The Los Angeles Rams find themselves in a precarious position two weeks into the 2024 NFL season. The team’s 0-2 start has been compounded by a slew of injuries, with several key players sidelined, and questions beginning to loom over both sides of the ball.
Key Injuries Piling Up
The Rams have been hit hard by injuries early in the season, a stark contrast from their relatively healthy 2023 campaign. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who suffered a left ankle sprain, is expected to miss an extended period. Kupp's injury echoes a similar situation from 2022, where a season-ending ankle surgery curtailed his performance. Head coach Sean McVay noted the severity of the team’s injury situation, stating, "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 also face the prospect of placing guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III on injured reserve due to shoulder injuries. With their depth continually tested, the offense and defense are feeling the strain. The trio of Kupp, Jackson, and Johnson potentially hitting the injured reserve list adds an additional layer of complexity to an already challenging situation.
Offensive Line Troubles
Ongoing issues with the offensive line have further exacerbated the team’s rough start. Matthew Stafford threw for 216 yards in the Rams' recent loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the veteran quarterback's performance was marred by five sacks, one of which led to a fumble. Stafford's average time to throw in Week 2 was 3.25 seconds, ranking as the fifth-longest in the league for the week. McVay highlighted the instability of the offensive line, noting, "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild."
Stafford's history of injuries adds another layer of concern. He missed the latter half of the 2022 season with a spinal cord contusion and concussion, raising questions about his ability to withstand another year of rigorous hits behind a struggling line. The Rams’ inability to protect their quarterback could lead to further complications as the season progresses.
Defensive Woes
The defensive unit has also seen significant changes, with the retirement of star lineman Aaron Donald shaking the foundation of the front seven. Rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, first and second-round picks in 2024, are now key components of a defense that is leaning heavily on inexperienced players. Adding to the defensive woes, corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick are currently on injured reserve, forcing the Rams to rely even more on their young talents.
This year's defensive struggles are in sharp contrast to their performance last year. Columnist Frank Schwab pointed out, "The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense." However, their injury luck seems to have taken a turn for the worse this season, impacting their defensive resilience significantly.
Historical Precedent and Future Outlook
The Rams now face a daunting challenge; no NFL team starting a year 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl. The historical precedent adds a sense of urgency for the team to turn things around quickly. The Rams do possess some optimism for the future, holding their 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.
The remarkable shift in the Rams’ injury fortune from 2022 to 2023 was highlighted by Schwab, who noted, "In 2022 they dealt with numerous injuries and finished second in adjusted games lost due to injury. 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." This year, however, their luck seems to have regressed, and the team is paying the price on the field.
As Week 3 approaches, the Rams are under immense pressure to stabilize and find their footing. Given their current trajectory and the mounting injury list, the team will need exceptional performances from both their young and veteran players to rewrite this season's script and prevent further sliding into obscurity.