LOS ANGELES – Receiver Cooper Kupp will likely miss several games for the Los Angeles Rams after spraining his ankle in last weekend’s loss at Arizona.
Rams coach Sean McVay announced the extent of Kupp’s latest serious injury on Monday. McVay also said center Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson are expected to miss several weeks with shoulder injuries, adding to the Rams’ numerous injury problems just two weeks into the regular season.
Kupp left the team in the second quarter of Sunday’s 41-10 loss after spraining his ankle at the end of a long catch and run. The Super Bowl 56 MVP has battled major injuries over the past two seasons, playing in just 21 of the Rams’ 34 regular-season games.
The Rams are already without record receiver Puka Nacua, who aggravated his knee injury in the season opener. Nacua is expected to be out for at least another month and possibly into November.
“We’ve had some unfortunate twists of fate,” McVay said. “This is nothing like I’ve ever experienced. This is unique, but it’s an opportunity for us to be what we want to be.”
All five members of the Rams’ Week 1 starting lineup have been injured this season after Jackson, who continued playing despite his shoulder injury in Arizona, suffered that setback. Right tackle Rob Havenstein missed the season-opening loss at Detroit, in which left guard Steve Avila, right guard Kevin Dotson and left tackle Joseph Noteboom were injured.
“The number of moving parts we’ve had on the offensive line is crazy,” McVay said. “It’s such an important position to build a relationship with the guys you play next to, but since (training camp) we’ve had a whole roster of guys.”
PANTHERS: After an 0-2 start that saw his team record a league-worst 73-13 record, new coach Dave Canalesk decided to bench starting quarterback Bryce Young for Week 3. Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will start Sunday in Las Vegas.
Young’s sophomore season got off to a rocky start: On Sunday, he threw for a career-low 84 yards and an interception with a quarterback rating of 57.2, an improvement from his career-low of 32.8 in Week 1.
CHARGERS: Quarterback Justin Herbert’s right leg will be examined further this week after being injured in Los Angeles’ 26-3 win over Carolina on Sunday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the X-rays came back negative and that more information will be available Wednesday as the Chargers begin preparing for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.
DOLPHINS: Miami signs backup quarterback Tyler Huntley from the Ravens’ practice squad as Tua Tagovailoa remains sidelined with the third diagnosed concussion of his professional career.
GIANTS: Coach Brian Daboll said Monday that New York (0-2) will bring in some experienced kickers for tryouts this week, along with practice squad member Jude McAtamney, since Graham Gano will be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Gano, 37, tore a muscle in his thigh while attempting to chase Commanders returner Austin Ekeler on the opening kickoff of Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the Commanders.
Bosses: Running back Isiah Pacheco will likely be placed on the injured list after suffering a right ankle injury in the final minutes of Sunday’s win over Cincinnati.
Pacheco was seen leaving Arrowhead Stadium wearing walking boots and using crutches.
BROWN: Wide receiver David Bell will undergo season-ending surgery after dislocating his hip during Sunday’s win at Jacksonville.
Bell, a third-round pick in 2022, was injured when he was tackled on a 6-yard pass on Cleveland’s first possession of the third quarter.
NOZZLES: New York edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who was selected to the Pro Bowl last season, confirmed in a social media post on Monday that he has torn his right Achilles tendon.
Johnson, 25, said an MRI scan showed what he and the Jets feared when he was carted off the field in the third quarter of New York’s 24-17 win at Tennessee on Sunday.
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