It’s only Week 3 but the Los Angeles Rams’ roster has been decimated by injuries already. It makes their 0-2 start even worse, knowing players such as Steve Avila, Puka Nacua, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III won’t be back for awhile.
Cooper Kupp is also injured, but unlike the four players above, he has not been placed on injured reserve – yet, at least. Sean McVay said it’s still possible Kupp will go on IR with an ankle injury, but the team is undecided as of now.
Part of the reason they didn’t place Kupp on IR is that they’re limited in the number of players who can be designated to return from IR. If they keep putting players on IR, not everyone will be able to return, so the Rams have to be selective – even if it means an injured player taking up a roster spot.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Rams’ dubious IR situation, including the players currently on the list and when they can return.
Who’s currently on IR?
- OL Steve Avila (knee)
- OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder)
- S John Johnson III (shoulder)
- CB Derion Kendrick (knee)
- OL Conor McDermott (undisclosed)
- WR Puka Nacua (knee)
- OL Joe Noteboom (ankle)
- CB Tre Tomlinson (undisclosed)
- CB Darious Williams (hamstring)
- OL KT Leveston (ankle)
- DT Larrell Murchison (arm)
How many games do they have to miss?
Players who are placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games. Not four weeks, but four games. After the fourth game, teams are able to designate a player to return from IR, at which point they can begin practicing.
Once a player is designated to return, the team has a 21-day window to activate him to the 53-man roster. If he’s not activated in that timeframe, he will remain on IR for the rest of the season.
How many players can be designated to return?
Teams are allowed to designate eight players to return from IR, or 10 if the team reaches the playoffs. So for the Rams, they already have 11 players on IR, two of whom have already been ruled out for the year (Derion Kendrick and Tre Tomlinson).
That leaves nine other players who are eligible to return. Leveston and Murchison were designated to return before the season started, and it’s expected that the other seven players could all be back at some point this year.
When is each player first eligible to return?
- OL Steve Avila (knee): Week 7
- OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder): Week 8
- S John Johnson III (shoulder): Week 8
- CB Derion Kendrick (knee): Out for year
- OL Conor McDermott (undisclosed): Week 5
- WR Puka Nacua (knee): Week 7
- OL Joe Noteboom (ankle): Week 7
- CB Tre Tomlinson (undisclosed): Out for year
- CB Darious Williams (hamstring): Week 5
- OL KT Leveston (ankle): Week 5
- DT Larrell Murchison (arm): Week 5