After getting trounced by the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams look to regroup once they host the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium in Week 3.
The Rams are on the lookout for their first win of the season whereas the 49ers enter the matchup at 1-1. Each groups have been bitten by the damage bug and will probably be considerably shorthanded.
For the Rams, they’re clearly with out Cooper Kupp, who will miss a number of weeks resulting from an ankle damage. He fortuitously wasn’t positioned on injured reserve, however his absence leaves the huge receiver corps skinny.
Davis Allen has additionally been dominated out, whereas Joshua Karty, Cobie Durant and Bobby Brown III are listed as questionable. One bit of excellent information is that Alaric Jackson is making his season debut after serving a two-game suspension.
The 49ers will probably be lacking some key gamers as effectively, with Deebo Samuel dominated out. George Kittle can also be out, whereas Nick Bosa is questionable.
Puka Nacua and Christian McCaffrey are among the many different stars on IR who gained’t play in Sunday’s recreation.
The Rams have misplaced 9 of their final 10 regular-season video games in opposition to the 49ers courting again to the 2018 season. They gained their Week 18 matchup final yr, however each groups rested most of their starters.
The Rams want to keep away from their first 0-3 begin for the reason that 2011 season, which noticed them end 2-14 beneath then-head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Who steps up at WR?
With Kupp and Nacua sidelined, the Rams will probably be counting on a receiving corps that now contains Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington.
“These guys did a pleasant job immediately once they received their alternatives within the recreation to step in and make some performs,” Matthew Stafford stated of the Rams huge receivers.
“I assumed Demarcus Robinson made some good performs, I assumed Tutu made some good performs, J-Whitt made some performs, TJ, so proceed to develop with these guys, attempt to assist them out as a lot as I probably can, give them good passes to catch and let these guys do their factor.
“I’ve received a ton of belief in them. They’ve finished an excellent job all by way of OTAs, coaching camp, all that form of stuff. And have some pass-game historical past with a few of these guys.”
Kamren Kinchens stepping in for John Johnson III
With John Johnson III occurring IR, the Rams are planning to raise rookie Kamren Kinchens to a beginning position in his absence.
Kinchens hasn’t performed a lot this season however he had a strong profession in faculty and will probably be seeking to make a right away impression.