The Los Angeles Rams leave the climate-controlled confines of SoFi Stadium on Monday night to face the Green Bay Packers in the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford INJURED RESERVE for Rams – Packers
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Cooper Kupp
Kupp was placed on injured reserve in mid-November after undergoing surgery to treat a right high-ankle sprain.
His recovery time was estimated to be 6-to-8 weeks. The short end of that timeline positioned Kupp for a possible return as early as Week 17, but McVay isn’t counting on the All-Pro receiver suiting up again this season, despite the Rams being 4-9 and on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs.
Kupp’s focus will likely shift to getting healthy for OTAs, but assuming quarterback Matthew Stafford (spine) is also ready to go for the start of the 2023 season, the 29-year-old receiver should be a strong first- or second-round pick in fantasy drafts once again.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Rams head coach Sean McVay stated on Friday that Stafford will not require any type of procedure while recovering from a spinal cord contusion.
- Los Angeles Rams
Baker Mayfield has had a turbulent couple of seasons after it appeared the former first-round pick was ready to become one of the NFL’s new darlings.
He struggled mightily in the Browns offense last season, and the team failed to make the playoffs, so he was traded to the Panthers when the Browns decided to move on at quarterback.
It seemed unlikely that Mayfield would play for the Rams just days before their Thursday night game.
Starting wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson II are still on injured reserve, and the Rams’ defense will likely be without star DT Aaron Donald, as well as linebackers Terrell Lewis and Travin Howard, for the second straight game.
The Rams’ CB David Long Jr. is also questionable. Los Angeles will almost certainly have to win this one on the strength of Mayfield’s arm, as the team’s ground attack ranks 30th in the NFL.
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- Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns from his bye week feeling better than he has in months.
The reigning MVP reported that his thumb feels much better and that the rib injury he suffered three weeks ago against Philadelphia is no longer bothering him. The Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 28-19 to complete the season sweep of their long-time rivals.
A bye week tends to bring with it much needed rest and a healthy dose of optimism. The Packers are no different.
Rodgers appears to be in the best shape of his career, and the Packers appear to have both running backs, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, back at full strength.
Furthermore, Rodgers’ offense will gain a few more healthy pieces with the likely return of WR Romeo Doubs and tackle David Bahktiari.
This season, the Packers rank 23rd in scoring offense and 16th in passing offense. With a week off and the possible return of Doubs in the passing game and Bahktiari to protect Rodgers, the Packers could be in for a big game.
