Injury update LA Rams Cooper Kupp: Low-ankle sprain

LA Rams injury update Cooper Kupp: Low-ankle sprain diagnosis. Why is it a minor injury?

The confusion over LA Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp started from the moment head coach Sean McVay stated that Kupp was just fine. Relatively speaking? Yes, he will be able to suit up and play in the Rams’ season opener. And no, the team is under no obligation to share the details of any injured player until week one.

While we await any forthcoming details about the only other football injury, Travin Howard, we can do a bit of disclosure about the injury to Cooper Kupp. What is a low-grade or minor low-ankle sprain? Is that a good or a bad injury? Can Kupp’s ankle injury put him at risk of aggravating or reinjuring his ankle? To learn the answers to these questions and more, we need to turn to a great bit of expertise. So let’s turn to Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine, experts in the field of bone and joint injuries.

Sprained Ankle

No injury is the same. In the category of an ankle sprain, the injury falls into three categories based upon the severity of the injury: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3. A sprain describes all manners of injuries when the foot twists, turns or rolls in an unnatural manner. It is a soft tissue injury, which means that it can be a minor overextending, or stretching, of ligaments or tendons. Grade 1 is minor stretching, causing minor tenderness and swelling.  Grade 2 is a partial tear of the ligament. This injury is categorized by abnormal looseness and instability.  Grade 3 is a complete tear of the ligament and is categorized with significant instability and swelling.

The recovery process of an injured joint is accomplished by the RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevation. Full recovery usually requires four-six weeks, but the recovery time does depend on the severity of the injury. To aid the joint’s ability to heal, the ankle will typically be reinforced with a healing brace. Even when the ligament is torn, healing can generally occur naturally over time.  Surgery is only an option when the tissue is not aligned properly to allow normal healing.

So Kupp is okay?

This is by no means a substitute for real medical consultation. But based on the reported information, Kupp should be fine to play. As long as he rests the ankle, keeps it iced to limit swelling, and elevates the joint whenever possible, he should recover. To prevent reinjury, the team will no doubt reinforce his ankle to prevent a similar injury.

While Kupp will likely not be working out with his teammates this week, he is a savvy veteran, a player that quarterback Jared Goff relies upon in clutch moments of the game. He will be suited up and ready to go when the Dallas Cowboys come to town. By game three, he should be completely back to normal.

EDITORS NOTE:

LA Rams head coach Sean McVay refuted the diagnosis of Cooper Kupp suffering from a low-ankle sprain:

Of course, the treatment for both is exactly similar. So it’s six of one or a half dozen of the other. Now you know.