Rams have plenty of hope after latest Cooper Kupp injury update

This season has been one of the most difficult beginnings for almost any team in L.A. Rams history. After just two weeks, there should be no world where a franchise is running out of injured reserve slots, but here we are.

The 2024 Rams are, indeed, running out of IR spot, per head coach Sean McVay. And, sitting with a record of 0-2 and coming off a blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals, it wouldn't be far fetched for some fans to be hitting the panic button this early on. It's understandable. The frustration has reached exponential levels in record time.

With both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp slated to miss multiple games, the wide receiver room is one of a couple positions running very thin. Now, the Rams very well could go out and find some help via trade or by adding a free agent or two. We'll see what the plan is, here, going forward.

But, for now, the biggest question in regards to Kupp, specifically, is how long he will be out.

Just a day ago, McVay told reporters that Kupp would not be placed on injured reserve but would still be out "an extended period of time."

However, a sliver of hope emerged Thursday morning thanks to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Early Thursday morning, the latest news on Kupp's injury revealed a diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain. A couple of years ago, Kupp missed a total of eight games during the 2022 season after the same exact diagnosis. So, the initial reaction to this kind of injury might not be a positive one.

However, Rapoport erred on the side of finding a silver lining.

Sure, Rapoport isn't a doctor. But, he's been doing this a long time and wouldn't put something out there if it was completely ludicrous.

More Rams news:

There's "a chance" Kupp is ready within four weeks, so he's not going on IR. Originally, we thought he wasn't going to land there because of the dwindling spots available. But, with this new report, fans have reason to stay positive.

Who is going to fill in for Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua?

While both Kupp and Nacua are out for a little while, the Rams will be depending heavily on receivers like Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and even rookie Jordan Whittington.

Out of all four, the most likely to get more involved are Robinson and Johnson. Just last season, Robinson had a stretch where he was even fantasy-relevant, scoring a touchdown in four-striaght games.

If Week 1 was any indication, Johnson is going to be getting a lot of looks as well. He caught five of seven targets for 79 yards in that contest, looking like he might finally break out here in Year 5.

Of course, Matthew Stafford needs protection, and the offensive line has suffered multiple injuries, too. Things are looking grim, but don't count out Sean McVay in scheming up a game plan on the fly. The rejuvenated coach admitted he couldn't even believe he was once thinking about retiring, and we believe him.

Don't give up hope yet, folks. This is a long season, and we've got a ways to go.