Rams suffer huge injury blow as star WR and Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp is ruled out of season opener against Seattle – and him going on injured reserve is ‘a possibility’

Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday due to a hamstring injury.

The Super Bowl 56 MVP suffered the injury during training camp in early August and suffered a setback in his recovery last week.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said the team is considering placing Kupp on the injured reserve list for at least four weeks of the season. McVay also ruled out his top receiver after a meeting the two had Wednesday morning.

“Not much more information, really,” McVay said. “I’m just dealing with some soft tissue, I’m trying to make him feel normal again.” If that happens, we’ll have him back, but in the meantime he won’t play for us.’

Kupp missed last season’s final eight games with an ankle injury after recording 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns in the first half of the season.

Kupp suffered a hamstring injury during training camp after dealing with ankle problems last season

He won the 2021 triple crown of receiving before leading the Rams to their Super Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

McVay said putting Kupp on the casualty reserve is “a possibility.” ‘We will investigate that. We just want to give him some time. We don’t have to make that decision yet.’

Kupp, who turned 30 in June, went to Minnesota this weekend to see a specialist about his injury, which is not responding normally to treatment.

Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett will also miss the season opener in Seattle due to injury.

Bennett has a right shoulder injury that will delay his potential NFL debut, McVay said.

The two-time Georgia champion was expected to be Matthew Stafford’s main backup as a rookie, having played extensively in the Rams’ preseason, but Bennett was held out of recent practices to rest his shoulder.

McVay said the shoulder injury “has been bothering (Bennett) off and on for a few weeks now.”

Rams backup quarterback Stetson Bennett will also miss the opener with a shoulder injury

Brett Rypien will be Stafford’s backup and the only other quarterback on the roster when the Rams face Seattle. McVay said the Rams will consider signing a third quarterback if Bennett’s injury persists.

Kupp’s injury deprives Stafford of his playmaker of choice in an offense that has been difficult all season due to injuries to most of his top players.

The Rams’ best receivers in Kupp’s absence are likely to be Van Jefferson, newcomer Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Puka Nacua.

“(Kupp) wants to be there with his teammates, and he puts so much into it,” McVay said. ‘It is a pity. It was frustrating.’