LOS ANGELES — Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will have ankle surgery Wednesday and be placed on injured reserve, coach Sean McVay said Tuesday.
Kupp will miss at least four games on injured reserve, but McVay didn’t rule the receiver out for the rest of the season. McVay said the “tightrope” procedure to be performed on Kupp typically has a recovery time of five to six weeks.
Kupp suffered a major ankle sprain in the Rams’ Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter while trying to catch a pass from quarterback John Wolford. Kupp appeared to sprain his right ankle after the game and was helped to the bench by the team’s medical staff.
“Obviously you never replace a player like Cooper Kupp, but we have to find the best way to highlight the skill sets of the guys that are going to play,” McVay said.
Kupp took to Twitter to thank his fans for their support.
Thanks to everyone who reached out and sent prayers! This is unfortunately only part of the game. I appreciate having a trusted medical team around me. I’ll fix this thing, then get back to work to get back to work!
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) November 15, 2022
The Los Angeles offense has depended on Kupp this season: Entering Week 10, Kupp accounted for 35.7% of the Rams’ snaps this season, the highest mark of any player in the league. He entered the game with 72 receptions, on pace for 153 over a 17-game season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The NFL single-season record is 149 by New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas in 2019.
“I think what we’ve learned more than anything, especially this year, is to take it one day at a time,” McVay said. “Let’s see how that procedure goes tomorrow when he does it. Let’s make sure all the things they originally thought based on the MRI look were in line. How does that surgery go? But I don’t think you want to to immerse yourself in an approach, but you know that the first step is the operation and then the right steps will follow after that.”
McVay also said quarterback Matthew Stafford is still in the concussion protocol, but that the team will have more clarity on his situation later Tuesday.
