The Los Angeles Rams will get a couple of players back at practice this week, one of whom is an All-Pro and former Offensive Player of the Year. On Wednesday, the Rams officially designated Cooper Kupp and rookie Ochaun Mathis to return from injured reserve.
This allows them both to begin practicing immediately, opening the 21-day window for them to be activated from IR. Both players are first eligible to come off IR this week after missing the first four games of the season, but it remains to be seen if the Rams will activate them right away or wait another week or two.
If they don’t activate them in the next 21 days, they will remain on IR for the rest of the season. That’s highly unlikely to happen, though; Sean McVay has already discussed getting both players back, so they will be activated at some point.
Kupp has been sidelined since reinjuring his hamstring just before the season started, while Mathis injured his knee at the beginning of training camp in July.
LA Rams Transactions
• Designated for Return, Returned to Practice: WR Cooper Kupp, LB Ochaun Mathis— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 4, 2023
Once activated, Kupp will immediately step in as the Rams’ top receiver alongside Puka Nacua, with Tutu Atwell likely remaining a starter, too. Mathis could contribute soon as an edge rusher, a position group that has been somewhat underwhelming outside of Byron Young.