This Rams rookie will get his first start on Thursday Night Football

The LA Rams roster has been subject to as much upheaval in six games and seven weeks into the 2024 NFL season as most teams experience in a full season. But this team is not making excuses, or even asking for mercy. The Rams have taken their lumps this season, undermanned and overwhelmed. And at 2-4, their hopes for earning a berth in the 2025 NFL Playoffs are dimming rapidly.

But the tide may be turning. The offense, toothless without the two top receivers since Weeks 1 and 2, is getting both back for Week 8. That's right. Both WR Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are back in action this week. How much can fans expect either to compete in this game?

I think the team will open up the entire playbook for Cooper Kupp. The reason for that speculative assertion is based on the fact that the team needs to jumpstart the offense. This team has struggled to put up points so far this season. With Kupp back on the football field, But if this game does not go as planned, what better way to market Kupp's prowess than to showcase his full range of production during a nationally televised game?

And yes, 30 other teams will be tuned in to see what Kupp has left in his tank, and to decide if he is indeed worth the Rams asking price of a Round 2 pick.

But this is a team that will see some action out of WR Puka Nacua as well. I believe that Nacua's workload in Week 8 will be more limited, subject to occasional check-ins with coaches and the training staff to ensure that no setbacks develop.

And then there is the matter of who will start as the team's inside linebacker. After all, starting ILB Troy Reeder has been sent to the team's IR roster, While some fans are celebrating the latest development, that euphoria is a bit short-sighted. After all, the team must now rely upon a new starter, come what may.

Per pregame workouts, the team appears to be going with undrafted rookie ILB Omar Speights.

Omar Speights is just one of several options to play in place of the injured Reeder. And it may likely work out that the team rotates several players at the position until one steps up and is the clear best option.

Stay tuned. This game is just about to start, and it's already achieved a white-knuckler status.

Thanks for reading.

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