Seven months have done little to improve the fortunes of the Los Angeles Rams, who find themselves in an unfavorable position two weeks into the 2024 NFL season. Faced with an 0-2 start and a litany of injuries, the team has substantial hurdles ahead. In particular, the Rams face the daunting realization that no team in NFL history starting 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl.
Injury Woes Compound Problems
Perhaps the most disheartening news for Rams fans centers around their star wide receiver, Cooper Kupp. Kupp will miss an extended period due to a left ankle sprain, a setback that has sent shockwaves through the franchise. This injury eerily mirrors his 2022 ankle injury, which necessitated season-ending surgery. His absence leaves a chasm in the Rams' receiving corps that will be challenging to bridge.
The frontline woes don't stop with Kupp. Key players like guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are currently nursing shoulder injuries, casting doubt on their availability in the coming weeks. Head coach Sean McVay has acknowledged that all three—Kupp, Jackson, and Johnson—are candidates for the injured reserve list. "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," McVay said.
The Rams' injury plight doesn’t end with the offense. Defensive stalwarts Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick are already on injured reserve, exacerbating an already precarious situation for a defense trying to fill the void left by Aaron Donald's retirement. The defensive line now leans heavily on rookies like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively, in 2024.
Offensive Line Struggles
McVay has not shied away from discussing the issues plaguing the offensive line, a unit that has been a revolving door due to injuries. "The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild," McVay remarked. This instability upfront was glaringly evident in the Rams' recent loss to the Arizona Cardinals, where quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked five times and ultimately lost a fumble.
Stafford's performance was a mixed bag; he threw for 216 yards, but his struggles were compounded by lackluster protection. His average time to throw in Week 2 was a sluggish 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league for that week. This hesitation has raised concerns, especially given that Stafford missed the latter half of the 2022 season due to a spinal cord contusion and concussion. A repeat of such injuries could be disastrous for the team.
The Context of Injury Unpredictability
Last season, the Rams were one of the luckiest teams concerning injuries, recording the fewest adjusted games lost (AGL) due to injury. According to Frank Schwab, "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." However, he cautioned, "One tangible reason to worry about Rams regression is their injury luck last season."
Indeed, the Rams' apparent good fortune in staying healthy last season now feels like a fleeting dream. The offensive and defensive units' depth will be tested like never before, and the team's resilience will be critical in navigating these challenges.
Looking Ahead
Despite the current adversity, the Rams do have some future assets to consider. For the 2025 draft, they hold their own first, third, fourth, and sixth-round picks, along with additional sixth-round picks secured from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans. These picks could become crucial in rebuilding and solidifying areas plagued by injuries.
In the immediate future, however, the focus remains on salvaging what they can from this season. The Rams' coaching staff and players must find a way to turn their efforts into victories, and quickly, if they hope to rewrite history and overcome the daunting specter of starting a season 0-3.