Two weeks into the 2024 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves grappling with a storm of challenges, both on and off the field. The Rams, now 0-2, are facing significant setbacks, particularly in terms of injuries to key players and offensive line struggles, putting head coach Sean McVay in a tight spot as he looks to turn the season around.
Injury Woes
The Rams' wide receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to miss an extended period due to a left ankle sprain. This injury is reminiscent of his similar ankle issues in 2022, which ultimately required season-ending surgery. Kupp's absence is a critical blow to the Rams' offense, robbing them of one of their primary playmakers.
In addition to Kupp, the Rams are also dealing with injuries to guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III, both nursing shoulder injuries. The trio of Kupp, Jackson, and Johnson are strong candidates for the injured reserve list, further depleting the team's resources as they navigate the early weeks of the season.
Offensive Line Struggles
Head coach Sean McVay has openly addressed the turmoil within the offensive line, describing the situation as "wild" due to the amount of moving parts. These ongoing issues have left quarterback Matthew Stafford in a precarious position. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Stafford threw for 216 yards but was sacked five times, losing a fumble in the process. His average time to throw was 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league for Week 2, highlighting the struggles in pass protection.
Stafford himself is not unfamiliar with injuries, having missed the latter half of the 2022 season with a spinal cord contusion and concussion. The lack of stability along the offensive front only exacerbates the risk for the veteran quarterback.
Defensive Concerns
The Rams' defense, already impacted by the retirement of star lineman Aaron Donald, now leans heavily on rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, first and second-round picks from the 2024 draft. The inexperience of these young players is compounded by the absence of corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick, both on injured reserve, putting significant pressure on the defensive unit.
Historical Context and Forecasting
Adding to the team's challenges is the historical context that no NFL team starting a season 0-3 has ever won the Super Bowl. This statistic casts a daunting shadow over the Rams' aspirations, fueling speculation about what the rest of the season holds for them.
The Rams' current predicament contrasts starkly with their fortunes last year, where they boasted the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense. Frank Schwab noted, "It went from 146.6 AGL (Adjusted Games Lost) in 2022 to 26.4 last season, which is an incredible shift and shows how injury luck often has no rhyme or reason." The dramatic drop in injuries last season contributed to their resilience, but this year seems to be a return to the misfortunes they endured in 2022, when they had the second-highest adjusted games lost due to injury.
McVay acknowledges the grim outlook, 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." This underscores the severity of the current health crisis within the team and the balancing act McVay must perform with limited injured reserve slots available.
Draft Capital
Looking further ahead, the Rams hold their own first, third, fourth, and sixth-round picks for the 2025 draft, in addition to extra sixth-round picks from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans. While the draft capital offers some long-term hope for rebuilding, the immediacy of their current situation demands more urgent solutions.
The weeks ahead will test the resolve of Sean McVay, the coaching staff, and the entire Rams roster. With significant players sidelined and a critical need to stabilize the offensive line, the path to reversing their fortunes in 2024 appears steep. The coming games will be crucial in determining whether they can salvage the season or if they will become another statistic in the long list of teams undone by early-season adversity.