After just one week of the 2024 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams are already facing significant injury challenges. In their Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Rams saw three key offensive players go down: wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) and offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Joe Noteboom (ankle). Despite their efforts to stay in the game, all three players were eventually placed on injured reserve, sidelining them for at least the next four games.
Fortunately for the Rams, their early bye week in Week 6 means that Nacua, Avila, and Noteboom will get five weeks to recover while only missing four games. However, head coach Sean McVay wasn’t overly optimistic, suggesting the trio could be out longer.
“All three guys have different injuries, and they could miss more time than expected,” McVay noted. “I’ve learned not to set expectations for their return. We’ll let their bodies and the doctors decide when they’re ready.”
While losing these key players for several weeks is far from ideal, the Rams are fortunate that none of the injuries appear season-ending. To stay competitive, the team will need others to step up in their absence.
One bright spot for the Rams was the performance of Cooper Kupp in Week 1. Kupp, fully recovered from past injuries, had a standout game with 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Matthew Stafford expressed pride in Kupp’s hard work during the offseason and emphasized his importance to the team, especially with Nacua sidelined.
