams have to be pleased with Kupp’s progress and it is looking increasingly likely that he will be on the field when they host the Raiders on Sunday.
Kupp’s imminent return should provide a boost to a Rams receiving corps that has featured Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington in recent weeks. Puka Nacua is still sidelined with a right PCL injury, but he could potentially return to action sometime in the next month.
Kupp hauled in 18 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games before his injury this year.
Sean McVay believes bye week came at good time for Rams
Rams head coach Sean McVay believes the bye week came at a good time for the team amid their struggles and injuries. “Yeah. I think that I will be able to better answer that based on the availability of guys and what that really means, but yes,” McVay said.
“What I think it does serve as a good time is after five games where we’re obviously not where we want to be, how can we look at ourselves critically? How can we identify some of the things that we need to do with the 12 games remaining to be able to play more quality football that’s more in alignment with what we’re capable of and what we’ve seen when we’re operating at our best here.”
