Team news: Los Angeles Rams

Rams Inactives
C Brian Allen
OG David Edwards
WR Trishton Jackson
WR Cooper Kupp
LB Terrell Lewis
QB John Wolford

Rams HC Sean McVay said:
John Wolford has a “stinger, he'll be day-to-day”
Aaron Donald has a rib injury and “I don't expect that to affect his game status for this week.”
WR Cooper Kupp has bursitis of his knee and “the hope is to have him ready to go.”

Cooper Kupp is dealing with bursitis, which is inflammation or irritation of the sac near the knee joint. If Kupp can't go this week against Green Bay, Van Jefferson and Josh Reynolds should see an uptick in usage.

Rams RB Cam Akers is questionable for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.

Darrell Henderson is on IR, so the Rams are hoping Akers can play any role in their must-win game in which they will be without Jared Goff and Cooper Kupp.

Rams WR Cooper Kupp will not play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.

What was expected is now confirmed. Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds and Van Jefferson, will lead the receiver group Sunday.

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp tested positive for COVID-19 and has been placed on the Reserve/COVID list. He will miss Week 17.

Kupp's placement on the COVID list is due to an actual positive test rather than close contact so he is already ruled out for the Rams' big Week 17 matchup with Arizona. The Rams will be missing Kupp, Jared Goff, and possibly their top two running backs against the Cardinals. Josh Reynolds and Robert Woods will try to pick up the slack in the Ram passing game.

Trading Jared Goff would trigger a cap charge of $22.2 million for the Rams in 2021, although that’s far lower than his $34.625 million cap number for next year.

The bigger challenge when trading him comes to finding his next destination. Goff has a fully-guaranteed 2021 salary in the amount of $25.325 million, a fully-guaranteed 2021 roster bonus of $2.5 million, and a fully-guaranteed 2022 roster bonus of $15.5 million. Which other team would take on that kind of financial commitment, especially when the guarantees contain no offset language?

Still, the struggles of Goff and Carson Wentz highlight the question of whether teams who find competent quarterbacks at the top of the draft should blindly extend them with big-money second contracts, the story. The story also pointed out the Bucs and Titans surely don’t regret passing on paying Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota; the Rams and Eagles surely regret giving out those massive second contracts.

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been placed on the league’s COVID-19 reserve list.

Related players: Josh Reynolds, Van Jefferson

Players are placed on COVID-19 reserve if they test positive or if they have close contact with someone who tested positive. It is unknown whether Kupp tested positive or is classified as a close contact. Kupp is the Rams’ leader this season with 92 catches and 974 yards. If he can’t be activated in time for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, that would be a major blow to the Rams’ hopes, the story went on to say. It could mean Reynolds and Jefferson see more snaps and action, but with Jared Goff out, the passing game is likely going to be limited for the Rams.

Darrell Henderson suffered a high ankle sprain and will be put on injured reserve. Henderson had 49 rushing yards, including a 38-yard touchdown run, against the Cardinals in the Rams’ 38-28 win in Week 13.

Cam Akers, who is also dealing with a high ankle sprain, did not play in Week 16 in the Rams’ 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His status is a little more optimistic.

Related players: Malcolm Brown

The Rams say Akers has made progress and the team thinks there is a chance he can play in Week 17. Either way, Brown should see more action and could end up being the starter if both backs are out.