Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will not go on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. Though he may end up missing four weeks anyway, Rams head coach Sean McVay explained that the team’s Week 6 bye could allow him to return ahead of schedule. In any case, the injury is not season-ending.

“We don’t necessarily need that [roster] spot,” McVay said. “So because of the amount of injuries that we have, if there is a chance … neither one of those other two (guard Jonah Jackson and and safety John Johnson III) that we put on would’ve ever been able to be back before that four games … so for us, that was kind of what went into not necessarily putting [Kupp] on there yet.”

Kupp’s past injury issues led many to believe that he was certainly headed to the IR, with some even worrying that his season was over. Though he may not be back to full speed for some time, it will nevertheless be a relief to the Rams that he could be back within a month’s time. Other setbacks on the roster may make his return necessary for the season ahead.

With young wide receiver Puka Nacua already on the IR, the Rams will be extremely short-staffed on offense for the next month or so. Even with Kupp avoiding a more serious setback, the team will still have to keep the season afloat with other options for a time.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is most likely to take on a leading role, as quarterback Matthew Stafford has already established a connection with him after Nacua’s departure. With both top receivers out, Tyler Johnson and tight end Colby Parkinson could also receive more work. The team will also lean more heavily on running back Kyren Williams out of the backfield.

The Los Angeles Rams traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday for a swap of sixth-round draft picks in 2026. Akers began the season with the starting job for Los Angeles but was a healthy scratch in Week 2 as the team quickly turned to backup Kyren Williams.

After ruling Akers inactive ahead of Week 2, head coach Sean McVay said earlier in the week that the team was looking for interested trade partners for the former second-round pick out of Florida State. The Vikings, struggling with their own underperforming run game, agreed to terms quickly.

“I think he did a lot of really good things and I think Cam is a quality player,” McVay told reporters Monday. “I think sometimes it boils down to, alright, is it a fit? What are some of the best opportunities based on putting together what you think is the best way to circumvent or be able to organize your team? And so this isn’t an indictment on any individual.”

Akers’ fate may have been sealed after Williams’ performance Sunday against the 49ers, as the 2022 fifth-round pick ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and caught six passes out of the backfield for another 48 yards and a second touchdown. He has now scored four times in two games, despite splitting work in Week 1. In that game against the Seahawks, Akers found the end zone but only ran for 29 yards on 22 carries.

Though the Rams seem to have found their new starting running back, the Vikings are far from certain after a disappointing early start from Alexander Mattison. The longtime backup and replacement for Dalvin Cook, has not yet capitalized on his first opportunity to lead Minnesota’s backfield, rushing for 62 yards across two games. Akers will likely come in to share part of the workload and at least contend with Mattison, who has had very little competition for snaps since the season started.

“I really care a lot about Cam and I’m appreciative of some of the challenging things that we’ve gone through and where we ended up getting to in terms of our relationship and our ability to communicate clearly, which is why it’s kind of tough for me to hear that there is confusion but I know that I’ll wish him nothing but the best,” McVay went on to say Monday. “I think he’s got a lot of ability and that’s really all I want to be able to add on that, but I am grateful for the many contributions that he made over the course of his career as a Ram.”