Rams' Cooper Kupp (ankle) is expected to be out for a long time

LOS ANGELES – Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will be out “for an extended period of time” because of a sprained left ankle, coach Sean McVay said Monday.

Kupp left the Rams' 41-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday due to injury. He is a candidate for the injured list, McVay said, a decision the team will make either Monday or Tuesday, according to the head coach.

McVay said guard Jonah Jackson (shoulder) and safety John Johnson III (shoulder) are also candidates for the injured list. On Sunday, Jackson's shoulder injury, which kept him sidelined for some time in training camp, worsened again.

“We are running out of [injured reserve] spots and we're only in Week 3 as far as returning to play, but that's a possibility for all of these guys,” McVay said.

The Rams already have two offensive linemen on the injured list: left guard Steve Avila, who sprained his medial collateral ligament in Week 1, and tackle Joe Noteboom, who left the Rams' season opener with a high ankle sprain. Tackle Alaric Jackson will return from suspension this week. He was suspended for the first two games of the season for a violation of the NFL's conduct rules.

“The number of moving parts we had on the offensive line was crazy,” McVay said. “And that's such an important position to build a good relationship with the player you're playing next to.”

The Rams are already without wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is on the injured list after straining his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 1. Behind Kupp and Nacua, the Rams have wide receivers Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Jordan Whittington, who was drafted in the sixth round.

Kupp, who led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2021, has not played a full season since. Last season, Kupp missed the first four games of the season on the injured list with a hamstring injury. In June, McVay said he didn't think “anyone really understands how many things [Kupp was] “Recovering” from last season.

“And with all three of them, it's terrible because you see how much work they've put in,” McVay said. “None of them are the end of the season, but they're longer periods of time and every week is precious.”

McVay said kicker Joshua Karty is dealing with a groin injury but is expected to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.