Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is nearing a return.

Nacua was designated for return rom injured reserve by the Rams and rejoined practice on Tuesday ahead of Thursday's Week 7 matchup with the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

Nacua was placed on IR after suffering a knee injury on Sept. 8 during the Rams' Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions.

He recorded 1,486 receiving yards for the Rams last season in his record-breaking rookie campaign.

Nacua suffered the injury on a tackle following a reception in the second quarter of the Week 1 loss.

The tackle aggravated a knee injury Nacua originally suffered on Aug. 4 during a joint training camp practice with the Los Angeles Chargers (h/t ESPN's Sarah Barshop).

The first injury sidelined Nacua from practice for three weeks, and the second injury was "a little bit more significant," head coach Sean McVay told reporters.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported ahead of Week 2 that the Rams believed Nacua could be sidelined through Week 8.

"The Rams want to make sure they are careful with Nacua and not rush him back," Schefter wrote, adding that the franchise "wants to do whatever is needed to ensure there are no more setbacks to the injury."

The Rams now have 21 days to add Nacua to the active roster. Should they decide not to active him, the wideout would need to return to the IR for the rest of the season.

His pending return will present a massive boost for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has struggled with just three touchdown passes and four interceptions so far this season.

Regaining Nacua is even more important for the Rams given the injury issues and trade rumors surrounding Cooper Kupp, which have left fourth-year wideout Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington as Stafford's top targets for the majority of the season.

After Thursday night's game against the Vikings, the Rams get more than a week off before their next contest on the road against the Seattle Seahawks the following Sunday. Those extra days potentially increase the chance that Nacua could rejoin the roster before Week 9.

The Los Angeles Rams "aren't protecting" star quarterback Matthew Stafford, while wide receiver Cooper Kupp remains the subject of outside interest ahead of the NFL's Nov. 5 trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic also reported on her Scoop City podcast the Rams are "definitely taking calls" about Kupp and that Los Angeles is at least "open" to the idea of parting with the 2021 All-Pro.

Russini added that the Rams "have indicated a willingness to take on some" of Kupp's 2024 salary and are seeking a second-round pick in return for the receiver.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that "plenty of teams doing research on receivers have [Kupp] on their list."

On their starting quarterback, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Oct. 9 that "the Rams have looked at Stafford's future as a year-to-year proposition," adding how "neither player nor team seems to know how or when it will end."

The Rams are last in the NFC West at 2-4 thanks in part to having multiple key players go down with injuries. As much as L.A. bucked expectations in 2023 to make the playoffs, this is an aging roster that's still coping with the consequences from general manager Les Snead making win-now move after win-now move.

Becoming a seller and focusing on 2025 and beyond would make sense in that context. Getting out from Stafford's and/or Kupp's contracts would open up some salary cap flexibility as well. Stafford has a cap hit of $53.7 million for 2025 and 2026, while Kupp will count for $29.8 million and $27.3 million for each of the next two years.

Rodrigue speculated Snead ultimately may not be willing to wave the white flag. The Rams are within striking distance of the first-place Seattle Seahawks (4-3) within the division, and their on-field fortunes could improve as some of their injured players come back.

Los Angeles has two more games before the deadline. How those go could cement the front office's approach right up to Nov. 5.

After missing the last four games due to a sprained ankle, Cooper Kupp is nearing a return to the field.

Per ESPN's Sarah Barshop, the Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver is expected to play on Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Kupp was back on the practice field during the Rams' bye week and worked out before Sunday's game, though Los Angeles ultimately decided to keep him off the field another week.

In Week 1, Kupp had 14 receptions for 110 receiving yards and a touchdown, appearing ready to put together a big year. His hot start quickly came to a halt in Week 2 when he suffered the sprained ankle.

Just four seasons ago, Kupp put together one of the best seasons from a receiver in recent memory. He led the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16) before winning Super Bowl MVP after the Rams downed the Cincinnati Bengals.

Since then, he's had three seasons derailed by injury. In 2022, he played just nine games due to a high ankle sprain and played 12 games last year because of another sprained ankle. Another year has led to another ankle injury for Kupp, but he's looking to get back on the field and leave the injury behind him, starting as soon as Thursday.

And the Rams are desperate for Kupp's return after a 2-4 start to the season. Los Angeles picked up a win on Sunday but has struggled early on this year due in large part to a lack of weapons on offense.

Along with Kupp, the Rams have been without star receive Puka Nacua since Week 1 due to a knee injury. It's a good sign that Kupp was able to practice this week and he seems ready to make a Week 8 return, but Nacua still isn't practicing, so Los Angeles could be without him a little longer.

Authorities have reportedly still not been able to locate former NFL player DeSean Jackson's 2023 Dodge Challenger Hellcat after it was stolen.

TMZ Sports reported Sunday the car was stolen from Jackson's Los Angeles area house and that the former wide receiver realized it was missing Tuesday morning.

While police initially tracked the car via a GPS system, the signal died approximately 30 miles outside of Los Angeles. The situation is still under investigation, although there have been no arrests.

The car has also not been located.

Jackson played 15 seasons in the NFL from 2008 through 2022.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round, and he played his first six seasons for the team before also suiting up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.

The speedster finished his career with five seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards. He also led the league in yards per catch in four different campaigns.

As the NFL's mid-season trade deadline rapidly approaches on Nov. 5, several teams are considering potentially blockbuster trades, including Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, according to NFL Network Insider's Ian Rapoport.

After the movements of key receivers Davante Adams and Amari Cooper with plenty of time left before the deadline, Kupp is now drawing interest and may be next in line for a change in scenery.

Kupp, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, has been receiving an abundance of calls in regard to his status.

The interest in Kupp from other teams comes after the Rams' 1-4 start to the season, and it appears that the fate of the eight-year veteran is contingent on how the Rams perform over the next two weeks.

The 31-year-old is currently under a three-year, $80 million contract with the Rams and could be a valuable piece to a possible playoff contending team if he was moved before the deadline.

Kupp and head coach Sean McVay both joined the Rams in 2017, spending eight seasons together. This player-coach connection, combined with Kupp being a fan favorite and a key target for quarterback Matthew Stafford, makes it unclear whether the Rams would be likely to trade Kupp, according to Rapoport.

Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is eyeing a return against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, head coach Sean McVay said Monday (via The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue).

McVay explained that the return would be "an ideal target" but "by no means is that guaranteed.

"The Raiders (game) was always an optimistic target date just based on a few weeks back that we had set," McVay continued.

It was during a Week 2, 41-10 loss against the Arizona Cardinals that Kupp suffered a high ankle sprain. With the Rams heading into a bye week, he has extra time to recover before potentially returning to the lineup.

Since Kupp's injury, the Rams have gone 1-2, with fourth-year player Tutu Atwell stepping into the starting wide receiver spot. In Kupp's absence, Atwell has recorded 14 receptions for 233 yards.

Prior to his injury, Kupp had 28 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown.

The No. 69 pick in the 2017 draft, Kupp has spent all eight seasons with the Rams and played a crucial role in the 2021 Super Bowl, recording eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams are currently 1-4 in the league, sitting at No. 4 in the NFC West.

The Los Angeles Rams are aiming to have wide receiver Cooper Kupp back in Week 7 when they play the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Kupp is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is out for Sunday's contest against the Green Bay Packers.

The 2021 All-Pro was forced to exit Los Angeles' 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Head coach Sean McVay said after the game Kupp was one of three players who the team expected to miss "an extended period of time."

The Rams declined to place him on injured reserve, though, which will prove shrewd if he's healthy in time to suit up against the Raiders. Going on IR would've required him to sit out at least four games, putting a Oct. 24 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings as the earliest he could return thanks to a Week 6 bye.

Kupp can't come back soon enough given how much injuries across the roster have decimated Los Angeles only a month into the season. The 31-year-old isn't even the only notable pass-catcher for the team who's out of action.

Puka Nacua suffered a knee injury in the 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Nacua, who did go on IR, is reportedly expected to remain out until at least Week 8.

Tutu Atwell has stepped up with the Rams down their two best targets. He caught eight passes for 175 yards over their last two games.

Cooper Kupp will miss at least the next two games with his ankle injury, as Jay Glazer reported for Fox Sports on Sunday, with the hope that he might be able to return in a few weeks after the Week 6 bye.

Puka Nacua, meanwhile, likely won't be back in action until around Week 8 as he recovers from the PCL strain that landed him on injured reserve.

For the Rams, being without the top two options in the passing game for at least two more games is a tough blow, though the team managed to upset the San Francisco 49ers in similar straits last week behind Kyren Williams (89 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and the run game. The Rams are now 1-2 on the season.

The Rams will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday and the Green Bay Packers in Week 5 before going on their bye. They then face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7 and Minnesota Vikings in Week 8.

Kupp, 31, was fantastic in the first two games of the season, registering 18 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. His connection with Matthew Stafford looked as strong as ever, though an ankle injury put a halt to it.

As for a timeline to return, the Rams haven't offered an official target date.

"He's going to do everything in his power to get back," head coach Sean McVay told reporters earlier in the week. "Whenever that is, we'll be excited about that and happy for him."

Meanwhile, Nacua—last year's Pro Bowl, rookie sensation—appeared in just one game this season, posting four catches for 35 yards.

That means players like Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will be called upon to hold down the wideout position.

"It makes you realize he probably should have gotten other opportunities. He's always been called upon and he's always kind of delivered," McVay told reporters regarding Atwell after he registered four catches for 93 yards against the Niners. "I think this is a steppingstone for him, but I'm proud of him. I think it's a real tribute to his work."

The Los Angeles Rams had to pay a hefty fine following an incident in their Week 4 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the organization had been fined $100,000 for an incident following the game in which an inactive Rams player shoved 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Derion Kendrick was fined $5,653 for unsportsmanlike conduct. He is currently on the team's injured reserve. Kamren Kinchens was also fined $55,653.

Kinchens was fined for the actual hit on Aiyuk, which would have officially downed the receiver. He drove his shoulder into Aiyuk, and Kendrick eventually shoved Aiyuk after he had already gotten up.

Kinchens was a third-round pick in 2024 while Kendrick was a sixth-round pick in 2022 and is in his third season with the franchise. Kendrick tore his ACL in July.

The Rams improved to 1-2 with the win and earned a second straight victory over the division rival. While the fine will be a tough pill to swallow for the franchise, it at least came after a big win. If nothing else, it will be a teaching moment for both players.

The Rams will look to get to .500 on Sunday when they face the Chicago Bears.

After missing Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will again be sidelined in Week 4.

Head coach Sean McVay announced Monday that the star receiver won't play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, via The Athletic's Jordan Rodrigue.

Kupp suffered an ankle injury in the Rams' Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Last week, McVay said the team wouldn't place Kupp on injured reserve but hadn't ruled out the possibility of doing so.

"It's not like that (IR) decision has been finalized," McVay told reporters Wednesday. "But as of right now, we're not going to go in that direction with him."

McVay also clarified that Kupp wouldn't need surgery, but the Rams won't rush his return to the field.

"I don't want to put any expectations or unnecessary things on him," McVay said. "He's going to do everything in his power to get back. Whenever that is, we'll be excited about that and happy for him."

Kupp had an outstanding start to the season, recording 110 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 1 before sustaining the ankle injury in Week 2.

The veteran dealt with injuries in 2022 and 2023, playing just nine games and 12 games in those seasons, respectively. In his last full season in 2021, Kupp had a career-high 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. His receiving yards in 2021 were the second-most ever in an NFL season.

With Kupp out at least one more game, the Rams wide receiver room has taken a hit early this season.

Star receiver Puka Nacua sustained a knee injury in Week 1, landing him on injured reserve and potentially keeping him off the field until Week 9. Nacua had an outstanding rookie season a year ago with 1,486 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The Rams overcame a 1-2 start last season to reach the playoffs, and they'll look to do the same this year. A big win over the defending NFC champs on Sunday proved Los Angeles is capable of winning without Kupp and Nakua, but it would still like to get the two stars back on the field as soon as possible.