The Los Angeles Rams' 2024 NFL season is off to a rocky start, standing at 0-2 with significant injuries already threatening their roster depth and performance. The team’s recent loss to the Arizona Cardinals highlighted both offensive and defensive struggles and cast a shadow of concern over their future.
Injury Woes Plague the Rams
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss an extended period due to a left ankle sprain. Kupp's injury is particularly alarming as he had a similar ankle issue in 2022 that required season-ending surgery. In addition to Kupp, guard Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are nursing shoulder injuries. The injuries of these three key players have made them candidates for injured reserve, which could further exacerbate the team’s challenges.
Head coach Sean McVay did not mince words when discussing the offensive line, stating, “The amount of moving parts that we've had offensive line-wise has been wild.” This acknowledgment of instability in the offensive line is worrisome, especially given how crucial protection is for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Offensive Line Struggles
Matthew Stafford threw for 216 yards in the loss against the Cardinals but was sacked five times, losing a fumble in the process. His average time to throw in Week 2 was 3.25 seconds, the fifth-longest in the league for that week, highlighting the inefficiencies in the offensive line’s protection. These protection issues are reminiscent of Stafford's 2022 season, where he missed the latter half due to a spinal cord contusion and a concussion.
Defensive Challenges
On the defensive side, the retirement of Aaron Donald has left a significant gap in the defensive front seven. The Rams are now relying heavily on rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, their first and second-round picks in 2024, to fill this void. Moreover, corners Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick are currently on injured reserve, further thinning the defensive ranks.
McVay expressed the team’s predicament succinctly: “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.” This statement underscores the severity of the injury situation as the team navigates the early part of the season.
The Highs and Lows of Injury Luck
Last season, the Rams enjoyed relatively good fortune with injuries, having had the fewest adjusted games lost due to injury. Football analyst Frank Schwab noted, “The Rams' good fortune last season included the fourth-fewest injuries on offense and the fewest on defense.” This stark contrast is particularly striking given the Rams’ current struggle with injuries. Schwab also highlighted the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of injury luck: “In 2022 they dealt with numerous injuries and finished second in adjusted games lost due to injury. 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.”
An Uphill Battle
The historical challenge of overcoming a poor season start looms large for the Rams. No NFL team starting a year 0-3 has ever won a Super Bowl, adding an element of urgency to find solutions quickly. However, the Rams do hold their own first, third, fourth, and sixth-round picks for the 2025 draft, plus additional sixth-round picks from the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans, giving them some leeway to rebuild in the future.
As the Rams face these early-season challenges, the path forward will require addressing both their injury woes and on-field performance. With key players sidelined and the offensive line in need of improvement, McVay and his coaching staff must act swiftly to prevent the season from slipping further out of reach. The resilience and adaptability of the team in the face of these adversities will be crucial in determining their trajectory moving forward.