Rams’ Van Jefferson Facing Even More Pressure As Cooper Kupp Deals With Injury
It's becoming increasingly clear that if the Los Angeles Rams are going to rebound from a disappointing 2022 campaign, they'll need a big year from receiver Van Jefferson.
That was true at the outset of the summer -- even with former All-Pro receiver receiver Cooper Kupp in the fold. Kupp was extremely productive in the nine games he played last year, catching 75 passes for 812 yards and six touchdowns. But with the loss of Odell Beckham Jr., it was apparent that the Rams were too reliant on Kupp. It became especially apparent when Kupp missed the final eight games of the season with a right high ankle sprain.
And now, it appears very possible that the Rams are without Kupp -- the former Super Bowl MVP -- to open the season. Coach Sean McVay acknowledged this week that Kupp did suffer "a setback" to a hamstring injury, and sounded like he was preparing for a world where his top wideout wasn't in the lineup in Week 1. And the fact that Kupp visited a specialist in Minnesota Saturday to further examine his hamstring probably isn't a great sign for his availability in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Van Jefferson is an x-factor for the Rams in 2023. (USA Today)
While the Rams have talked up the likes of Tutu Atwell and rookie Puka Nacua, the No. 1 target for quarterback Matthew Stafford if Kupp is indeed out to start the season will have to be Jefferson. Even once Kupp returns, the Rams need Jefferson to emerge as a complimentary piece for their top receiver.
Jefferson looked on the verge of a breakout in 2021, catching 50 passes for 802 yards on a team that eventually won the Super Bowl. However, knee and shoulder injuries limited him to parts of 11 games in 2022, where he caught just 24 passes for 369 yards.
A top-heavy Rams team may just not be good enough to return to the postseason in 2022, especially if the trio of Kupp, Stafford and defensive tackle Aaron Donald aren't on the field all 17 games.
But if the Rams are going to compete for a playoff spot after going 5-12 last season, Jefferson will need to be around 1,000 receiving yards this season. If he does that, not only will he set the Rams up for success, but Jefferson will put himself in position to get a nice contract next offseason when he becomes a free agent.
