Rams have hopes Cooper Kupp will return and Matthew Stafford's sore back heals

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times on Oct 7, 2024

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LOS ANGELES — Cooper Kupp could be back for the Rams’ next game, but as the Rams begin their off week it is quarterback Matthew Stafford’s sore back that might be of more immediate concern.

Coach Sean McVay said Monday that Stafford was experiencing soreness after the Rams’ defeat to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The loss dropped the Rams’ record to 1-4.

The Packers hit Stafford 10 times and recorded three sacks.

McVay said he did not anticipate that the issue would preclude Stafford, 36, from fully participating in practice when the Rams return next week.

“This guy’s been playing for a long time — he’s as tough as it gets,” McVay said during a videoconference with reporters. “He took some shots [Sunday], he’s taken some shots this year and throughout the course of his career. ... It’s something that we want to monitor.”

Stafford, a 16th-year pro, has passed for three touchdowns, with three interceptions.

He played the last three games without Kupp, who is recovering from an ankle injury. Receiver Puka Nacua is on injured reserve because of a knee injury suffered in the season opener.

A return by Kupp to play against the Raiders “would be an ideal target,” McVay said, before expressing caution.

“That is something in an ideal world, yeah, he’s ready to go,” McVay said, adding, “The Raiders was always an optimistic target date just based on a few weeks back that we had set. But by no means is that guaranteed.”

McVay declined to provide a timeline for returns by Nacua and offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Joe Noteboom (ankle), who are eligible to come off injured reserve and play against the Raiders.