It’s been a rough start to the season for the Los Angeles Rams. After losing Puka Nacua in Week 1, they lost Cooper Kupp in Week 2. There may be light at the end of the tunnel, though. Both wide receivers are expected to return soon, with Kupp coming back first.
When will Kupp be back, and what does this mean for fantasy football managers?
The Latest on Cooper Kupp’s Injury
Kupp has been out since he sprained his ankle in Week 2. It came just one week after Nacua aggravated his knee injury in Week 1. Just like that, the Rams were down their top two wide receivers.
The Rams declined to place Kupp on IR despite the likelihood he would be out at least four games, but that had more to do with the excessive number of players they had injured than anything else. Kupp was always expected to return before Nacua — that still appears likely.
Kupp was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of Week 7 prep, and while he was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Rams ultimately decided to hold him out.
However, after Sunday’s game, Rams head coach Sean McVay seemed optimistic that Kupp will play in Week 8 when Los Angeles faces the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football.
“He was close,” McVay said of Kupp. “But ultimately — you guys heard me talk about it throughout the course of the week — it was about return to performance, not necessarily return to play. And, hopefully, Thursday will represent that for us.”
#Rams WR Cooper Kupp is expected to return on Thursday night vs the Vikings after missing the last four games, coach McVay confirmed. pic.twitter.com/OhFX77xnUV
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 20, 2024
The Rams did not hold an official practice on Monday ahead of the short week, but Kupp was listed as practicing in full on the estimated report. McVay has a very good track record of telling the truth, and it does appear as if Kupp will return on Thursday.
Notoriously cautious with injuries, the Rams were never going to bring Kupp back the Sunday before a Thursday game. It made all the sense in the world to hold him out one more week.
Kupp practiced in full ahead of Thursday night’s game and is not listed on the final injury report. He is good to go and will make his return after a five-week absence.
After a week’s worth of full practices, Rams WR Cooper Kupp is off the injury report and expected to play Thursday night vs. the Vikings.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2024
Fantasy Outlook for Rams Wide Receivers
The Rams have effectively been in limbo the whole season. In fact, they’ve played a total of 24 snaps with both Nacua and Kupp on the field. Now, it appears we may be just one week away from them both being back.
The timing couldn’t be better, as the Rams’ best receiver since their two superstars went down has been rookie Jordan Whittington. Unfortunately, just as Kupp and Nacua are returning, the team lost Whittington to a shoulder injury. He’s already been ruled out for Thursday night.
Expect Kupp and Tutu Atwell to start in two-receiver sets, with Demarcus Robinson joining in three-receiver sets.
Kupp is immediately startable as an elite WR1. Expect him to pick up right where he left off.
Fantasy managers can also use Atwell for at least one more week. However, once Nacua is back, and assuming Kupp can stay healthy, they will be the only two Rams WRs worth starting, and possibly even rostering.