The Los Angeles Rams battled again to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 27-24, on Sunday to earn their first win of the 2024 season.
Each groups had been shorthanded, however the Rams particularly had their backs in opposition to the wall with Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III, amongst others, sidelined for the sport.
Kupp is the one participant of the group not at present on injured reserve. Nevertheless, he’s nonetheless anticipated to overlook a number of weeks attributable to an ankle harm.
Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Kupp gained’t play within the crew’s Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Chicago Bears and stated he’ll present updates on the others when they’re near returning.
“No updates on these guys,” McVay informed reporters this week. “When it will get to the purpose that they’ll begin returning to apply or we might find yourself taking them off of that with the [designated to return] ‘DIR’, then I’ll let you already know.
“So far as Cooper, he’s attacking each single day. Not going to be accessible for this week, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Kupp’s harm was nothing wanting disappointing as he lastly seemed to be absolutely again after showing in solely 21 video games over the previous two seasons.
Nevertheless, it’s encouraging that he has continued to make progress in his restoration and hopefully will return to the Rams sooner reasonably than later.
Kupp hauled in 18 passes for 147 yards and a landing in two video games earlier than his ankle harm.
Sean McVay pleased with Rams for battling again to defeat 49ers
Given how depleted they had been, McVay was thrilled for his gamers after they pulled off an inconceivable comeback in opposition to the 49ers.
“Holy! What a job by our group simply persevering with to battle [and] persevering with to combat,” McVay stated after the sport. “There’s a whole lot of guts [and] there’s a whole lot of resilience on this group and it’s only one recreation. I’m actually pleased with them. I’m actually pleased with them for lots of the issues that went into it, guys that needed to step up. I believed particular groups was an enormous edge for us at this time. For Josh Karty, for Ethan Evans [and] for Alex Ward to have the ability to make their kicks in crunch time, the additional factors to tie it up [and] the sector aim to finally win it.
“What a cool deal for Xavier Smith. [He did a] nice job aggressively fielding that factor. [He] acquired some blocks, acquired to the sideline [and] acquired us in good discipline place proper off the bounce after which Ronnie Rivers transformed on the pretend punt. I believed that was an actual distinction for us. Kyren Williams within the crimson space got here to life in a giant means. It wasn’t good by any stretch, however I believed these guys did a wonderful job after we needed to have it. Defensively, we tightened up [and] we acquired stops after we wanted it.
“Matthew Stafford was excellent. I believed there have been some errors that we made round him, however he hung in there. He saved his eyes down the sector. I believed he delivered the ball precisely all all through the day. I don’t know what his numbers had been, however I believed he was excellent at this time. He had crunch time manufacturing [and] he had nice grit, nice management. Tutu Atwell was superior as effectively. There are a pair hidden yards the place you’re speaking about down the sector penalties. There’s a 48-yard penalty that Tutu acquired on the penalty after we had been within the third quarter. Colby Parkinson ended up drawing the PI proper there once they performed a person protection on the finish. Plenty of guts [and] a whole lot of grit. I’m actually pleased with this group. We’ll see how we come again tomorrow and hopefully we don’t have any extra accidents.”