Why aren’t Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua playing for the Rams against the Bears? NFL Week 4 injury status

The Los Angeles Rams go into their next game in the NFL 2024 season, against the Chicago Bears (Sunday 29, 13:00 p.m. ET), under the obligation to switch things up drastically due to injury concerns surrounding two key players. Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) are both ruled out of the game against the team from the Windy City due to physical issues that are currently keeping them locked down in the injury bay at SoFi Stadium. TE Tyler Higbee is also out.

The Rams’ passing attack has been organised round the missing duo, who have combined for 53% of the receiving yards, 46% of receptions and 13 of the team’s 29 passing touchdowns over the past 20 games.

Who could replace Kupp and Nacua?

“Any time you have injuries, you feel bad for the person, but you don’t feel bad for yourself or your unit or your team. It’s just time to go”, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur previously said.

As for who might replace the duo, there are certainly options for Sean McVay and the coaching staff, including DeMarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell, and rookie Jordan Whittington. As Johnson himself said about missing key players, “We look forward to being us. We can’t be Coop or Puka, we’ve just got to be each one of our own individuals.”

The game between the LA Rams and the Chicago Bears kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Soldier Field as both teams look to make it 2-2 at this early point in the season. Johnson, Atwell, Robinson and Whittington will look to make up for their missing stars.