#Los #Angeles #Rams must try to reach the NFL playoffs without any of their top offensive players after leading receiver #Cooper #Kupp joined the #Covid-19 reserve list on #Wednesday.
#Kupp is the club’s top pass catcher with 92 receptions for a team-high 974 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games for the #Rams.
#His placement onto the virus list means he has either tested positive for the virus or has been in close contact with someone who has.
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The #Rams were already without starting quarterback #Jared #Goff, who had surgery #Monday on a broken and dislocated right thumb, and top rusher #Darrell #Henderson, who has 138 carries for 624 yards and five touchdowns and a high ankle sprain.
#That leaves the #Rams with $A53 million worth of offensive talent on the sidelines in their most important game of the year and, crucially, their top players at each position.
#It’s been somewhat of a nosedive in 2020 for the cursed #Rams, who opened the season 7-3 but then lost three of their past five games.
The #Rams haven’t won a title since 1999, and despite a #Super #Bowl appearance in 2018 (they lost 13-3 to the #Patriots) it’s been a mostly lean run — including a relocation from #St #Louis to #Los #Angeles — since.
#Goff, who hopes to return to for the playoffs if the #Rams (9-6) advance, has thrown for 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. #This will be the first time he has missed an NFL game with an injury.
The #Rams need a victory over the visiting #Arizona #Cardinals (8-7) or a home loss by #Chicago (8-7) against #Green #Bay (12-3) to clinch a playoff spot.
The #Rams will press #John #Wolford into his first NFL start at quarterback and rookie rusher #Cam #Akers, who hopes to be available after a high ankle sprain.
#Arizona has issues as well with quarterback #Kyler #Murray in doubt with a leg injury.
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#NFL ##Los ##Angeles ##Rams #injury #crisis ##Jared ##Goff #COVID19 #playoffs #wildcard